Bruce Sexton, DDS

Most smile makeovers you see on television are created using porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are thin strips of porcelain custom designed to fit on the front of your tooth. Veneers are made to resemble real teeth in size, shape and color and are bonded to misaligned, damaged or discolored teeth to improve their appearance. They can make a dramatic change in the appearance of your smile.

Zoom! ™ whitening is a revolutionary new procedure that will give you brighter, whiter teeth in a single office visit. Zoom! ™ whitening involves the application of a gel that, when exposed to a specialized light source, breaks down the stains on your teeth, leaving you with a beautiful smile. Most Zoom! ™ whitening treatments can be maintained with monthly touch ups.

When teeth are missing, your smile undergoes significant changes. Missing teeth cause you to chew differently, may cause mouth and joint pain, and as your remaining teeth work to compensate for the loss, gaps and spaces form that only make the situation worse. A porcelain bridge, custom designed by Dr. Sexton, keeps your smile aligned and your bite functional. Bridges are anchored to existing teeth or crowns on either side of the missing tooth. They are cemented in place and are a long-term restorative solution to your damaged smile.

You can erase years of wear and tear with porcelain crowns. Sometimes called “caps,” porcelain crowns are customized for you, covering broken, cracked or discolored teeth. Crowns are a durable, strong, long lasting method of enhancing both the look and functionality of your smile. After some preparation of the tooth or teeth that will receive the crown, Dr. Sexton will position a custom milled, lifelike porcelain crown over your damaged tooth, restoring and rejuvenating your oral health.

When the decay has been taken out of the tooth, it is replaced with “filling” material. In the past, amalgam (silver) fillings were placed into the cleaned out portion of the tooth. With advancements in dentistry, you can now have tooth-colored fillings instead of silver fillings. You may even elect to remove your old silver fillings in favor of new, undetectable tooth-colored fillings.

Bonding is a tooth-colored material applied and adhered to the surface of the tooth, often without reducing the structure of the tooth. The bonding material is sculpted by Dr. Sexton so that it resembles a natural tooth, correcting chips, broken, stained or discolored teeth and in some cases correcting gaps. It is less of an investment than veneers but doesn’t last as long and can stain over time.

Partial dentures, also known as false teeth, are used if you have several teeth missing that cannot be corrected with a bridge. A partial denture is created to replace those teeth. The denture is removable and designed to fit comfortably on your gums and blend in with any remaining teeth. The denture is made from a synthetic plastic that is supported with a lightweight metal and mimics gum tissue and teeth to create a natural look while remaining functional. The partial denture is important once the teeth have been removed to keep existing teeth from tilting and growing in towards the gaps and to preserve the bone. Dr. Sexton wants you to be as comfortable as possible so he may make several adjustments to your partial to ensure that you have the most comfortable fit possible.

Full Dentures are similar to partials, except that they are made especially for patients who are missing all of their teeth. Properly fit dentures are important for preserving the bone around your mouth and jaw.

You can erase years of wear and tear with porcelain crowns. Sometimes called “caps,” crowns are customized for you, covering broken, cracked or discolored teeth. Crowns are a durable, strong, long lasting method of enhancing both the look and functionality of your smile. After some preparation of the tooth or teeth that will receive the crown, Dr. Sexton will position a custom made, lifelike crown over your damaged tooth, restoring and rejuvenating your oral health. Many of our patients prefer porcelain crowns for a more natural look. You and Dr. Sexton can decide whether porcelain or a mixture of porcelain and metal will work best for you.

When teeth are missing, your smile undergoes significant changes. Missing teeth cause you to chew differently, may cause mouth and joint pain, and as your remaining teeth work to compensate for the loss, gaps and spaces form that only make the situation worse. A bridge, custom designed by Dr. Sexton, keeps your smile aligned and your bite functional. Bridges are anchored to existing teeth or crowns on either side of the missing tooth. They are cemented in place and are a long-term restorative solution to your damaged smile. For a more natural look, Dr. Sexton may recommend an all porcelain bridge as opposed to the traditional porcelain and metal bridges.

A dental implant is one of the most permanent forms of restorative dentistry and can be used to restore a single tooth or several teeth. Dental implants involve the placement of a surgical grade titanium post directly into your jawbone by one of the doctor’s trusted specialists. As the bone bonds to the post, it forms a secure foundation for the attachment of a crown or a prosthetic tooth that is custom created for you. Implants are used instead of bridges to maintain the integrity of the teeth on either side of the gap and to maintain the bone where the tooth was lost. Implants are the best choice to replace missing teeth!

While typical dentures shift and require the use of denture adhesives to keep them in place, implants fit solidly, reducing the problems associated with traditional dentures such as gum sores, difficulty speaking and difficulty chewing. Implant supported dentures distribute your biting pressure more like natural teeth than traditional dentures, stimulating the supportive structures of your teeth and preventing the bone and soft tissues from shrinking away. You can replace an entire set of teeth with beautiful, natural-looking implants.

TMJ is short for Temporomandibular Joint. Many people suffer from headaches, a popping jaw when they open and close their mouth and pain in their jaw joints and muscles. Dr. Sexton offers special treatment for patients who suffer from TMJ pain and the migraines that can accompany this condition. Based on the severity of your case, he will recommend a course of treatment right for you to get you out of pain and make your day-to-day activities more pleasant.

