Patient Services | Comprehensive Dentistry | Dental Services for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry

Invisalign

Invisalign has revolutionized braces. Metallic braces can straighten teeth, but the process is blatantly obvious. For patients who want to achieve straight teeth without the bulky, metal braces of the past, Invisalign offers a practically invisible solution. From 3-D images of a patient’s teeth, a series of clear Invisalign mouthpieces to align teeth just as traditional braces would.

Mouth sores, cleaning requirements, tightening regimens, and discomforts associated with traditional braces are history. Patients can remove Invisalign mouthpieces while eating or brushing their teeth. Every two weeks, a new mouthpiece will be issued, and movement of the patient’s teeth will be monitored. Patients who want to correct the alignment of their teeth without compromising their appearance will love the inconspicuousness, convenience, and results Invisalign offers.

Boost™ Whitening by Ultradent

If you want to boost your self-assurance, a whiter, brighter smile will help you feel better about yourself and take years off your appearance. We can help you achieve the dazzling smile you desire in just over an hour with the Boost™ teeth whitening system.

Ultradent, a trusted name in dental health care, created the trademarked Boost formula to produce stunning results, yet still protect and care for your teeth. You can expect stronger enamel and decreased sensitivity with Boost. Studies also show that it helps prevent cavities, as well.

The professional grade hydrogen peroxide gel, proven safe and effective, whitens teeth much more dramatically and rapidly than over-the-counter products. Compare the 38% hydrogen peroxide concentration in Boost™ to the typical 3 to 10% of drugstore whitening kits.

If you choose to whiten with Boost™, first, we will cover your gums and lips and expose only the teeth. Then a dental assistant will apply the special gel, taking care to reapply where necessary.

We may use a bleaching light, the same one we employ to harden fillings, to intensify the bleaching action. We will illuminate one or two teeth at a time for about two minutes each to achieve the best results.

An Opalescence ® Xtra ® Boost™ take-home whitener will help you maintain dazzling results. Age, red wine, cigarettes, or tea and coffee wreak havoc on your teeth, but Boost™ penetrates the enamel and dissolves stains, so you can face the world with a gorgeous, bright-white smile.

Opalescence

For patients who prefer a teeth-whitening system they can use at home, Opalescence is a convenient, effective, and safe solution. Patients will simply need to line their customized bleaching trays with one of Opalescence's five different gel formulations and then wear them for the prescribed amount of time each day. You'll begin to notice results almost immediately, with the most dramatic results occurring within about 14 days. What's more, periodic follow-up treatment can help you keep your smile continually bright.

Tréswhite

Looking for an even easier at-home whitening solution? Tréswhite trays are pre-loaded with exactly the amount of Opalescence gel needed to get your teeth at their whitest. You'll just need to wear your Tréswhite trays for 30-60 minutes a day for about one to two weeks to get your smile looking its absolute best. And what's more, they come in three great flavors: mint, melon, and peach.

Porcelain Veneers and Laminates

Porcelain veneers and laminates can instantly conceal chipped, discolored, slightly crooked, or otherwise aesthetically undesirable teeth. Veneers are handcrafted from thin, yet durable porcelain that reflects light similarly to natural enamel. Dr. Cothern will custom design your veneers to complement your overall appearance, taking into consideration your skin tone, facial features, and the shape of your face. Once placed, porcelain veneers create a completely new image. Care for veneers as you would care for natural teeth, with twice daily brushing, once daily flossing, and semi-annual professional cleanings.

Tooth-colored Fillings

Obvious metallic fillings can make patients self-conscious about their mouths. With tooth-colored fillings, only you and Dr. Cothern will know which teeth have fillings. Our efficient color matching capabilities allow us to create inconspicuous, yet long lasting fillings so you can keep your confidence while caring for your oral health.

Composite Bonding

For chipped, spaced, or otherwise imperfect teeth, composite bonding offers a fast, painless, and easy way for patients to gain the smile they’ve dreamed about. Dr. Cothern will prepare the teeth to be bonded by contouring them, and then she’ll apply a hearty composite material that matches your teeth. By shaping the composite bonding, Dr. Cothern will sculpt a new look for your teeth—one that you won’t be able to stop smiling about.

Restorative Dentistry

Dental Crowns

Dr. Cothern may recommend a crown for structurally compromised teeth with cracks, breakage, or large areas of decay. A strong porcelain crown will restore function to a tooth, without compromising beauty. Crowns require two visits – one preparatory visit in which you will receive a temporary crown, and a follow-up appointment so that Dr. Cothern can affix your permanent crown.

Dental Implants

Missing teeth cause many problems, such as an older appearance, difficulty with speech or chewing, and decreased self-confidence. Dental implants offer a tooth replacement that closely imitates natural tooth structure. The procedure involves implanting a small titanium post into the socket where a tooth is missing. Implantation can be performed by an oral surgeon or implantologist. After bone fuses naturally with the post, Dr. Cothern can secure an aesthetic crown to replace the missing tooth. Dental implants can also anchor bridgework or dentures for a solid, reliable smile.

