General & Restorative Dentistry
Services
Personalized Care and Guidance
Taking good care of your teeth and gums is an important part of life. A beautiful smile not only looks good, but it is also an indicator of your overall health. Studies have shown that systemic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are directly linked to oral health complications like periodontal (gum) disease. At Michael Brody D.D.S., our goal is to help you maintain excellent oral health and improve your overall quality of life. Our services include preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are in need of any professional dental treatment, you have come to the right place!
Family Dentistry
Here For You
At Michael Brody D.D.S. we pride ourselves on treating every member of the family. Family dentistry is focused on preventing potential complications, rather than treating them. If you and your family are in need of professional dental services, we can help!
Cleanings
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a routine check-up twice a year. A routine appointment with Dr. Michael Brody will typically include a professional cleaning and a detailed examination of your teeth, gums, and other oral tissues. We may also recommend an oral cancer screening for all of our patients.
Oral Cancer Screenings
To check for signs of oral cancer or precancerous conditions, we perform oral cancer screening examinations. While it’s arguable whether everyone should have regular oral cancer screenings, they are particularly recommended to people with risk factors, such as smoking, chewing tobacco, significant alcohol consumption or a history of oral cancer.
Dentistry for Kids
Professional dental care is a crucial part of your child's oral health. Be sure to schedule your child's first appointment by the time their first teeth erupt, or before their first birthday. Scheduling regular appointments allows us to monitor the development of their oral health. Developmental problems are easier to treat in the beginning stages.
As your child grows older, we can establish a strong foundation for their oral health, one that will ensure a lifetime of healthy, beautiful teeth.
Periodontal Care
Your periodontal (gum) tissues are just as important as your teeth. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Periodontal disease is the result of an infection in the gum tissues, connective ligaments, and eventually the alveolar bone.
The disease is characterized by gums that are swollen, red, and tend to bleed during brushing and flossing. Luckily, periodontal disease is easy to prevent and treat if it is caught early enough. If we notice signs of advanced periodontal disease, we may recommend a scaling and root planing procedure. The goal is to return your gums to a pink, healthy state.
Mouthguards
If you participate in physical activities that put you at risk for dental trauma or injury, we strongly recommend a mouthguard. A mouthguard will protect your teeth and prevent dental emergencies. If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), we may also recommend a night guard. Many patients with bruxism tend to grind their teeth during sleep. A night guard acts as a barrier that prevents enamel wear.
TMJ
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), allows us to move our joint forwards, backward, and side-to-side. Any problems that prevent us from using this joint properly are known as TMD or temporomandibular joint disorders. We provide some treatments designed to alleviate any pain or discomfort associated with the TMJ.
Restorative Dentistry
Quality Care
At Michael Brody D.D.S., our goal is to prevent dental problems before they occur. Unfortunately, this is not always possible due to poor oral hygiene, genetics, infrequent checkups, and other risk factors. This is why we also specialize in restorative dentistry. Our restorative services are designed to improve the function and aesthetics of your smile, as well as your overall oral health.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are the best way to restore minor to moderate instances of tooth decay. Most fillings these days consist of a material known as composite resin. Composite resin, is bonded to the natural tooth structure and is an aesthetically pleasing material we color shade to match the rest of your enamel. For this reason, a composite filling is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of your tooth.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is fabricated with porcelain/zirconia due to its superior strength and aesthetics. During the procedure, your tooth must be completely reshaped to accommodate the shape of the crown. Once the tooth is reshaped, we will permanently bond the crown to the enamel using a special adhesive. Many crowns are fabricated these days with porcelain, due to its unmatched aesthetics.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a tooth replacement that typically consists of two dental crowns linked together by a pontic, or space maintaining tooth. A traditional bridge is supported by the two surrounding teeth, known as abutment teeth, that we reshape to receive the crowns. A bridge can also be supported by a series of dental implants if multiple adjacent teeth are missing. If you are missing a tooth, a bridge will prevent the remaining teeth from shifting out of their proper position.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically embed into the jawbone. The implant serves as the root component of a prosthetic tooth. Once the implant is in place, it will fuse to the bone during the process of osseointegration. Osseointegration allows the implant to support a restoration against the forces of your bite. For this reason, dental implants are widely considered to be the next best thing to your natural teeth.
Dentures: Complete, Partial & Custom
A denture is a removable appliance that is usually used to replace one or more missing teeth. A partial denture usually attaches to the surrounding teeth with metal clasps. A complete denture consists of a gum-colored acrylic base that supports a complete arch of prosthetic teeth. We offer custom-fit dentures as a more comfortable, functional, and durable solution.
Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays are ideal for areas of decay too large for a filling, but not large enough to require the placement of a dental crown. The restoration is considered an inlay if it is placed within the occlusal (bite) surface of a tooth. The restoration is considered an onlay if it extends beyond one or more of the occlusal cusps.
Tooth Extraction
There are two types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical. We perform a simple extraction on a tooth that has already erupted above the gumline. We perform a surgical extraction on a tooth that has become impacted, or has yet to erupt, such as wisdom teeth. Extraction may be necessary to prevent the spread of infection and other complications.
Cosmetic Dentistry
The Perfect Pearly Whites
Cosmetic dentistry has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few decades. At Michael Brody D.D.S., we specialize in several cosmetic services aimed at improving the appearance of your teeth and overall smile. From minor cosmetic changes to full-tooth restorations, we have got you covered!
Teeth Whitening
One of the most common complaints we receive involves the brightness of our patient’s smiles. For this reason, we offer professional teeth whitening treatment. Teeth whitening is one of the most basic and cost-effective ways to improve your smile.
As we get older, our teeth pick up stains from certain foods, drinks, medications, and personal habits. These stains, also known as extrinsic stains, are easy to remove with a bleaching solution. However, many store-bought bleaching products leave people dissatisfied with the results. Because we are trained professionals, we use a bleaching agent with a much higher concentration than store-bought alternatives. Our whitening treatment could make your teeth up to several shades brighter in just a single appointment!
Porcelain Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that completely covers the visible portion of a damaged or decayed tooth. In previous years, a dental crown was fabricated using a gold or silver amalgam. These days, porcelain is usually the material of choice. Porcelain is a ceramic compound that mimics the light-reflective properties of natural enamel. It can also be textured and color-matched to your existing teeth. Thanks to porcelain and other ceramics, crowns can also be used to fix the aesthetics of an unsightly tooth.
Dental Veneers
A dental veneer is a thin shell that is bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Like our dental crowns, our veneers are typically made from porcelain. Veneers can be used to fix teeth that are severely discolored, worn down, chipped or broken, misaligned, uneven, irregularly shaped, or even gapped. During the procedure, we have to remove a small amount of enamel to accommodate the thickness of the veneer. For this reason, the veneer procedure is considered irreversible, but more conservative than a crown.
Patients looking for a less-invasive and more cost-effective solution may benefit from dental bonding. Dental bonding involves the application of composite resin, a putty-like material, to the surface of an aesthetically displeasing tooth. For example, dental bonding is an excellent solution for minor chips or cracks. During the procedure, the composite resin will be color-matched to the existing shade of your enamel, making it virtually indistinguishable from the rest of your tooth.
Bonding
Our expert team at Michael Brody D.D.S. are experts on bonding. Dental bonding is a procedure where our experts apply a tooth-colored resin material to repair a fractured, discolored, or decayed tooth. It is different from veneers since it doesn’t require customized molds and can usually be done in only one appointment. It is so called because the material bonds to the tooth, restoring the teeth and improving the appearance of your smile.