One example of effective treatment is bite splints. Dr. Sexton recommends bite splints to patients who clench, grind or wear down their teeth. Bite splints are acrylic guards that fit over your teeth and help relieve pressure on the muscles and joints while reducing wear on your teeth. These appliances are also used for people who experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain in and around the ear sometimes spreading into the face
• Tenderness of the jaw muscles
• Clicking or popping noise when opening and closing the mouth
• Difficulty opening the mouth
• Certain types of headaches or neck aches
• Jaws that lock open or go out
• Ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurred vision

When the decay has been taken out of the tooth, it is replaced with “filling” material. In the past, amalgam (silver) fillings were placed into the cleaned out portion of the tooth. With advancements in dentistry, you can now have tooth-colored fillings instead of silver fillings. You may even elect to remove your old silver fillings in favor of new, undetectable tooth-colored fillings.

Our dental team has developed a program that addresses the oral health of children beginning at one year of age. We strongly believe in the importance of dental health at every age. We feel that spending time discussing your young child’s dental needs is extremely valuable. The appointments are short and inexpensive. However, the information you will receive will start your child on a lifetime of optimal oral health. When your child is one year of age or older, call us and we will work together to design a plan to insure the best possible oral health for your child.

Unfortunately, periodontal (gum) disease can lead to more than just an unsightly smile - it can cause loss of teeth and eventually, if left untreated, serious health problems. Called gingivitis in its early stages, periodontal disease is caused by excessive toxic bacteria (found in plaque) that attack your mouth's soft tissues. Early warning signs of the disease include red, swollen, bleeding gums. If caught early, we can help you reverse the damage. If detected late, we can use one of many effective cosmetic dentistry procedures to restore your mouth to a healthy, beautiful state. For more information, please contact our office today.

A night guard (also called a bite splint) is custom crafted to fit over your teeth to eliminate headaches, relieve stress on your teeth at night so that they don’t break, chip or crack and make your jaw joints feel better the next day. Also, if you have just had your smile made over with new porcelain veneers, crowns or bridges, Dr. Sexton will likely have you wear a night guard to protect your new smile.

NTI is a device used at night by people who suffer from migraine and tension related headaches. It is placed in your mouth between your upper and lower front teeth. NTI keeps your back teeth from touching, hence preventing grinding on the teeth and tension in the jaw muscles. By using this device, you are allowing the muscles in your jaw and face to relax. This relaxation is linked to minimizing headaches in chronic headache sufferers.

Sealants are a material that is bonded to the chewing surfaces of the teeth. The back teeth, molars and premolars have pits and grooves that are difficult to keep clean because toothbrush bristles cannot reach into them. Sealants protect this area keeping out the germs that cause decay. Sealants are most often used on children’s teeth and are recommended for 6 year and 12 year molars.

An oral cancer screening is an essential part of your visit to our office. During this screening we are feeling for any lumps and irregular looking tissue changes in your head, neck, cheeks and oral cavity. We also examine the soft tissues of your mouth looking for sores or discolored areas. Most of the time there is no pain involved until the cancer has gotten very large and may have spread. Early detection has a better chance for successful treatment.

Digital x-rays are a technological advance that results in less exposure to radiation for our patients and an almost instantaneous picture for the dental team. You’ll appreciate a more comfortable visit with less waiting and quicker treatment.

Cosmetic imaging allows you to see how your appearance might change with the application of cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Sexton and his dental team use this technology to assist you in making the best decision for your dental health and overall appearance. Seeing how your smile will improve helps you make the right investment for the future of your teeth.

The DIAGNOdent® is a high tech tool that allows us to find cavities on the chewing surfaces of back teeth, even when they are just beginning and would have been missed by previous detection methods. The DIAGNOdent® is a small, portable laser unit that detects the cavity and alerts us with an audible signal and a numerical readout, so we have an idea of the cavity’s size. The value is that we can stop cavities in their infancy, whereas in the past they would have to be significantly bigger before we could find and treat them. Just like other areas of medicine and dentistry, early detection and treatment is of immeasurable value in preserving your health.

You see what your dentist sees. By using an intraoral camera, you will have a greater understanding of your oral health and of the treatments that the doctor is prescribing for you. Dr. Sexton’s use of this technology goes a long way in educating you about your oral health, while lessening any feelings of anxiety that you may feel while visiting the dentist.

Digital photography gives Dr. Sexton instant images to use for cosmetic imaging or to keep on file to track your progress. Digital images can be saved electronically and are more efficient than traditional photographs that show less detail and must be taken off-site for development.

Air abrasion is a process that allows Dr. Sexton to remove tooth decay without the use of drills or anesthesia. Air abrasion leaves more of your tooth’s original structure behind giving it a better long-term prognosis. After the decay is removed, the tooth is restored with a tooth-colored filling. Air abrasion is particularly suited for early decay on baby and permanent teeth and small cavities where tooth preparation is minimal.

Caesy provides the ultimate patient education system available in the field of dentistry. This system uses high-quality graphics to give you a detailed description of what each procedure entails. Many of our patients find Caesy to be a valuable part of their experience with us.