General Dentistry

We provide all aspects of general dental treatment and became interested in cosmetic dentistry since its earlier phases more than twenty-five years ago. Tooth whitening is a service we routinely provide, as well as more complex cases such as implant restoration, which include single tooth implants as well as complicated, multi-implant cases.

We also provide 24-hour emergency service for pain relief to all patients of record and their family members.

Children’s Dentistry

It is advisable to establish a dental home for your child within six months of the first tooth emerging in the mouth (no later than twelve months of age). This way, your child can establish an easygoing, non-threatening relationship with the dentist. It’s a fact that many adult dental phobias stem from traumatic childhood dental experiences, so it’s important to make your child’s initial encounters with a dentist as pleasant as possible. 

At East Coast Dental, we educate the child and his or her caretaker (usually a parent) on how to brush, dietary counseling, and—depending on the patient’s individual caries (decay) risk assessment—sealants, x-rays, various fluoride regiments, and the re-care that needs to be implemented. 

By emphasizing prevention, subsequent unpleasant experiences—as well as the high costs attached to treating infection due to decay, injection, drilling, and extraction—can be prevented. With your help and cooperation, you can ensure that your child will not only be both caries and pain free, but also practice this good oral behavior throughout adulthood.

Restorative Dentistry

We provide a wide array of restorative procedures, from simple tooth-colored composite fillings (often known as “bonding”) to life-like Cerec all-ceramic crowns.

Fixing a broken tooth has become a hi-tech process. CAD/CAM technology and lasers allow us to rebuild teeth both more quickly and in a minimally invasive manner. Why put a full crown on a broken tooth when we can make the missing part with a computer and preserve your enamel?

It is not unusual for us to treat a patient who has already been told at another office that they need a full crown. We can generally make the process much simpler with a single-visit CEREC partial porcelain crown or onlay. This minimally invasive approach generally means less time in the dental chair and fewer costs for you, making it a win-win situation. 

Cosmetic Dentistry

With cosmetic dentistry, we believe the simpler the better.

Smile makeovers can entail an entire spectrum of complexity, from simple whitening to makeovers that utilize orthodontics, root canals, gum surgery, implants, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges and even jaw surgery.

Some individual makeovers may need different specialists and many months—if not years—to complete. However, we often find that we can get by with a little whitening, some straightening, and a crown or laminate here or there. 

Implant Dentistry

Dental implants are the most predictable, long-lasting tooth replacement option in dentistry. Implants provide a strong foundation for biting and chewing and can rejuvenate your smile, giving you the confidence you need and deserve.

Dental implants feel and function just like a normal tooth. They replace both the root and crown portion of the tooth so that they do not rely on other teeth to support them. Dental implants can be used to replace single and multiple teeth, as well as support dentures. They also hold your bone level in place.

When a tooth is lost, bone in that area gradually disappears over time. When there is no longer bone to support the facial features, this can create sunken areas in facial appearance, making patients appear older than they really are. This also weakens the jaw, putting it at greater risk for fracture later on. Dental implants can help to prevent all of these things from happening.

TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder)

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) refers to pain in the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). TMJ pain usually presents itself as a deep aching pain in the jaw; however, it can also present itself in many different forms. 

To diagnose the problem, a thorough examination of the patient’s medical history, teeth, head and neck muscles, and TM joints is performed. Sometimes it is necessary to procure imaging of the joints, which can include a CT scan or an MRI. Once all of the needed information is obtained, a diagnosis and plan of treatment are determined. 

Treatment often includes home exercises and physical rehabilitation, diet modification, and changes in behavior, such as not chewing gum or biting fingernails. Often, making an appliance that fits on the teeth is necessary to help control harmful habits, and in some instances injections are necessary for alleviating sore muscles or joints.

If you are referred to us by a health care provider, you will need to provide us with your practitioner's name and contact information. We try our best to speak directly with him or her prior to your visit. This conversation has the potential to redirect you to a path of treatment that will save you time and money in the long run. After we are informed about your case, our office manager will work with you to schedule a consultation. Please bring all prior imaging (x-rays, CT scans, MRI's), lab results, bite appliances, and a list of all medications with dosage. 

If you are not referred by your health care provider, please go to the “Patient Resources” section of this page and download the "Orofacial Pain Screening Questionnaire" to fill out before your appointment. The purpose of this questionnaire is to evaluate whether we will be able to help you. Many facial pain patients have been treated by multiple health care practitioners and have spent considerable sums of money trying to find a solution to their problems, yet they still struggle with pain. Based on the questionnaire, we will tell you up front if we believe there is a possibility we can help you and avoid wasting your time and money.

The best source of information on TMJ problems and orofacial pain can be found in a brochure provided by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain's website.

Oral Health/Nutrition Counseling

We believe in promoting better oral and systemic health through a nutritional approach. If you drink green tea, eat tons of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and receive plenty of omega 3 fatty acids from fish or flax, you probably do not need to read the following. 

One reason you may have bleeding gums is because there may not be enough anti-oxidants in your gum tissues. When anti-oxidants are low, your cells oxidize (or “rust”) much more quickly. Anti-oxidants prevent rust: for instance, if you cut an apple in half and it turns brown, it's rusting. Squirt some lemon juice on the apple after you cut it and it won’t turn brown. In this instance, Vitamin C from the lemon juice is an anti–oxidant that inhibits the apple from rusting.

If you don't have sufficient anti-oxidants in your gums, it's safe to say you won't have sufficient levels in any of the other cells in your body. Rusted parts of the body create chronic diseases such as arthritis or gum disease, or—when your DNA rusts enough to break—even cancer. 

 At East Coast Dental we have a sophisticated scanner that measures tissue carotenoid anti-oxidant levels by shining a green LED light containing no radiation on your palm for 90 seconds. This scanner is built on Nobel Prize-winning optometric theory (Raman Spectrometry). The results will provide you with a glimpse as to whether or not you are eating a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables in order to have adequate antioxidant levels. 

We believe these results will be very valuable for you in the event that you need to improve your dietary and lifestyle choices. The machine will also be equally valuable so that you can periodically monitor whether your changes are effective. Knowledge is not only empowering; in this case, it will slow down the rusting—i.e. aging— of your cells and, in turn, help your bleeding gums.