Drs. Mark and Courtney Wightman are highly trained in a variety of services and techniques. They also have an understanding of patients with particular needs, such as high anxiety, and they are dedicated to providing an experience that is as free as possible from stress and pain. Since informed patients tend to be more at ease at the dentist’s office and more compliant with effective dental maintenance at home, the Wightmans believe in the importance of educating patients about the services they provide. Below is a list of commonly performed procedures. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions about any of the services listed below or to set up an appointment to discuss a specific condition.

Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings are popular because they look more natural, completely bond to your teeth, and require less removal of the tooth structure than silver fillings. However, some patients may prefer the affordability of silver fillings, which are actually a silver-mercury amalgam. We are pleased to offer both types of fillings in order to better meet your needs.

Extractions

Although every effort is made to preserve your teeth, sometimes they may need to be extracted due to irreversible periodontal disease or in preparation for a procedure such as having dentures fitted. However, thanks to local anesthetics and inhalation sedation (nitrous oxide oxygen, otherwise known as laughing gas), this can be a painless and anxiety-free procedure.

Removable Dentures

If your natural teeth are missing or irreparably decayed, dentures can help you to look and feel better, improving your ability to eat, speak, and smile. Getting fitted for dentures takes more than one visit. At the initial appointment, the dentist will remove any remaining teeth and make a model of your jaw. After the tissue is healed, your dentures will be fitted. In the interim, temporary dentures may be fitted so that you will be as comfortable as possible while your mouth heals.

Dental Implants

Because dental implants are placed directly into the bone, where there are no sensory nerves, they are completely painless. The most up-to-date method for replacing missing teeth, they look and feel completely natural. There are two phases for dental implants—placement and restoration. During the first phase, the implant is surgically placed in the bone and unifies with it over several months. During the restoration phase, a crown or bridge is placed over the end of the implant.

Bridges

A bridge fills in the gap caused by missing teeth with artificial teeth that are bonded onto the surrounding teeth for support. This helps to prevent your natural teeth from shifting and improves your ability to speak and chew.

Removable Partials

Because of physiological, economic, or aesthetic considerations, you may prefer or require removable partial dentures rather than an implant or a fixed bridge. These generally consist of replacement teeth that affix to your natural teeth with metal clasps or precision attachments. Precision attachments are more costly than metal clasps but are nearly invisible. Crowns may be placed on your remaining natural teeth in order to improve the fit of your removable partial.

Root Canals

If the nerve of a tooth becomes injured or diseased, infection could set in, causing you to lose the tooth. However, a root canal, which is a routine procedure with minimal discomfort, can help to save it. The dentist will remove the injured or diseased pulp of the tooth, clean the root canal, and protect the canal by sealing it. After you have healed, your tooth will be further strengthened with a crown.

TMD Diagnosis and Treatment

Temporomandibular joint disease (TMD) can be the source of intense pain, causing you to be unable to open your mouth comfortably. It can cause headaches; pain in the shoulders, back, ears, and neck; a popping sensation in your jaw, and increased sensitivity in your teeth. Although sometimes TMD can resolve itself without being treated, often persistent pain makes treatment necessary. We can diagnose TMD and formulate a plan of treatment especially for you.

Invisible Braces

If you are among the many who have wanted straight teeth but have been put off by the idea of having a “metal mouth,” invisible braces may be right for you. No one will be able to tell that you’re wearing braces. As an additional bonus, often invisible braces only need to be worn for half the time of traditional braces.

Crowns

A crown is a permanent covering for a tooth that helps to restore it to its natural size and shape. Crowns, which fit over the original teeth, may be necessary for a variety of reasons, such as covering dental implants, attaching bridges, improving the aesthetic of discolored or misshapen teeth, and protecting weak teeth from fracturing and fractured teeth from worsening. Two visits are typically needed to fit a crown.

Veneers

Veneers are usually made of porcelain and are thin coverings for the front of the teeth that are designed to improve the shape and color of your teeth. Teeth that are stained, gapped, or crooked may benefit from veneers, which are durable and natural looking. They are bonded to your teeth with a safe, effective polymer resin, which is applied once a bit of enamel has been removed. Veneers are easy to maintain and are a good way to brighten your smile instantly.

Bleaching

Bleaching is among the fastest and easiest ways to make your smile look brighter and whiter. It takes about an hour, and the dramatic difference can help to bolster your self-confidence.