Service Category: home-page

Orthodontics is a dental specialty that provides many different areas of treatment, although most people think immediately of braces.

A great smile is only one benefit of straight teeth. Self-confidence and a sense of well-being can be affected by crooked teeth, as well as the ability to eat and speak correctly.

Traditional braces are smaller and now less noticeable than the big wire braces many of us associate with “metal mouth.” New dental technology advances have produced a heat-activated wire that uses body heat in the process of moving teeth. This new technique is less painful than before.

Traditional braces are the least expensive straightening option. Most teens dread traditional metal braces, but the newer, smaller ones are less conspicuous, and colored bands now make the metal braces more fun and personalized.

Ceramic braces consist of teeth-colored brackets and tooth-colored wires that blend in more naturally with teeth to make them much less noticeable.

Both traditional and ceramic braces move teeth faster than the available aligner systems, usually making the visibility of the braces less of a concern to most people.

Lingual braces are metal but are less visible, as they are attached to the back of teeth instead of the front. These braces are more expensive than traditional braces and are more complicated to clean, as well as require more adjustments and office visits.

If you have a missing tooth and are looking for a stable and durable replacement, Galvan Dental Care offers dental implants as a replacement option.

Over the last 30 years, dental implants have become the best tooth-replacement option available. An implant is not only the closest substitute for a natural-looking tooth, but it replaces the root of the tooth, as well, which is healthier for your jaw and face overall.

Implants bond with the jawbone and make a sturdy base for one (or more) crowns. The crowns (artificial teeth) are manufactured to match the color of the remaining natural teeth. The crown looks so much like a real tooth that no one can tell the difference just by your smile.

Although a dental implant is a term commonly used to identify the entire tooth replacement, the implant is technically just the small titanium screw that is placed into the jawbone. The screw and an abutment on top of the screw are placed during a minor surgical procedure. The abutment provides a base of the crown. A temporary crown is placed for the healing period, and the permanent crown is fixed with a stronger cement once the jawbone has healed adequately.

The type of material for the crown is chosen based on patient preference and budget.

Call us today to discuss your options for missing teeth.

A dental crown is a “cap” placed over a tooth. A Crown is the most common dental treatment used today for worn or cracked teeth. If the tooth is completely broken off, but only above the gum line, a crown can resort the tooth to its original shape and size. A crown can be used for just cosmetic purposes in some cases.

Crowns are also a part of more complicated procedures. When an implant, dental bridge, or root canal is needed, the replacement teeth are crowns.

Crowns are manufactured in several different materials. The best choice will depend on the location of the tooth being replaced, cosmetic appearance, and patient budget considerations.

• All-resin crowns are less expensive but are prone to wear down over time. 
• All-ceramic or all-porcelain crowns are easier to match the color of the remaining teeth.
• Metal crowns are silver, so some patients prefer to use them only on back teeth.  Since these crowns are strong, they are a good choice for back teeth, where chewing forces are strongest.  
• Stainless steel crowns are mostly for temporary crowns.
• Porcelain fused to metal crowns also match original tooth color, but since they are fused to metal, they are prone to breaking or chipping.  

Call Dr. Galvan to discuss which crown type would be the best choice for you.

You want a dazzling smile! If stains are making your smile dull, Dr. Galvan can brighten it back up again. The professional whitening treatments available at Galvan Dental Care can whiten your teeth many shades whiter and in much less time than in-home whitening kits. The in-home treatments can take days or even weeks, and the results are less than satisfying.

The disappointing results of the over-the-counter treatments are due to the strength of the whitening agent. Hydrogen peroxide is the activating agent in all whitening agents, but store-bought kits do not contain enough hydrogen peroxide to provide the level of whitening needed.

The strength of a professional whitening gel is not available from a store, because it requires professional supervision to avoid damage to tooth enamel. The weaker store-bought kits and whitening toothpaste cannot be left on the teeth long enough to make any considerable color change. If a whitening toothpaste says it does not contain hydrogen peroxide, then it only contains chemicals and polishing agents to scrub stains from the enamel. The best whitening result you could obtain from polishing is approximately one shade lighter, and this is not the preferred result for patients.

Call Dr. Galvan to get your teeth up to 10 shades whiter in a shorter amount of time.

A bridge can close the gaps in your smile, whether it is just one tooth missing or several teeth. Bridges are one cost-effective solution to missing teeth.

Bridges get their name literally from “bridging” the gaps and can be used in either the top or bottom arch of the mouth when some of the original teeth still remain intact. The bridge is very durable, and the replacement teeth are sculpted to look like natural teeth.

The replacement teeth are positioned on a gum-colored or pink-colored base and usually rely on metal framework to help hold the bridge in place between the remaining teeth. The framework is attached to abutting teeth for stability.

Oral care for a bridge is fairly simple, requiring just routine brushing, flossing, and mouthwash.

Besides the appearance of your smile, bone loss is another concern when teeth are lost. If a tooth is not replaced promptly, up to 25% of bone volume can be reabsorbed back into the body in one year. The bone loss will continue to progress as time goes by. Bone loss leads to the sunken-in appearance of the cheeks and facial muscle drooping.

The chewing pressure of teeth on the jawbone maintains bone density by stimulating the bone. Replacing missing teeth with a bridge helps recreate that chewing pressure and prevent bone loss.