Call: (707) 545-1213
You can expect to walk into a bright and sunny office and be greeted by warm and friendly people. Our operatories have floor to ceiling windows that look out over a peaceful back yard and creek setting. After taking appropriate x-rays, Dr. Block will listen to your concerns and goals then will complete a thorough exam including jaw joints, soft tissue, occlusion, smile, appearance, gums and teeth. He will then discuss his findings and work with you to determine what the best treatment plan is for you. This may be as simple as scheduling for two teeth cleanings per year or may be more complicated requiring photographs and study models and consultations with specialists. Whatever your needs are Dr. Block will take the time necessary to make you feel confident and cared for.
Many of our patients who have grown up in our office have no cavities. Regular check-ups, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and hygiene education has resulted in many young patients growing up cavity free. I discuss with each parent an appropriate preventative treatment plan that fits with each family’s philosophy and goals. A typical approach in bi-annual cleanings and fluoride treatment, annual x-rays and exams, sealants on the 6 and 12 year molars, and referral to the orthodontist between the ages of 7 and 10. (Straight teeth not only make beautiful smiles but are part of preventing cavities and gum disease.)
As for most of our adult patients, bi-annual cleanings and annual x-rays and exams with hygiene coaching is more than adequate to maintain a beautiful and healthy mouth. However, we always review a person’s health history and medication usage as many medicines can cause dry mouth (xerostomia) which can have some disastrous consequences to the teeth.
As we age our teeth can become more prone to wear and breaking especially if many old large fillings are present. Dr. Block will restore some teeth showing signs of cracking and chipping with conservative ceramic inlays, onlays, and crowns (see CEREC below). Sometimes, fabricating a tooth guard to be worn at night will greatly reduce wear and destruction of the teeth.
Maintaining a healthy mouth with regular cleanings and exams is probably the most important service we offer. Megan, Jeanine, and Jenny are gentle and thorough and strive to teach every patient how to keep their mouths healthy at home. They use digital x-rays and keep accurate logs of each person’s gum health. Dr. Block annually examines the teeth, gums, and reviews x-rays with the goal of preventing cavities and gum disease.
Our CEREC computer and milling machine can fabricate inlays, onlays, and crowns(including Implant crowns) while you wait. You no longer need to wear a temporary crown and come back in 2 weeks for the cementing of the permanent restoration. These restorations are tooth colored and seem to disappear into the teeth maintaining a natural smile. They are fused to the tooth with an incredibly strong adhesive which returns the tooth to its original strength. With a good diet and home care (brushing and flossing) these restorations can last for many years.
Today’s dentistry is so fascinating because many cavities can be filled with a material that looks exactly like the tooth and has no metal in it. Composite fillings have become so natural that sometimes they can only be seen in x-rays. Composites are as durable and long-lasting as silver fillings but they don’t require as much removal of the tooth structure and they are bonded to the tooth. Additionally, composites don’t have mercury like the old silver fillings do.
Teeth WhiteningStudies show that the first thing a person notices about somebody is their eyes, but the second thing they notice is their teeth and smile. People judge another person’s health and vitality based on the appearance of their teeth. Teeth whitening is a simple, cost-effective way to have a brighter, more youthful smile. The trays used for teeth whitening are worn anywhere from 3 hours to all night. The trays use a hydrogen peroxide gel for whitening. The gel is completely safe to the enamel, but care must be taken to see to that the gel does not contact the gums. Teeth sensitivity is sometimes an issue but can usually be dealt with desensitizing gels. The great thing about the tray system is that you keep the trays and they can be used for years. When one needs a touch-up usually a tube of bleach used for a night or two will brighten the teeth right up.
One of the greatest advances in dentistry is the dental implant. From replacing one or all the teeth, dental implants have improved the lives of thousands. A dental implant is the closest thing to an actual tooth that has ever been developed. A restored implant or implants can smile, chew, brush and floss just like a real tooth. Implants now have a long history of success to show they can last a lifetime. Recent advances in bone building techniques now allow people who previously had too little jaw structure to support an implant can now have implants as an option. Dental implants seem costly upfront, but because they can outlast a bridge or partial denture by many years, they are less costly in the long term.
A bridge is used to replace missing teeth by anchoring onto neighboring teeth. It is permanently cemented and stays in the mouth. Bridges today look incredibly natural and can be made without metal. A well cared for bridge can replace one or two missing teeth and last for a lifetime. A bridge has the advantage of being completed in a two week period without the need for multiple surgeries. Also, most dental insurance companies cover part of the cost of a bridge.
Careful planning and skill is required to create a well-fitting, comfortable, and natural appearing denture. Advances in tooth technology has created strong and incredibly natural, beautiful denture teeth. I have many years of experience making a person’s first denture and remaking old worn dentures. Additionally, we are able to attach existing dentures to recently placed implants to greatly increase a person’s ability to chew and reduce the fear of the denture coming loose.
Our dentist and hygienists use a soft tissue laser when gum disease does not improve with regular cleanings. This has benefited many folks in that gum surgery is avoided. Maintaining these diseased areas requires more frequent trips to our office but avoiding gum surgery is always a plus. We can also treat canker sores and cold sores with the laser which can rapidly improve healing times.
Even the unfortunate loss of a tooth has benefited from technology. Using small chisels called periotomes and the soft tissue laser, the extraction process is less traumatic and healing is faster with less post-op pain.
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