Dental Health Services at Artistic Dental

Artistic Dental at the biltmore offers dental health services for the whole family.  In addition to caring for the dental needs of all ages, our dentists and staff are highly trained in a wide variety of comprehensive dental procedures. What this means for our patients is that we can take care of a majority of your dental needs including orthodontics and wisdom tooth extractions, as well as many other treatments and procedures. If you are a current patient or interested in becoming an Artistic Dental patient, speak to Dr. Dougherty or Dr. Adhikari to learn how we can help.

In the meantime, here is a list of services and procedures we provide:

Preventative care:

Artistic Dental offers preventative care and diagnostic through routine exams and cleanings. Teeth cleanings are recommended every six months. During these cleanings, we scale and polish teeth to remove tartar and prevent cavities. In addition, we check for any signs of oral cancer and we carefully examine and monitor the gums overtime for signs of periodontal disease and gingivitis.

Orthodontics:

For patients with crooked or crammed teeth that are not aligned properly, Artistic Dental offers orthodontic services as mentioned earlier. Patients in need of orthodontics have the option of ceramic braces, traditional braces and Invisalign. All three options provide different benefits and choosing the right one for you depends on your situation and what the dentist recommend.

Veneers:

If you are unhappy with the shape, color or length of your teeth, Artistic Dental offers custom-made veneers. These porcelain veneers are permanent thin shells made of tooth-colored materials that bond to the surface of your teeth, creating an inconspicuous, natural-looking white smile. 

Laser:

 Advancements in laser technology, make procedures less invasive and nearly painless. Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Adhikari invest time for continued education and training along with investing in the latest equipment in order to provide the best treatment options. Diagnodent is a small laser that scans the teeth for hidden decay; NV Microlaser is a laser that allows the dentists to treat canker sores and other mouth ulcers; and Solea is a laser that removes cavities without a drill or the use of novacaine. With no drills and no needles, these technologies make procedures more comfortable for patients and improve diagnosis and treatment.

CEREC crowns:

Have an old filling or a cracked or chipped tooth that requires a crown ASAP? Traditionally, crown placements take multiple visits to the dentist due to the nature of having to mold the crown to the tooth and place a temporary crown while the permanent one is being made in a lab. The process can take weeks. Fortunately, Artistic Dental uses CEREC crowns where we are able to use computer-aided technology and 3D photography to mold and make a crown that matches the natural color of your other teeth in one visit.

Dental implants:

Artistic Dental offers dental implants for people who have lost a permanent tooth that needs to be replaced. Replacing the empty space with a dental implant is completely necessary because the implant protects the healthy bone in the jaw from decay and infection, just like a natural tooth does. So how does it work? Dental implants are permanently anchored to the jaw. The jawbone forms a mechanical and chemical bond with the implant, allowing for better chewing and a healthier smile.

Teeth whitening:

Everyone would like a sparkling smile, but stains and discoloration from diet and normal wear and tear happens. At Artistic Dental, we offer a few different whitening treatments to brighten your smile. One of the most effective is the take-home whitening trays with whitening gel refills. The whitening trays are custom-made from a mold of your teeth, giving you the best results and comfort throughout the whitening process.

Occlusal guards/ mouth guards:

If your teeth are worn down from clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth in your sleep (bruxism), the dentists recommend wearing an occlusal guard. For children and adults who play contact sports, a mouth guard is always recommended to prevent teeth from being fractured, damaged or knocked out. At Artistic Dental, we can provide our patients with custom-made mouth guards that mold to your teeth for the best protection and comfort. If you already have a mouth guard, remember to bring it in during your next visit and our staff will check the fit and clean it for you!

If you are interested in learning more about becoming an Artistic Dental patient or have questions, please call our office at (602)-840-5400 to schedule a complimentary consultation or visit our website at artisticd.com

Five Ways Technology is Changing Dentistry

From smart phones to smart homes, technology is changing the way we live and work. It offers more convenience, increased accuracy and efficiency in many of our daily tasks, including our oral health.  Like most industries, advancement in technology is changing dentistry and how dentist treat patients.  

Here are five ways technology is revolutionizing oral health:

1.     Same Day Crowns

CEREC is a device that uses CAD/CAM technology along with 3D photography to take pictures and make impressions of teeth for crown fittings. One of the major benefits of CEREC is the efficiency it provides. Dentists can now fit patients with crown for a chipped or damaged tooth during a single visit. In the past, patients in need of a crown could expect to visit the dentist two to three times simply because the crowns had to be made in a lab, which took at least a week or two to produce. This required patients to be fitted with a temporary crown and then return for an appointment for the new crown.  With CEREC the dentist can take an image and have a permanent crown made that matches their teeth perfectly within an hour.

2.     DIAGNOdent

This high-tech laser is one of the biggest breakthroughs in tooth decay diagnosis since the dental x-ray. DIAGNOdent uses a Class 1 laser that emits a pulse of light through the tooth to locate hidden decay. It does this by detecting fluorescence in the tooth. Fluorescence is radiation emitted from a tooth when there is decay present. The amount of fluorescence emitted is proportional to the degree of decay.  The laser itself is painless and non-intrusive meaning there’s no scraping scratching or poking of the teeth.

3.     NV Microlaser

Anyone who has suffered from canker sores or cold sores knows how painful they can be. Thanks to NV Microlaser those soft tissue sores can be cleared up during one treatment. This technology uses a diode laser that delivers laser energy to the soft tissue in a continuous wave or a pulse mode. This laser can also be used to treat gum disease and for cosmetic dentistry, to get rid of a “gummy” smile.

4.     Solea

Approximately 15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety or fear of pain. Some neuroscientists believe the fear could stem from an effect the brain has when it hears the sound of a drill. With Solea Laser Technology, dentists can now remove cavities without the needle for Novocain or a drill and pain. Solea uses a pulsing laser that vaporizes hydroxyapatite, a mineral that makes up 90% of the tooth’s enamel. This laser effectively cuts out the decayed part of the tooth and prepares it to be filled. Solea is revolutionizing the way people feel about visiting the dentist by eliminating pain and saving the patient time considering they won’t have to wait for the Novocain to wear off after their visit. All

5.     Oral-B Genius

This smart toothbrush is cutting-edge when it comes to how people can now brushing their teeth and taking care of their oral health at home. The toothbrush system connects to your smartphone through Bluetooth and uses position detection and pressure sensor to let you know if you are missing a spot or brushing too hard. In addition, the Oral-B Genius has a built-in timer that alerts you when you’ve brushed for the right amount of time. It also tracks your brushing through an app that your dentist and hygienist can review during your next appointment.

All of these dentistry advancements make taking care of oral health easier on both the patient and dentist side. With increased accuracy and efficiency patients don’t have to worry about pain, fear and inconvenience, ultimately changing the dental field as a whole. At Artistic Dental we integrate technology and state-of-the-art equipment in order to provide patients with the best treatment options and quality care. To learn more about the technology we use or to schedule a complimentary consultation, visit our website artisticd.com.