Dr. Sachs and his staff are pleased to be able to offer dental services to every age group and every member of your family. Prevention and education are important in our practice and we take seriously your need to understand how to take charge of and protect your own oral health. Dr. Sachs and his staff are always available to answer questions about your dental needs and the services we can provide for your ideal treatment. We offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of your entire family.
Comprehensive Exams | Diagnostic & Preventative Services
Restorative Procedures
Comprehensive Examinations
The comprehensive examination is a process in which Dr. Sachs takes necessary records to provide a thorough diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan. This examination will include:
Oral Cancer Screening: If you are a tobacco or smokeless tobacco user, you are in primary danger of developing oral cancer. More than 8,000 deaths were attributed to oral cancer in the past year. We are committed to the prevention of oral cancer through the early identification of pre-cancerous conditions and provide oral cancer screenings at each preventative care appointment.
Periodontal Examination: Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Dr. Sachs will examine your gum tissues to insure that gum disease is detected in its early stages. Because bone loss is a significant consideration in determining the outcome of cosmetic treatment, we take the health of your gum and bone tissues very seriously.
Occlusal Examination: The forces of your bite can sometimes affect the positioning of your jaw and teeth. Through minor polishing of the enamel surfaces or smoothing fillings of the teeth, Dr. Sachs can help redistribute and redirect the biting forces. Adjustments to chewing surfaces can often eliminate headaches that occur as a result of irregular biting patterns.
Caries Exam: During this visual examination, Dr. Sachs locates areas of decay on chewing surfaces and between the teeth. Dr. Sachs uses both a clinical exam and x-ray (radiographic) findings to determine the most conservative treatment plan for your oral needs.
Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction Examination: TMJ is a condition that afflicts thousands of people. Frequent indicators of TMJ include popping and clicking of the jaw, limited jaw function, pain in the neck, shoulders and upper back, and pain and pressure in the face and ears. We provide conservative therapies that can eliminate this painful and frustrating problem.
Cosmetic Evaluation: Teeth can be disfigured by early childhood illnesses, medications, accidents or crowding. Coffee, tea, certain foods, or tobacco can cause stains. But new dental techniques can transform a smile and renew self-confidence. Dr. Sachs will evaluate your smile and recommend various methods of restoring damaged or discolored teeth.
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Diagnostic and Preventive Services
Antibiotic Irrigation: This procedure can be used at home or in our office to control the bacteria that causes periodontal disease. The gum tissue is bathed and flushed with an antibiotic preparation to promote healing of the gum tissue. Our hygienist can tell you how.
Fluoride Treatments: Fluoride applications help to strengthen the enamel on your child’s teeth, making it more difficult for cavities to begin. Children should be receiving fluoride treatments every six months.
Periodontal Maintenance: If you were diagnosed and treated for periodontal (gum) disease, once your mouth is restored to health, it is important that you make a commitment to maintain your dental health. To achieve this, it is important that you return on a regular basis for a routine examination, scaling, and root planing. Dr. Sachs and our hygienist will inform you of the re-care interval that best fits your needs.
Regular Prophylaxis: These important preventive care appointments allow Dr. Sachs and our hygienist to monitor your oral health and clean under your gum line where the toothbrush cannot reach. They also help promote healthy gums and teeth by removing the plaque that causes decay and gum infection, and educating you about prevention. We also provide oral cancer screenings at each preventive care appointment.
Nightguard Therapy: Night guards are used as a treatment option to prevent damage to the chewing surfaces of the teeth associated with grinding and clenching. It is a conservative treatment that is very successful and highly recommended for patients with TMJ dysfunction. Dr. Sachs creates an acrylic pattern of your teeth that can help protect your teeth from unnecessary wear.
Sealants: Sealants protect the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and should be applied as a child’s permanent teeth erupt. Though typically placed on children’s teeth, adult molars can also be sealed, provided a tooth does not show evidence of decay. The sealants that we have placed have been highly successful in preventing decay.
Tooth Desensitization: Fluoride is also helpful to adults to reduce the pain and discomfort caused by exposed root surfaces (receding gums). Regular fluoride applications help eliminate sensitivity. Our patients have found it helpful to have a series of fluoride treatments to reduce their sensitivity, followed by possible at-home applications.
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Restorative Procedures
White/Composite Fillings: Made of tooth-colored material, composite fillings restore the teeth’s natural beauty. Composite fillings can be matched very closely to your natural to your natural tooth color and are virtually indistinguishable from non-restored teeth. Composite fillings are excellent options for front teeth, but may be suggested for selected sites on molars as well. The composites we use have proven to be extremely durable and stain resistant.
Onlays: When you do not need a full crown. onlays may be the solution. The onlay procedure is a restoration in which composite, porcelain, or gold is applied to a tooth surface to provide support as a conservative treatment option. Our patients who have had onlays have given us positive comments about their appearance.
Concept Restorations: Made of tooth-colored material, concept restorations are bonded to the teeth. They adhere to strengthen the remaining tooth structure, which reduces the possibility o f future fractures and other difficulties that can result from the natural chewing process. Their strength and color make them a popular choice among our patients.
Amalgam Fillings: These “Silver” fillings are frequently recommended for bicuspids and molars. Silver filling material is known for its strength and durability. Our choice of filling material for each patient is individual and will depend upon the location and position of the tooth needing treatment.
Crown: A crown is a long lasting artificial cover for a tooth. A crown is a restoration that covers a tooth in order to strengthen it as well as restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown may be placed to support a large filling when there is little remaining tooth structure, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, or restore fractured teeth. A tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy will require a crown following treatment to provide strength and support to the tooth. We only use materials for crowns that will provide the longest lasting benefits to our patients.
Bridge: A fixed bridge, usually made of gold (or porcelain-faced gold), is used to replace missing teeth. A bridge helps to create a normal bite, prevent stress on the dental arch, prevent the drifting and tilt of adjacent teeth, inhibit decay in difficult areas, and slow the onset of periodontal diseases. Bridges are composed of abutments (the sound teeth on either side acting as supports) and the span (a framework attached to the abutments with artificial teeth attached to that framework). Dr. Sachs has over 26 years of experience and training in this field.
Single Tooth or Multiple Tooth Implants: Dental implants replace teeth that have been missing since birth or have been lost due to gum disease, infection, trauma, or decay. Implants are surgically attached to the jawbone and become a permanent part of your mouth. With implants, patients no longer experience the slipping, moving, and irritation of dentures. Dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth because they are made of a metal that is highly compatible with the jaw bone. As a result, the implant (a small post that protrudes from the gum) is able to fuse easily with the underlying bone. Our office can recommend a highly experienced oral surgeon who will perform the surgical procedure for your implant. Dr. Sachs will partner with your surgeon to follow your treatment to the restorative phase. Dr. Sachs will complete the implant procedure by attaching natural and functional tooth structures to the implant components, providing you once again with the comforts and confidence that accompanies a beautiful smile.
Partial Dentures: Partial dentures are indicated if some serviceable teeth are present for support in conjunction with the gums and jawbone. A partial denture, though removable, provides form and function replacement for missing teeth.
Full Dentures: Full dentures are used if there are not any teeth left for support. The full denture covers more of the jaw than a partial denture and is partly held in place by a natural vacuum in the mouth.
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