Cosmetic Services

Your smile is arguably the most expressive feature on your face. There is no reason to compromise your smile with damaged or missing teeth. Updating or brightening your smile is a wonderful and special gift you can give yourself. And new advancements in cosmetic dentistry have made it easier, more convenient, and more comfortable for you to “treat yourself.” Dr. Nicholson has a variety of effective options and will take great care in designing a smile that complements you and looks completely natural. So go ahead, say “cheese” and…smile! Be sure to visit our Gallery of Smiles to see some amazing “Before and After” photos.

We offer the following cosmetic services:

• Tooth Colored Fillings
• Porcelain Veneers
• britesmilewhitening.com
• Bonding
• All Porcelain Crowns, Onlays and Inlays
• Recontouring
• Bridges
• Dentures and Partial Dentures
• Restoration of Dental Implants
• Root Canal therapy and Extractions

Neuromuscular Dentistry

Temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) is a chronic, degenerative disease affecting up to 75 million adults. People who suffer from TMJ have a structural imbalance in their jaw-to-skull relationship caused by a bite that is out of alignment. This misalignment is known as malocclusion.

The symptoms of TMJ include the following:

• Headaches or migraines
• Unexplained loose teeth
• Worn, chipped, or cracked teeth
• Pain in teeth that seems to move around
• Neck, shoulder or back pain
• Facial pain
• Clicking or grating sounds in the jaw joints
• Numbness in your fingers and arms
• Congestion or stuffiness of the ears

So How Does Neuromuscular Dentistry Help?

The good news is that advances in the science of neuromuscular dentistry have taught us how to bring the jaw into a relaxed position. For example, we may recommend the use of dental restorations to precisely raise or lower areas of your bite, creating a naturally comfortable position for your jaw. In most cases, we can reposition your jaw without surgery or braces and complete the treatment in just a few weeks.

The Results: Feeling and Looking Better!

We’ve found that many patients experience a moderate to significant change in the facial appearance after treatment. Patients who had recessed lower jaws may have a new profile including a stronger jaw line and chin. Areas of the jaw that may have protruded will be pulled back into alignment. And all of the restorations necessary to correct your bite will be guided by the expert aesthetic judgment of Dr. Nicholson. You can read more about TMJ Disorder by visiting our Dental Articles section.

Gum Disease

At least 80% of the population has some degree of gum disease and 75% of adult tooth loss is caused by this condition. Gum disease has been linked to conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pre-mature births, and low birth weight. It is an infection of the gums and jawbones. The bacteria and chemical by-products that the body uses to fight these bacteria can enter the blood stream and cause serious problems in distant parts of the body.

Unfortunately, the untrained eye cannot notice the warning signs of gum disease. A dentist or hygienist must do a thorough and complete examination to detect it, especially in its early stages. Gum disease is similar to high blood pressure or heart disease - by the time symptoms are noticed by patients, it is in an advanced stage. For these reasons, it’s important to have a thorough cleaning and examination at least twice a year, if not more frequently.

We offer the following to help our patients in this area:

• Charting and Diagnostic Services
• In Office Gum Therapy

Preventive Care Services

Smiling is a uniquely human trait that we often take for granted. But not only is a healthy smile directly related to your overall health, it is not something that just happens automatically. Your teeth require regular and consistent maintenance, and while cleaning and polishing is part of every regular visit, we go that “extra step” to keep you and your teeth happy and healthy.

We offer the following preventive care services:

• Regular Checkups and Cleanings
• Dental Sealants
• Patient Education
• Nightguards
• Fluoride Treatments - important for adults as well as children, especially if you only drink bottled water which contains no fluoride

Patient Comfort and Technology

We put technology to work for you in many ways. Technology has improved our ability to fight tooth decay and gum disease. Technology has helped us dramatically improve smiles, whether we are conducting extensive reconstruction or basic cosmetic work. And technology has improved the comfort of our patients during all of our procedures. So rest assured that whatever your dental needs, we believe you will be very pleased with our work and feel very comfortable along the way.

We utilize the following in our practice:

• DIAGNOdent - a painless and precise method for detecting cavities on the surfaces of your teeth
• Digital Imaging - see what your new smile looks like ahead of time!
• Digital Radiography - replaces conventional X-ray system and is faster and significantly reduces patient exposure to radiation
• Intra Oral Camera
• Soft Tissue Therapy
• Chairside Computers
• Patient Education System
• Sedation Dentistry (oral sedation) - for IV sedation and general anesthesia, we work with a local oral surgeon
• Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
• Patient Comfort Measures - DVD players, blankets, music, and Dr. Nicholson’s singing of course!
• Sterilization Center
• Isolite
• ViziLite Oral Cancer Screening Program