For several years we have offered, where appropriate, alternative care to the traditional periodontal surgery as a means of arresting and controlling periodontal disease. The dental hygiene department primarily provides this therapy called scaling and root planing. We have a new technology of ultrasonic scalers called ProSelect scalers available to aid the hygienist in more efficient removal of plaque and calculus both above and below the gums. This therapy is used as a first line defense against periodontal disease in an attempt to control the disease and avoid a more aggressive surgery.

Many adults have experienced gum recession resulting in exposure of root surfaces, which are sensitive to temperature. We find many people have benefited from the topical application of a desensitizing agent, which is easily and painlessly applied. If you have tooth sensitivity, ask for this service.

A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surface of the back teeth where decay occurs most often. This sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the decay-prone areas of the back teeth from plaque and acid. Ideally, sealants should be placed as soon as possible after the new permanent teeth come in to the mouth. Sealants can be placed at any time, but those placed early will give the best protection against decay. We consider this service, which is painless and requires no anesthesia, to be a normal part of the treatment program for the children in our practice.

Most people today ask us about whitening their teeth. We use one of the best materials known not to harm the teeth, Opalescence tooth whitening systems. First, impressions of your teeth are taken, then special custom trays are provided so you can whiten at home to lighten your smile at your convenience. We check the color of your teeth at the start so we can verify the improvement and show you the drastic changes. Along the way we can make suggestions or assist you with any problems you may have.

Very young children are invited to come to the office at no cost to become familiar with the dental surroundings and meet the staff. This builds confidence and cooperation. The first dental visit should be around two years of age. This will allow for an exchange of information between our staff and the parents. The goal is to avoid problems and begin preventive care as early as possible. Many times it is convenient for your child to come while you, the parent, are having a periodic visit with the hygienist to be seen by another one of our providers. We will continue with these no charge visits until your child is comfortable enough with our office and staff to continue with a hygiene visit.

Your dentist depends on x-rays to help in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that can threaten your oral and general health. Early decay, impacted teeth, abcesses, bone loss from gum disease, and cysts/tumors can be discovered or confirmed through the use of x-rays. Appropriate x-rays are taken by the dentist, hygienist, or assistant at your initial exam and then they are updated at recall appointments as needed. The decay detecting bitewing and panoramic view of the jaw are the most common x-rays taken in our office. In our Marquette practice we have upgraded to digital imaging for the most up-to-date technology and the best diagnostic abilities to care for your oral needs.

After the diagnosis of decay or fractured teeth we offer many options to restore these teeth back to health. These options include but are not limited to; silver amalgam fillings, tooth colored composite resin fillings, gold or tooth colored porcelain fused to metal crowns (caps), bridges, captek crowns, full porcelin crowns, and veneers. After discussing all the options we can recommend the most appropriate treatment for you on an individualized basis.

Many people suffer from clicking of the jaw joint, headaches, earaches, limited opening, tenderness of the jaw joints or muscles, or dull aching facial pain. These people may suffer from problems related to the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) or muscles. These problems are collectively referred to as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) when the muscles and joints are not functioning properly. The causes of many of these problems are not well understood; therefore there are many theories about the diagnosis and treatment for them. The most common and best treatment to date is the hard acrylic bitesplint. This is conservative reversible appliance that has shown great success rates. The appliance is intended to be worn over night or when the problem is occurring most, and it obtains relief in most circumstances. This same appliance is often worn in order to prevent excessive damage and wear to the teeth in cases where the patient grinds their teeth.

Implants are metal posts that are surgically placed in the bone beneath your gums. After placement, the implants fuse to the bone of your jaw and act as the tooth root. Replacement teeth are then fabricated to fit on the implant. Implants can be placed in the jaw to help stabilize a denture, or to replace one or a few missing teeth. Currently, implants are being placed in the bone by specialists in the area (Marquette to Green Bay) and then the patient is referred back to our office where the abutment and crown are fabricated.

We offer treatment in order to replace missing teeth that have been lost for any reason. Replacing missing teeth can be performed in several ways. Many of these include full upper and lower dentures (figure 1), metal or plastic base removable partial dentures (figure 2), bridges or fixed partial dentures (figure 3), and implants (see implant section). Call us today to find out which option is right for you to replace your missing teeth.

Root canal treatment is often needed when the pulp of the tooth (soft tissue that contains the blood vessels and nerves of the tooth) becomes inflammed or infected and it is unable to repair itself. This can occur for several reasons, with the top two being decay and trauma. This root canal procedure involves the removal of the tooth's pulp, cleaning and shaping of the canals, and refilling and sealing the empty canals with a filling material called gutta percha. After a root canal procedure, the tooth is left in a more brittle state and is more susceptible to fracture. For this reason, the best prognosis can be made for the tooth if it is properly restored with a buildup and crown.

There are various reasons which would require tooth removal. The most common reasons being un-restorability due to cracks or extensive decay; financial reasons deemed by the patient; and removal of wisdom teeth in teens and young adults when necessary for preventive reasons. In these cases extraction is needed and we provide this service to most patients in our office to avoid long waits and costly referrals to the oral surgeon.

We use this new piece of equipment in order to show you what is currently in your mouth. This is so you can better understand the treatment to be performed and the reasons why it is needed.

One of our three dentists is always on call to answer questions and assist you with your dental emergencies after hours and over the weekends. Please call 906-228-9594 to reach the dentist on call. Or you can reach us on our toll-free line 1-877-646-4334.