Services

Dental Services at Augusta SmileCare

From custom hygiene services to complex cosmetic dentistry and restorative care, Augusta SmileCare is able to help you with your health and cosmetic dental interests. To help you understand your options, we’ve included descriptions of some of our leading services on this page as well as helpful information about sedation dentistry, dental implants and cosmetic dentistry.

  • Solea Dental Laser
  • Solea Sleep Laser
  • Bonding and Tooth Replacement
  • Invisalign
  • TMJ
  • Crowns and Bridges
  • Specialty Dentures
  • Whitening
  • Dental Implants
  • Veneers
  • Sealants
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Root Canal Therapy
  • Periodontal Therapy
  • Sedation Dentistry
  • Cutting edge in current trends in oral health and therapy based research

LOVE YOUR SMILE

Let one of the talented dentists of Augusta SmileCare listen to your cosmetic dentistry goals and design a treatment plan to exceed your highest expectations!

Tooth Whitening: Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth.

The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco.

Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth’s enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.

One type of stain—caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis—actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don’t help. Another type of stain—one that can be more easily attacked by brushing, flossing and rinsing—is caused by external factors such as foods.

More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains.

Some commercially available “whitening toothpastes” can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can wear away your tooth’s enamel.

Whitening agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products also are not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case).

Professional whitening performed by our office is considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored, and directions followed closely.

Veneers: Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain sculpture meticulously and precisely cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Patients eligible for veneers are astounded by the natural beauty and positively dramatic “before and after” affect.

 

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Porcelain Crowns and Bridges: Crowns are naturally appearing, durable pieces of sculpture artfully placed on the top of a tooth. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth.

 

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DENTAL IMPLANTS

Gone are the days when removable teeth or bridges were a patient’s only option.

Dental Implants are titanium structures that are placed in the area where the root of the tooth is normally occupied. Once healed, dental implants are secured to your bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures so that dentures fit with optimal “snugness” for ease when chewing.

 

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Another amazing function is that implants are EASY to receive. The procedure is fast and post-operative discomfort is minimal.

SOLEA

Solea is a dental laser that replaces the dental drill in the majority of procedures in our practice. In fact, nearly every patient skips anesthesia because they just don’t need it. Solea is our way of keeping you happy. Because more than anything, we love to see you smile. Click here for videos and more information about Solea.

Solea Dental Laser

Solea is the first CO2 dental laser system cleared by the FDA for hard and soft tissue procedures. It was developed in Boston, Massachusetts by Convergent Dental, based on research conducted at the University of California School of Dentistry. Solea offers a unique wavelength guided by sophisticated computers to deliver virtually painless dental procedures for both teeth and gums from simple cavities to complex surgeries. The experience is so unique that you will find it hard to believe you were just at a dental appointment.

Solea Sleep Laser

Solea® Sleep improves your quality of sleep by gently tightening tissue in your soft palate and reducing vibrations that cause you to snore. Unlike surgical procedures that require long and painful recoveries, Solea Sleep is a quick, comfortable, non-surgical procedure that is completed in a single visit. Enjoy rapid relief from snoring for you and your partner.

SEDATION DENTISTRY

Sedation dentistry is the use of medication to put a patient in a relaxed state while the dentist performs the dental procedure. The sedative medications help the patient to become less stressed and anxious, reduce memory of the treatment and make the dental appointment a much more pleasant experience.

IV sedation dentistry (intravenous sedation) is an advanced and effective method of dental conscious sedation used by highly trained dentists in order to perform dental treatments with their patients in calm and relaxed condition. IV sedation dentistry is the method of choice for the management of moderate to more severe levels of dental anxiety and dental fears.

IV Sedation vs Sleep Dentistry (General Anesthesia)

Many dental offices incorrectly advertise IV sedation under the term ‘sleep dentistry’. IV sedation dentistry is a method of conscious sedation and should not be confused with sleep dentistry which is more closely related to general anesthesia (unconscious sedation). With IV sedation dentistry a patient remains conscious during treatment, able to respond to questions or requests from the dentist, but in a totally relaxed state and relieved from any anxieties. However, the amnesic effects of the used anti-anxiety medications give patients the impression that they slept through the procedure.

IV Sedation Dentists

IV sedation dentists, like Dr. Massey, must have received specialized advanced training and must be certified by the State Dental Board before they can offer intravenous sedation to their patients. IV sedation dentists should also have formal training in ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and their dental office must be equipped with the necessary monitoring devices.

Who can benefit from Dental IV Sedation?

Dental IV sedation is usually recommended to help the patient relax and can be done for most procedures. Although IV sedation dentistry is mainly intended to offer anxiety control for fearful patients, it is also beneficial for patients who may require longer appointments so that more treatment may be accomplished in one sitting, reducing the number of visits and time off of work.

Although IV sedation dentistry is mainly intended to offer anxiety control to fearful patients, they are not the only ones who regularly seek the benefits of IV sedation dentistry. IV sedation is helpful to many patients who require appointments of considerable length, simply to tolerate opening and lying in the chair for extended periods of time.

IV Sedation Procedure – Safety – Risks and Side Effects

The first step to determine if you are a candidate for IV conscious sedation is a consultation with the dentist.
Before the sedation procedure the patient must follow the pre- operative instructions given by the dentist in the consultation and sign an informed consent after the dentist has explained the potential risks. Some of those risks may include:

  • Soreness and/or bruising at the IV site
  • Delayed sedative effects after the appointment
  • Nausea
  • Drowsiness

Continuous monitoring of any patient undergoing IV sedation dentistry is critically important for ensuring the safety of IV sedation procedure. Breathing, pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation are monitored by a combination of clinical observation and use of electronic equipment.

Recovery from IV sedation dentistry may take up to 24 hours, and during this period the post-operative instructions must be followed carefully. IV sedation safety record is excellent when performed by a trained and experienced dentist in a properly equipped dental office. Certain medical and mental conditions are considered as contraindication for using IV sedation due to the increased risk of potential IV sedation side effects.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation dentistry is one of the techniques used by modern dentists to help patients who experience anxiety and dental fear in order to get proper dental care.

Oral Sedation involves the administration of sedative medications taken from the mouth in the form of a pill or liquid, to achieve a state of relaxation and make dental procedures a comfortable experience even for fearful patients.

For more information on Sedation Dentistry in the Augusta, GA area call Augusta SmileCare at 706-868-1322 today!