Bridgework
Root Canals
TMJ Therapy
General Dentistry
Periodontal Therapy

iTero for Impressions:

We are making our patients' lives a little easier! If you need a lab-made restoration or prosthetic, expect a new, comfortable impression experience. The iTero handheld wand takes a digital, 3D image of your prepared teeth in about three to five minutes, stopping as needed. You don't have to endure a tray full of putty hardening in your mouth. The digital image is sent to our lab where a computer creates an accurate replica of your mouth. iTero has transformed the first appointment for restorations and prosthetics, and we're happy to bring our patients this new, exciting technology. Learn more about iTero online at www.cadentitero.com.

Oraverse ®:

During a dental procedure, you’re grateful that local anesthesia numbs your mouth and provides you with a comfortable visit. But what about after the appointment? Dental anesthetic usually lasts between three and five hours. Long after you’ve left the office, the lingering numbness takes its toll on your speech, smile, and ability to eat or drink without mishap. You may even find yourself drooling. OraVerse works to reverse the unwanted effects of numbness after dental treatment so you can return to normal function and enjoy your day. The first and only product that effectively and rapidly diminishes local anesthetic’s effects, OraVerse has been clinically proven to speed up your recovery to full sensation and function after a dental procedure.

Your dentist will administer OraVerse through an injection immediately after treatment, so the affected area can feel normal faster. Since you’ll still be numbed, it’s likely you won’t feel the injection, and you’ll soon be able to get on with your day without limitation.

Digital x-rays. (Using the kodak system):

What We See Is What We Get

We've invested in a new way of looking into your mouth – a procedure that's fast, comfortable, and incredibly precise. Using digital radiography, we can clearly identify all external and internal anatomical structures and accurately diagnose your dental problems. Even more amazing, we can immediately translate that information into a large, clear, accurate image, projected onto a monitor that patient and doctor can study together in the operatory. You won’t even have to leave your chair. Digital radiography’s technology improves and simplifies the way we care for our patients’ teeth, resulting in better dental evaluations and treatment decisions. As the most important member of your dental team, you need to understand the condition of your mouth, as well as our recommendations for treatment. Digital radiographs help us help you.

Reduced Radiation, Radical Results

Traditionally, dentists used X-rays to see what the naked eye could not; X-rays were developed in a darkroom with hazardous chemicals, and then viewed on a special light board. The developed X-rays had to be stored, which required large filing systems. By far, the worst part of traditional X-rays was the radiation exposure to patients. Digital radiography has completely transformed this process.

Now, when you come into the office for X-rays, a tiny sensor is placed in your mouth to emit a small amount of radiation – up to 90-percent less than traditional X-rays required. This creates a detailed image of your internal oral structures that is immediately viewable on a chairside monitor, carrying with it all the conveniences of other digitized images. We can rotate and magnify it, adjust it for contrast, and even color-code it for educational purposes. The digital images store easily and efficiently in our computer files, safe and sound. For insurance purposes, referrals, or patient education, digital X-rays can be easily, inexpensively, and accurately reproduced indefinitely.

Digital X-rays offer unparalleled benefits over traditional radiographs: they’re convenient, safe for the environment, provide a great opportunity for patient education, can be transferred and copied accurately, and best of all, they’re safer for our patients.

Diagnodent (for early caries detection):

Finding Decay the Easy Way

One of the most important things we do for our patients is identify and fill cavities. Since any spot of decay can threaten the integrity of an entire tooth, detection is key to preventing a host of potential problems. Lengthy poking and probing sessions have been an acceptable, if not very comfortable, part of dental exams for years. However, such methods of decay detection are only 50 to 75-percent successful. Cavities can hide along fissure lines or inside biting and occlusal surfaces. Further, mechanical exploratory methods are limited to finding only those cavities that are equal to or larger than the probe head. To make the process more comfortable and comprehensive, we use DIAGNOdent, a revolutionary dental laser that finds cavities in the earliest stages.

Laser Reflection Spots Imperfection

DIAGNOdent technology uses a laser diode to inspect teeth, comparing reflection wavelength against a healthy baseline wavelength to uncover decay. First, we take a benchmark reading by aiming the laser onto one of your healthy enamel tooth surfaces, shining the laser into all suspect areas. As it pulses into grooves, fissures and cracks, the laser reflects fluorescent light of a specific wavelength which is measured by receptors, converted to an acoustic signal, evaluated electronically to reveal a value between 1 and 100, and then displayed on a screen. Any variation from the healthy baseline value stimulates emission of a different wavelength and alerts us to a weakened area of decay. Not surprisingly, this technology quickly and precisely identifies even the tiniest bit of decay. This means shallower, simpler fillings, preserving more tooth structure, and providing a specific means of monitoring suspicious areas. No X-rays are required with DIAGNOdent, so patients do not have to worry about radiation exposure.

Other services include:

Preventative Care
Athletic Mouthguards
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