Dr. J. Lee Amason, Jr. DMD, P.C.

Cleanings & Prevention

Prevention and early detection is the number one way to avoid major dental problems and gum disease. A good home regimen, in addition to regular check-ups and visits, can spare you many expensive dental treatments. Prevention starts with controlling plaque and tartar. These are the main sources of decay and disease. By maintaining a proper routine of daily hygiene, coupled with regular visits to your hygienist, you can avoid most oral issues.

We believe in the benefits of regular preventative care, and encourage all of our patients to come in for a cleaning that will be performed by one of our certified dental hygienist. You should visit your hygienist at least every six months. Included in each visit will be a personal dental examination by Dr. Amason. Dental exams are a necessity and are the foundation for good dental health. We encourage all of our patients to schedule their next hygiene visit when leaving our office.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Enhancing the smile's aesthetic appearance can lead to increased self-confidence, improved social skills, and even a more positive outlook on life. Modern cosmetic dentistry merges advanced technology with fine art, and can often produce amazing results in less time than you would expect.

One service offered for cosmetic procedures is veneers. Veneers are very thin pieces of durable, tooth shaped porcelain that are custom made (for shape and color) by a professional dental laboratory. Veneers can completely reshape your teeth and smile. They can often be alternatives to crowns and the ideal solution in treating many dental conditions. They are very durable and will last many years, giving you a beautiful long lasting smile.

Cosmetic Services can:

• Change the size, shape, and alignment of certain teeth
• Fill in unattractive spaces between teeth
• Repair decayed, broken, cracked, or chipped teeth
• Replace old, unattractive dental treatments

Ask one of dental professionals how we can enhance your smile today.

Dental Implants

Replicating the natural function and appearance of your lost teeth can be very difficult to accomplish. Dental implants are the most realistic tooth replacements available. They are natural-looking replacements for missing teeth that also provide the same function as your natural tooth root.

Implants begin with a surgically placed post that is securely anchored into the jawbone. The bone surrounding the anchor will heal in a few months. After the bone has grown around the implant, an artificial tooth is then installed. The end result is a new artificial tooth that is virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth, both from an aesthetic and functional standpoint. In cases where several teeth are missing, dental implants can also act as the teeth to which bridges are fixed, again perfectly mimicking the function of healthy, natural teeth.

Implants are very durable and can last a lifetime. They require the same maintenance as natural teeth; this includes brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups.

Full Mouth Reconstruction

Almost everyone on the planet will experience tooth decay at some point in his or her life. Swift detection and correction of this decay can minimize the significant expense and inconvenience associated with more serious problems caused by tooth decay. Restorative dentistry treats all phases of tooth decay, from simple cavity fillings to entire tooth replacements.

Some of the Full Mouth Reconstructive Services Include:

• Bonding
• Implants
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Extractions
• Root-Canals
• Composite Fillings
• Teeth Whitening

TMJ Therapy

TMJ disorder includes a wide range of symptoms that can be associated with the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). These joints are the bridge between the lower jaw and the skull on each side of the head. Problems in this area develop when excess stress is put on the structures around the joint, including the muscles, teeth, ligaments, and cartilage.

Teeth grinding and teeth clenching can contribute to the TMJ disorder. Though the cause of grinding is unknown, it is believed that stress is a factor.

Clenching and grinding of the teeth, poor posture, arthritis, injuries, and structural problems can all cause excess stress and pressure at the joints which can cause the uncomfortable symptoms associated with TMJ. Symptoms of TMJ may include: headaches, ringing in the ears, popping, grinding, clicking during jaw movement, difficulty opening or closing mouth, and even neck and shoulder pain.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you may be suffering from a TMJ disorder. TMJ disorders can be treated through a variety of restorative dentistry procedures and night-guards, among other treatments. Your first TMJ consultation with Dr. Amason is always free of charge. Schedule your appointment today.

