COMPOSITE

At Palo Alto Dental Center the filling of choice is composite which is made of plastic and glass particles. The reason we chose this material over the old amalgam (silver) filling is that it bonds to the tooth, building back the integrity of the tooth. Since it bonds to the tooth, the preparation does not need extra retention features therefore being more conservative by only removing the diseased part of the tooth. The filling material is tooth colored.

ROOT CANAL

Root canal therapy refers to a procedure where the dentist removes the bacterial infection that has entered the tooth nerve or pulp chamber. There are several reasons why you may need a root canal: deep decay, large restorations, trauma to the tooth or even repeated dental work or chipped teeth. Root canal therapy treats the diseased pulp (nerve) of the tooth. The tooth then needs to be restored to be able to be functional. This is usually followed with a crown.

CROWN

A crown, also called a cap, is a cover that protects the top of a tooth. It may be recommended if someone has: an extensively decayed or damaged tooth that needs to be restored to its normal shape and size, a cracked or broken tooth with large cavaties or worn fillings, a poor fitting crown, or a tooth that has a large opening on its top surface after root canal surgery. At our office we are proud to be able to do crown’s extremely accurately using a CAD CAM System (CEREC) in just One Visit! Our patients love this system as they do not have to go home with a temporary crown, come back in two weeks to be anaesthetized, and have the crown cemented.

BRIDGE

A bridge is a way to replace one or more missing teeth. Replacing missing teeth makes it easier to chew, improves appearance and also keeps teeth, gums and jaws healthy. Spaces left by missing teeth affect the rest of the teeth. If even one tooth is missing, other teeth may slowly shift out of place. This will change the bite and subsequently may make the jaw sore, lead to tooth decay, gum disease and can also change the smile. A fixed bridge is one or more replacement teeth attached to the natural teeth next to them. Once it’s in place, the bridge is not meant to be removed. For a conventional bridge the teeth on either side of the space to be filled must be reshaped teeth that hold crowns to support the bridge.

INLAYS

Sometimes the decay or the old restoration in the tooth is large so the tooth may need an inlay or onlay to build back its normal integrity. At Palo Alto Dental Center we are proud to provide a single visit procedure with the CEREC machine (please refer to CEREC information) to restore the tooth. The inlay/onlay is made up of empress which is a special porcelain material which has the same characteristic of the tooth. The inlay/onlay bonds to the tooth so a lot of teeth which years ago would need a crown to regain function would be able to regain its almost original strength with this type of restoration. The new materials enable us to do as conservative preparation as possible.

ONLAYS

Sometimes the decay or the old restoration in the tooth is large so the tooth may need an inlay or onlay to build back its normal integrity. At Palo Alto Dental Center we are proud to provide a single visit procedure with the CEREC machine (please refer to CEREC information) to restore the tooth. The inlay/onlay is made up of empress which is a special porcelain material which has the same characteristic of the tooth. The inlay/onlay bonds to the tooth so a lot of teeth which years ago would need a crown to regain function would be able to regain its almost original strength with this type of restoration. The new materials enable us to do as conservative preparation as possible.

IMPLANTS

Implants provide the closest possible replacement to natural teeth and make the replacement teeth better for eating and smiling with confidence. One of the biggest advantages of replacing missing teeth with dental implants is that it helps preserve the bone in the jaws. Also it removes the need to cut down healthy teeth for a bridge. Implant supported dentures stay in place securely and because they are seated on the implants the painful sore spots often associated with conventional dentures can be eliminated.

Implants are use to replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth. They are made up of titanium or similar materials that are suitable for the human body. They are artificial replacements of teeth roots that support a restoration of a dental appliance. Besides its cosmetic advantage, replacing missing teeth will enable you to properly chew and speak. Also the space caused by missing teeth may allow the teeth on either side to shift in the space. This shift could cause problems with the bite and subsequently with the jaw joint.

PARTIAL DENTURES

Partial dentures are one way to replace missing teeth. They can be made of metal or plastic framework. We will discuss with you which option is best for you. The partial denture is removable. It should be removed at night to give the gums a rest.

TEETH WHITENING

At Palo Alto Dental Center we do bleaching by making custom trays for our patients. We then instruct our patients on how to use the opalescence (whitening) gel in these thin comfortable trays. The opalescence tooth whitening system has been proven safe in many clinical studies over the past ten years. Opalescence gel also holds the American Dental Associations Seal of Approval. It has proven very effective on reversing the effects of aging, coffee, tobacco and other stains. It even has some effect on tetracyline and fluorosis staining. The duration of the results depends largely on each individual and may be permanent.

CONVENTIONAL

Custom made tooth colored shells bonded to your teeth with dental cement that cover the front surfaces of the teeth to help improve the appearance of your teeth & give you the smile that you’ve always wanted. It can be used in cases where the front teeth are: decayed, chipped, discolored, & mal aligned teeth. They are usually made of a special porcelain material which has great aesthetics, is stain resistant and very friendly to the gums. It has the same characteristics of the tooth so it closely resembles the tooth.

LUMINEERS

Lumineers are the most significant advancement in 9,000 years of dentistry. They are contact lens thin porcelain shields that are bonded to the front of your teeth to create dramatic changes in your smile. The beauty about lumineers are that they require little or no preparation; there is no need for shots or drilling and no removal of sensitive tooth structure. Lumineers can correct a wide variety of unsightly dental distortion such as: tooth discoloration, noticeable gaps, permanent stains and broken or misshapen teeth. Lumineers can even bond to existing crowns and bridgework without having to replace them.

