Our Services
Dental Check-Ups
Dr. Sullens and our hygienists will perform a thorough, comprehensive examination of your teeth, gums, and soft tissue. In addition to a cleaning, they will also perform an oral cancer screening, as well as taking any needed dental x-rays.
Cosmetic Dentistry
For years, patients have depended on Dr. Sullens and his staff to provide them with quality cosmetic dental work. From simple tooth whitening to more advanced procedures such as crowns or veneers, Dr. Sullens is committed to helping his patients achieve their very best smile.
Same Day Crowns
CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) is a revolutionary way to quickly and economically restore damaged teeth in a single visit using a durable ceramic material that matches the natural color of other teeth in your mouth. More than a decade of clinical research and experience supports the CEREC technology, with over 28 million CEREC restorations performed worldwide. The video at the top of this page is a CEREC unit in action.
Restorations
Fillings: A composite (tooth colored) filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, cracks, fractures, etc.. 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, they can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth, and are therefore more esthetically suited for use in front teeth or the more visible areas of the teeth. As with most dental restorations, composite fillings are not permanent and may someday have to be replaced. However, they are very durable, and should last many years, giving you a beautiful smile.
Bridges: Bridges are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. In simple terms, a bridge is two or more crowns that have one or more "dummy" teeth fused in between them. The structure forms a "bridge" to fill in a space where a tooth or teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth and are not removable. A bridge should last many years before needing replacement; however, proper brushing and flossing is crucial to the longevity of crowns and bridges.
Endodontics
If the nerve inside a tooth becomes irritated, injured, or infected, it will often require a root canal treatment to repair it. Many times, a persistent toothache indicates the need for this type of treatment; however, only a dentist can determine for sure if a root canal is needed for your tooth. There are also instances where endodontic treatment is indicated even when there is no pain associated with a tooth. In his career, Dr. Sullens has performed over 3,000 root canals.
Oral Surgery
Examples include extractions, bone-recontouring, biopsy, and more.
Invisalign
Invisalign treatment consists of a series of clear, plastic aligners that are worn over the teeth. After we make models of the teeth, the aligners are fabricated using ultra high-tech computers and machines at an outside laboratory. When they are ready a few weeks later, the patient returns to our office to receive the aligners and instructions. We also check progress every few weeks during the entire treatment. The aligners move teeth over time, with each step in the sequence bringing the teeth closer to the desired end result.
Dr. Sullens can tell you if Invisalign is a good option for you. Not every case is ideal for this system; however, we can usually avoid traditional braces if only minor tooth movement is needed.
Periodontics
Periodontal disease is chronic, progressive loss of bone surrounding teeth. It is caused by the body’s response to bacteria living in the mouth. There is no “cure” for periodontal disease, but treatments can stop its progress and allow the remaining bone to support the teeth for many years. Periodontal disease is not painful and, similar to high blood pressure, most patients do not know they have it until they are told by their doctor.
Scaling and root planing is one of the treatments most often recommended to patients exhibiting signs of periodontal disease. In this procedure, the hygienist or dentist uses special instruments to clean the parts of the teeth that cannot be reached by your toothbrush bristles and floss. Both soft plaque and hard, calcified, deposits (tartar) are removed from the root surface of the teeth. The goal is to eliminate “pockets” around the teeth that act as homes for millions of dangerous, invisible bacteria.
Implants
Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. Today, dental implants are very popular, due to the fact that they provide the same function as your natural tooth root. Surgically placed below the gums, over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual crowns, bridges, or a denture.
Implants offer stability because they perform the same as your natural tooth root. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.
Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by Dr. Sullens will help determine whether you are a good candidate for this procedure.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Some patients find themselves putting off much needed dental care due to prior dental trauma, fear of injections, or just a general fear of the dentist. If this is the case, Oral Conscious Sedation might be recommended as a method of working around those fears. An evaluation appointment would be scheduled, wherein Dr. Sullens would talk to the patient about their medical history, any health problems, medications that might interfere with the procedures, and answer general questions. The patient would also be given information on what to do to prepare for the procedures, what to expect the day of the procedure, and our office policies regarding Oral Conscious Sedation.
For more information, please contact our office and someone will be glad to assist you.
OPTISleep Dental Appliance
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common disorder that causes breathing pauses while you sleep. These breathing pauses may occur 30 times or more an hour. As a result, your quality of sleep suffers, making you tired during the day and putting your health at risk.
On top of that, you are often not the only one suffering — it can also affect your partner as well. Loud and consistent snoring can keep them awake at night and take a toll on their well-being as well.
Treatment for OSA depends on a physician's diagnosis. First, Dr. Sullens will work with you and a certified sleep physician to determine the severity of your OSA by conducting a sleep study. Once the results from the sleep study are reviewed by Dr. Sullens and the sleep physician, a recommendation for treatment will be made. Treatments for OSA can range from the following:
Lifestyle changes (such as losing weight, quitting smoking, etc.)
An oral appliance, such as OPTISleep, that is worn during sleep and keeps the jaw in a forward position, allowing the upper airway to stay open.
Sleeping with the help of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This is for moderate to severe cases of OSA.
Surgery