Specialty Care
What is tooth whitening?
Is the process safe?
How does it work?
How long do the results last?
Are there any other options?
What is Invisalign?
Is Invisalign for me?
What is the process of Invisalign?
What is the difference between braces and Invisalign?
How many visits and how often do I come in?
Bonding
Porcelain Veneers
Custom Mouthguards
Facts About Infection Control
Universal Precautions
Sterilization and Disinfection
What is tooth whitening?
It's actually a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentin. The system uses a mild solution retained in a custom-fitting tray that is worn over your teeth.
Is the process safe?
Yes! Research and clinical studies indicate that whitening teeth with carbamide peroxide under the supervision of a dentist is safe for teeth and gums. In fact, many dentists consider this whitening process the safest cosmetic dental procedure available today.
How does it work?
The gel is placed in a thin bleaching tray that fits over your teeth. As the active ingredient in the gel, carbamide peroxide, is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin and bleaches the colored substances. The structure of the tooth is not changed; only the tooth color is made lighter.
How long do the results last?
The teeth will always be lighter than they were. However, some patients may need periodic re-whitening for one or two days every one to two years, especially if they continue to use staining substances like caffeine or tobacco products.
Are there any other options?
Yes, University Dental Group also offers Zoom! tooth whitening for those that need a quick boost to brighten their smile.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth using a series of custom-made, nearly undetectable aligners. It's been proven effective in both clinical research and in practices nationwide.
Is Invisalign for me?
Whether your teeth are crowded, too far apart or have shifted since wearing braces, you'll have a new reason to smile. Nearly everyone is a candidate, but scheduling a consultation with one of our Invisalign-trained and certified doctors will tell you for sure.
What is the process of Invisalign?
First you have an initial examination. At this point the doctor decides if Invisalign is right for you. The doctor will write a treatment plan and take an impression of your teeth. They are then submitted to Invisalign. Using 3-D computer technology, Invisalign carefully translates your doctor's instructions into a series of precisely customized aligners. You then wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, moving your teeth gradually— week by week, millimeter by millimeter— until you've achieved the intended result: straighter teeth.
What is the difference between braces and Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are nearly undetectable so they are visually different from metal brackets. The aligners are removable so eating, brushing, and flossing are no problem. You can still enjoy your favorite foods and smile without holding back.
How many visits and how often do I come in?
Generally, you visit your doctor no more often than you would with braces, and the length of treatment is about the same. Normally, you will visit the doctor once a month, receiving two sets of aligners per visit as you change aligners every two weeks.
Bonding
Bonding restores damaged teeth that have been chipped, cracked, misaligned, or discolored. A plastic resin somewhat like putty is used to rebuild the teeth and make them look natural.
Visits: Usually one, although more complex cases may require several visits.
Durability: A bonded tooth usually lasts three to five years before it needs a touch-up to correct wear or discoloration.
How Teeth Are Bonded:
1. Tooth-colored plastic putty (called composite resin) is applied to the tooth and shaped to fill in chips or to correct other problems.
2. The resin is exposed for 20 to 60 seconds to a bonding light that dries and hardens it. Then the tooth is smoothed and polished.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are hard, tooth-shaped shells adhered onto the surfaces of prepared teeth in much the same way that false fingernails are applied. Veneers correct or camouflage the same problems that bonding does - discoloration, damage, or misalignment - but the veneers last longer.
Visits: One visit is needed for preparation. The teeth are buffered to remove a thin layer of enamel, and then an impression is taken. During the second visit, the dentist applies and polishes the veneer.
Durability: The life span is roughly four years or more.
How Veneers Are Applied:
1. During the second visit, after the porcelain veneers have been made, the teeth are etched with an acidic solution and painted with an adhesive resin.
2. Once the veneers are applied to the surface of the teeth, the adhesive resin is hardened with a bonding light. Then the veneers are polished so they look natural.
Custom Mouthguards
All-Sports Mouthguards by Intact, custom-made and fitted for you at University Dental Group P.A.
An impression is taken and a laminating process using high heat and pressure enables a perfect fit that would last a very long time.
At the time of impact in a sports competition, a mouthguard needs to fit properly and do what it was created for, that is: stay in the mouth, protect the teeth from injury, and still permit the wearer to be able to speak and breathe as normal.
Available in many different colors - coordinating your team colors would be possible.
Facts About Infection Control
Universal Precautions
To protect your health, we adhere to what is called "universal precautions." That means we use the same protective measures with every patient to prevent transmission of the virus that causes AIDS or any other infectious disease.
These universal precautions include:
- Wearing gloves, masks, and protective eyewear for all patient treatment.
- Washing hands before and after each treatment and changing gloves after each patient.
- Sterilizing or disinfecting dental instruments after each use.
- Cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces in the treatment room and equipment after each patient.
- Disposing of needles and other sharp items in special containers.
- Properly disposing of waste items and contaminated material.
Sterilization and Disinfection
Dental offices use various methods to sterilize and disinfect in order to kill bacteria and viruses. Our staff is trained in these procedures and their appropriate use.
Instruments that can withstand high temperature may be sterilized in a steam autoclave by using steam under pressure or with dry heat in an oven-like environment. Other instruments that can't be heated are scrubbed clean and then sterilized or disinfected in chemical solutions. We use disinfection procedures and covers on surfaces and equipment that cannot be removed for cleaning and sterilization, such as counter tops, drawer handles, x-ray unit heads and light handles. Disinfection is done in the treatment room between patients to assure that the operatory is absolutely clean for each patient.
