Besides infant's and children's dentistry, our general dentistry office (Wilshire Center Dental Group) also provide the following dental services:

    Bridges & Crowns

When a tooth is fractured, has a large or old fillings, or is severely damaged by decay, we will recommend a crown or a cap be fitted.

Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your smile. They come in many types, including full porcelain crown, porcelain-fused-to-metal crown, and all-metal crown.

Fitting a crown will require at least two office visits.

See Dental Crown Procedure

    Periodontics

Periodontics is the dental treatment of periodontal or gum diseases.

Your teeth are supported by gum tissue (or gingiva), connective fibers called the periodontal ligament that anchors the tooth root into its socket, and bone.

With proper gum care, these tissues can help you keep your smile for a lifetime.

    Endodontics or Root Canal

If your tooth's nerve chamber becomes infected by decay, then a root canal treatment may be the only way to save your tooth.

Inside your tooth's hard outer shell is a nourishing pulp of blood and lymphatic vessels, and nerves. Deep tooth decay or injury can damage these nerves and vessels.

In a root canal or endodontic treatment, the infected pulp is cleaned out and the damage is repaired.

    Wisdom Teeth

Your wisdom teeth or third molars, are the final teeth to develop. Most of us have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner of the mouth. They usually emerge during our late teens or in early twenties.

Often, wisdom teeth can become trapped or impacted in the jawbone and can cause crowding, displacement, decay, infection or even gum disease. Impacted wisdom teeth can grow in many different directions - horizontally, vertically, or at an angle.


  Angular or bony          Soft tissue
      Impaction                 Impaction

We will determine the appropriate diagnosis for each patient, because each case is different and may or may not require oral surgery.

In most cases, it is recommended that impacted wisdom teeth are extracted. Wisdom teeth surgery is performed under local anesthesia in our O.R.

Nitrous oxide anesthesia is available upon request at an additional fee.

    Implants

Tooth loss can have a far-reaching effect on your dental health and personal appearance. When you lose one or more teeth, your remaining teeth can drift out of position. This can lead to a change in the bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay, and gum disease.

Dental implants can be an effective method to replace one tooth or several teeth. Each implant consists of a metal anchor that is inserted into the jawbone, and a protruding post, which is outfitted with an artificial tooth.

Implants can also support a bridge, replace a partial denture, or secure a fixed denture. The process requires surgery and may take up to a year to complete.

See Dental Implant Procedure

    Teeth Whitening

How white is your teeth?

Actually, no one has "white" teeth. Some are naturally yellow-white, while others are grey-white with a variety of shades in both groups. But none are white-white.

What teeth whitening does is eliminate stains caused by food, drink, tobacco, etc. It also changes, in moderate degrees, the natural color of your teeth. They will not become white-white, but they will definitely be cleaner looking accompanied by a natural brightness.

So, how much cleaner and brighter looking will your teeth be after you complete this treatment? You can reasonably expect a two- or three- shade change. The end result will depend on the structure of your teeth and the type of stain.

If you suffer from tetracycline, fever-induced or mineral stains, your treatment time most probably be extended. These types of stains are very difficult to eliminate completely, but this procedure can lessen the severity of such stain. With determination and practice, you will experience a significant change.

Typically, it takes anywhere from 2 to 5 years after treatment before your teeth return to the condition they were prior to the treatment. How you take care of your teeth has a lot to do with this particular longevity issue.

    Bonding

Bonding is a procedure that can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained, or have spaces between them

With bonding, tooth-colored materials are applied or bonded to the tooth surface. This process can improve:

Front tooth spaces
Discolored teeth
Chips or cracks due to accidents

Bonding is also used to protect exposed tooth roots that result from gum recession and to fill small cavities.

With proper care, bonding usually lasts from 3 to 5 years.

The bonding process involves:

Preparing the tooth surface with an etching solution that allows the natural-looking bonding material (composite resin) to adhere to the tooth surface.

Application of the resin, which is contoured to the proper shape and hardened using a special light or chemical process.

Smoothing and polishing of the bonding to make it appear natural in color and shine.

The procedure may not require the use of anesthesia or drilling, and can usually be completed in one visit.

    Orthodontics (Braces)

Braces are appliances which apply gentle pressure to move teeth to their desired position. Orthodontics straighten teeth, bring your bite into alignment and improve both the appearance and function of your teeth.

Orthodontic treatment may take anywhere from several months to several years, depending on the nature of the problem. Treatment during childhood usually takes less time because the teeth and jaws are still developing.

Orthodontics can be done on both children and adult, with excellent results.

    Veneers

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are designed to cover the front side of your teeth.

Veneers are made from composite resins, acrylic material, or porcelain.

Placing veneers is often an irreversible process because a small amount of enamel is usually removed to accommodate the thickness of the veneer.

An anesthetic may be required, depending upon the way the tooth is being prepared. The procedure requires just a few appointments.

Like any restoration, it is possible over time the veneer to wear or chip off. In these cases, a new veneer may be required in the future.