INVISALIGN

Invisalign is the CLEAR way to STRAIGHTEN teeth. Invisalign gradually moves teeth through a series of custom made, removable, nearly invisible aligners. Straighter teeth can lead to: healthier gums, easier cleanings, improved chewing & speech, decreased risk of dental trauma & more beautiful smiles. The benefit of Invisalign over traditional orthodontics is that it can be removed for eating and cleaning teeth. They are removable!

TMJ,NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY,FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION

Our office is proud to be one of the leading offices in practicing neuromuscular dentistry. The foundation of neuromuscular
dentistry is that the muscles, joints and teeth need to be in harmony. As a neuromuscular dentist Dr Morshedi establishes an ideal jaw position which in turn establishes an ideal bite. This is established using a TENS machine which sends gentle electrical stimulation to the head and neck muscles which control the lower jaw.

An imperfect bite not only jeopardizes the long term result in dental treatment but also cause many other symptoms such as:

* Headaches or Neck pains
* Temporomandibular Dysfunction which includes jaw joint pain, jaw joint noise or clicking,and limited mouth opening.
* Clenching or grinding
* Ear Congestion
* Dizziness
* Ringing in the ears
* Difficulty swallowing or difficulty chewing
* Facial pain
* Sensitive teeth or loose teeth
* Postural problems
* Tingling of the finger tips
* Nervousness or insomnia

Since the body is very adaptable the person with imperfect bite might not have any symptoms but just have the signs which can be evaluated during the dental check up.

After the ideal bite is determined by the TENS machine, then this position is established by one of the several methods: appliance therapy, re contouring, orthodontics or restorative dentistry.

Any of these methods can be employed to move the jaw back to its natural and comfortable position. Final restoration can involve many combinations of techniques and materials and customized to the individual patients requirements.

The underlying philosophy is to create the most beautiful, natural, healthy and durable result possible. It can be truely life changing!

TMJ,NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY,FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION

Our office is proud to be one of the leading offices in practicing neuromuscular dentistry. The foundation of neuromuscular dentistry is that the muscles, joints and teeth need to be in harmony.
As a neuromuscular dentist Dr Morshedi establishes an ideal jaw position which in turn establishes an ideal bite. This is established using a TENS machine which sends gentle electrical stimulation to the head and neck muscles which control the lower jaw.

An imperfect bite not only jeopardizes the long term result in dental treatment but also cause many other symptoms such as:

* Headaches or Neck pains
* Temporomandibular Dysfunction which includes jaw joint pain, jaw joint noise or clicking,and limited mouth opening.
* Clenching or grinding
* Ear Congestion
* Dizziness
* Ringing in the ears
* Difficulty swallowing or difficulty chewing
* Facial pain
* Sensitive teeth or loose teeth
* Postural problems
* Tingling of the finger tips
* Nervousness or insomnia

Since the body is very adaptable the person with imperfect bite might not have any symptoms but just have the signs which can be evaluated during the dental check up.

After the ideal bite is determined by the TENS machine, then this position is established by one of the several methods: appliance therapy, re contouring, orthodontics or restorative dentistry.

Any of these methods can be employed to move the jaw back to its natural and comfortable position. Final restoration can involve many combinations of techniques and materials and customized to the individual patients requirements.

The underlying philosophy is to create the most beautiful, natural, healthy and durable result possible. It can be truely life changing!

TMJ,NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY,FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION

Our office is proud to be one of the leading offices in practicing neuromuscular dentistry. The foundation of neuromuscular
dentistry is that the muscles, joints and teeth need to be in harmony. As a neuromuscular dentist Dr Morshedi establishes an ideal jaw position which in turn establishes an ideal bite. This is established using a TENS machine which sends gentle electrical stimulation to the head and neck muscles which control the lower jaw.

An imperfect bite not only jeopardizes the long term result in dental treatment but also cause many other symptoms such as:

* Headaches or Neck pains
* Temporomandibular Dysfunction which includes jaw joint pain, jaw joint noise or clicking,and limited mouth opening.
* Clenching or grinding
* Ear Congestion
* Dizziness
* Ringing in the ears
* Difficulty swallowing or difficulty chewing
* Facial pain
* Sensitive teeth or loose teeth
* Postural problems
* Tingling of the finger tips
* Nervousness or insomnia

Since the body is very adaptable the person with imperfect bite might not have any symptoms but just have the signs which can be evaluated during the dental check up.

After the ideal bite is determined by the TENS machine, then this position is established by one of the several methods: appliance therapy, re contouring, orthodontics or restorative dentistry.

Any of these methods can be employed to move the jaw back to its natural and comfortable position. Final restoration can involve many combinations of techniques and materials and customized to the individual patients requirements.

The underlying philosophy is to create the most beautiful, natural, healthy and durable result possible. It can be truely life changing!

LASER

At Palo Alto Dental Center we use a cordless soft tissue diode laser.

Lasers enable us to perform more procedures, in less time with better and more predictable results. It gives better healing times with less overall discomfort. We treat herpetic ulcers, apthous ulcers, and desensitize teeth. It is also used for removal of soft tissue lesions and frenectomy.

One of the very important applications of laser therapy is its use for periodontal disease. Its application in addition to deep cleaning will improve the pocket depths and the result of therapy.
Another very important application is gingival recontouring. A lot of times our gingivae are not even so by slight gingival reconouring we get a lot better aesthetic results.

Last but not least we use laser for troughing of the tissues during crown procedures. This will enable us to prepare better and more accurate margins.