Crown & Bridges

Porcelain Crowns maintain the aesthetic appearance of teeth by covering the visible surface of your natural tooth, but the main function of the crown is to add significant reinforcement and protection to your natural tooth. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.

A crown (or cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorative procedures. After removing all areas of decay, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth to be crowned and send it to a dental laboratory to build the crown. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they will eventually need to be replaced.

Patients who are missing a tooth or several teeth may need a multi-unit crown known as a bridge. Bridges replace missing teeth with new synthetic teeth. Bridges can improve chewing and aesthetic appearance, restoring the smile with a more permanent solution than dentures.

Tooth Colored Fillings

Using tooth-colored fillings is a fairly new dental technique. A tooth colored (composite) filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay which has led to the development of a cavity or small hole. The decayed or affected portion of the tooth will be removed and then filled with a composite filling. Composite fillings are the most widely used today because they are tooth colored allowing them to be closely matched to the color of your existing teeth.

Dr. Amason chooses to use tooth-colored fillings because they are preferred for cosmetic purposes. Also, Dr. Amason opts for the tooth-colored fillings over amalgam (silver) fillings due to the recent studies released on amalgam restorations. As with most dental restorations, composite fillings are not permanent and may someday have to be replaced. They are very durable, and will last many years, giving you a long lasting, beautiful smile.

Dentures & Partials

A denture is a removable dental appliance replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile.

There are two types of dentures: complete and partial. Complete dentures are used when all of the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. A Partial denture not only fills in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from shifting.

A complete denture may be either “conventional” or “immediate.” A conventional type is made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed, usually taking 4 to 6 weeks. During this time the patient will go without teeth. Immediate dentures are made in advance and immediately placed after the teeth are removed, thus preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. Once the tissues shrink and heal, adjustments will have to be made.

Dentures are very durable appliances and will last many years, but may have to be remade, repaired, or readjusted due to normal wear.

Extractions

While extracting a tooth is almost never a best-case scenario, it is the only option in some cases. In these extreme cases where a tooth cannot be saved, an extraction will be performed. Modern dentistry makes routine tooth extractions relatively comfortable, painless procedures.

Some extractions may need to be performed by a specialist. In these cases, patients will be referred to an oral surgeon so they can be in the best hands when having their extraction performed.

One of the cases where an oral surgeon is almost always needed is when a patient needs their wisdom teeth extracted. Wisdom teeth are the molars that are farthest back in the mouth. These teeth are the last to grow into the mouth, usually after age 18. Wisdom teeth often become impacted-- they do not grow in properly. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a myriad of problems, which is why it is almost always recommended to have them removed.

Root Canals

The inside of each tooth is filled with "pulp", which carries the tooth's blood supply and nerves. If bacteria are able to gain access to the pulp, through a fracture or deep cavity, the pulp may become infected, leading to pain and a risk of tooth loss.

To prevent the loss of a tooth, a root canal is performed. In order to save the tooth, the pulp, nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function. The tooth will then be covered with a crown, which reinforces the tooth against future fractures and enhances the tooth's appearance. Root canals have an extremely high success rate in saving teeth that would otherwise be lost to infection.

Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what is not realized is that extracting a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.

Some root canals may need to be performed by a specialist. In these cases, patients will be referred to an endodontist so they can be in the best hands when having their root canal performed.

Root canal treatment is highly successful and usually lasts a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.

Whitening

Tooth whitening, or bleaching, is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is a perfect way to improve your smile. Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.

The appearance of whiter teeth has now become the number one visual concern of most patients. We offer a number of ways to whiten your teeth. The most popular is our in office whitening. It is a short, relaxing experience that will leave you with a brighter smile in a matter of minutes.

Another option is to use a home tooth whitening system that will whiten teeth after several uses. Most patients choose to sleep overnight with a thin mouthpiece in place that contains the bleaching product.

Tooth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up maybe needed every several years, and more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea, or wine. Ask a member of our dental staff how we can brighten your smile today.