Our dental hygienists have special cleaning instruments enabling them to thoroughly remove plaque and tartar, while maintaining a high degree of comfort for our patients.

By inspecting your gums, measuring the pockets around your teeth, and taking x-rays during your oral exam, we can identify the problem areas. We can also show you which areas may need extra attention while cleaning.

Tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush and toothpaste and may lead to periodontis or gum disease if not removed regularly. We recommend that you have your teeth cleaned professionally at least twice per year as calculus or tartar deposits can accumulate on the teeth.

WE CATER TO COWARDS!

Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Gum diseases attack just below the gum line and cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. Tissues damage, develops into a pocket and generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket. The two most common stages of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontis. Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums.

It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs. That is one reason why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations are very important. Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. Good oral hygiene at home is essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring. You don’t have to lose teeth to periodontal disease. Brush, clean between your teeth, eat a balanced diet, and schedule regular dental visits with us for a lifetime of good oral health.

Some factors increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:

• Tobacco smoking or chewing
• Systemic diseases such as diabetes
• Some types of medication such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives
• Bridges that no longer fit properly
• Crooked teeth
• Fillings that have become defective
• Pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives

Several warning signs that can signal a problem:

• Gums that bleed easily
• Red, swollen, tender gums
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste
• Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures

A root canal is typically done whenever the decay or injury to the tooth invades the inner part of the tooth where the pulp is. This is where the nerve and the blood supply are located. When a root canal is done, the inner portion of the pulp is removed, along with any infection that may have invaded the inside walls of the tooth. Then a sealer material is placed to fill the hole so that new infection can't get into the tooth. Generally, by removing the nerve and blood supply to the tooth, it can potentially weaken a tooth and therefore, it is common to protect the integrity of the tooth by placing a crown over the tooth.

Crowns are placed over a tooth when a large portion of the tooth is lost, decayed or has broken off and there is a risk for further fracture or undue stress. Usually, when a filling is more than half of the size of the tooth, the tooth is weakened. If the filling would comprise a significant portion of the tooth, often the tooth can fracture under the stresses of chewing and therefore, placing a crown over the tooth protects the chewing surface and prevents that from happening.

A tooth-colored dental crown may be made of both porcelain and metal, or, thanks to newly available technology, it may be made entirely of porcelain.  Recent breakthroughs in adhesives, combined with the development of stronger porcelain materials, allow us to make dental crowns entirely out of porcelain. In the past, porcelain crowns were always built upon a metal core. That was the only way they could have enough strength to withstand the tremendous biting forces that are exerted on all of your teeth. That metal core is what creates the dark blue line at the edge of many crowns. All-porcelain crowns maintain a translucency that makes them hard to differentiate from natural teeth. Without metal, the problem of a dark line at the edge of the gums is eliminated. This allows us to place the edge of the porcelain crown above the gumline, and that's healthier for your tooth and gums. When you want to improve your smile, porcelain crowns are a beautiful and natural looking choice.

Teeth can often be whitened by the several new techniques of "bleaching" available today. One of the common methods used is the "in-office" method where a strong bleaching agent is placed over the isolated teeth and a special light is used to activate the bleaching material that will lighten the teeth. This method is generally more controlled and probably better for people who have tetracycline stains or streaks on their teeth. The "home" techniques involve making custom trays which fit into the mouth and these are then filled with bleaching materials. When worn for a few hours a day, noticeable results are seen generally within a few days to a couple weeks. Results vary from individual to individual and it is probably best to check with your dentist to help decide which method works best for you. Some of the factors involved include the intensity of the stains, whether or not you have fillings or crowns on your front teeth as well as what may have caused the stains.

Over time, your teeth may darken as minerals penetrate the outer enamel layer. This can be caused by foods or beverages that stain (e.g., coffee, colas, tea, red wine or berries), tobacco products, and the natural aging process. We provide tooth whitening treatment using the latest light technology to bring you a consistent, whiter smile.

We can prescribe a home teeth whitening system that will safely lighten these stains, giving you a whiter, brighter smile! A specially formulated tooth whitening gel, and personalized tooth whitening trays that fit tightly over your teeth can be highly effective, yet safe.  Typically, you'll begin to see results in two to three days.

For those who desire faster results we can apply professional teeth whitening gel which will whiten your teeth 6-8 shades in about 60-90 minutes.

When the process is complete, your smile will be noticeably whiter and brighter!

 Call today to make an appointment for a whiter, healthier looking smile.

If you have lost your teeth and are noticing that your dentures are loose, dingy yellow, or don’t support your face, then you may be a candidate for a cosmetic denture. Dentures should be examined every year for fit and chewing efficiency. Because Dr. Yip-Young has fit numerous dentures for general and cosmetic dentistry patients, you will be impressed with how they look and how comfortably they fit.

We provide Composite, or white fillings which work very well in the grooves, and dramatically lower the development of cavities. We use a special light which hardens (or "cures") the material, allowing us more time to form the material and make sure the color is just right prior to the material setting.

Until recently, silver amalgam was the material most often used to restore decayed portions of your teeth, especially back teeth. Unfortunately, silver fillings can really darken a smile, and amalgam, by its very nature, can cause damage to your tooth in the long run.Amalgam fillings absorb moisture and expand and contract with heat and cold. So, as the filling ages, it can fracture your tooth; we'll then need to place a porcelain crown on your tooth to save it. Also, silver fillings often undergo metal fatigue, corroding and leaking over time. This destroys the protective seal of the filling and allows new decay to develop underneath it. This leakage can give a gray appearance to the entire tooth. Dental research has resulted in the development of new tooth-colored materials that are not only durable and long lasting, but attractive as well. These materials, porcelain and composite resin, provide an attractive, natural look while at the same time restoring strength and durability to your tooth. Both porcelain and composite resin are bonded directly to the tooth, restoring it to near its original strength and function. Both can be custom-colored to precisely match your teeth, so when porcelain or resin fillings are placed, they're extremely natural looking. This can really make a difference in your appearance, especially if the restoration is visible when you smile. When we place an amalgam filling, we have to remove extra healthy tooth structure, just so the filling will stay in place. When we restore your tooth with composite resin, we only need to remove the decayed portion, because the bond anchors the material tightly in place. This means you retain more healthy tooth structure. Also, because white fillings are bonded to your tooth, they add strength to the tooth. So if you're looking for an attractive and effective option for restoring one or more decayed teeth, be sure to ask us about the latest choices in white restorative materials.