ADVANCED DENTAL CARE
About Lake City Dental Specialties
Searching for a dental implant expert? Dr. Shaun Whitney specializes in dental implant placement!
Are you missing one or more teeth? If so, dental implants may be right for you! Implants look, feel and function just like natural teeth, giving you back your confident smile.
Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth and provide a fixed solution to removable partial or complete dentures. Implants provide excellent support and stability for these dental appliances.
Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth (usually titanium) that are surgically placed into the upper or lower jaw bone. The teeth attached to implants are very natural looking and often enhance or restore a patient’s smile!
Dental implants are very strong, stable, and durable, but on occasion, they will need to be re-tightened or replaced due to normal wear.
Reasons for dental implants:
- Replace one or more missing teeth without affecting adjacent teeth
- Restore a patient’s confident smile
- Restore chewing, speech, and digestion
- Restore or enhance facial tissues
- Support a bridge or denture, making them more secure and comfortable
Gum Disease
Looking for relief from inflamed or bleeding gums? Dr. Shaun Whitney specializes in gum disease treatment!
If you are looking for relief from your inflamed, bleeding or receding gums, Dr. Shaun Whitney can help!
Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it, especially in the early stages.
Gum disease is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. These bacteria create toxins that can damage the gums and bone supporting teeth.
If your dentist or hygienist finds symptoms of gingivitis or rapidly progressing periodontal disease, a consultation with an periodontist may be recommended. However, a referral is not necessary for a periodontic consultation.
If you experience any of these symptoms, a periodontic consultation is important without delay:
- Bleeding while eating or brushing
- Persistent bad breath
- Loose teeth & gum recession
- Related health conditions – heart disease, diabetes, osteopenia and osteoporosis
Before initiating dental treatment, Dr. Whitney will extensively examine the gums, jawbone and the general dental health. Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, he will review all treatment options with you along with their associated risks and benefits.
Root Canals
Searching for an expert in Root Canal treatment? Dr Shaun Whitney specializes in root canal treatment!
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.
Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what is not realized is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.
Reasons for root canal therapy:
- Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth)
- Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
- Injury or trauma to the tooth
Root canal treatments and re-treatments are a better alternative than extraction for most individuals. If a tooth has good bone support, a solid surface and healthy gums beneath it, it stands a good chance of being saved.
Laser Surgery
Laser surgery can minimize discomfort of dental procedures both during and after your visit. With more precision there is less gum damage and bleeding, making your recovery faster.
WaterLase dentistry is one of the most advanced dental treatments today. WaterLase uses a patented technology that combines focused light energy with a stream of water for a highly precise, exceptionally gentle dental experience.
WaterLase allows your dentist to perform a wide range of procedures with benefits including:
- Faster healing time and less trauma to teeth and gums.
- Less anesthetic for most procedures.
- Treating dental needs in more than one part of the mouth in one visit.
- Making dental care a more relaxing experience for you.
Why use WaterLase Dentistry to treat your gums or other soft tissue in your mouth?
MORE COMFORTABLE WaterLase dentistry uses laser energy and a gentle spray of water to perform a wide range of dental procedures without the heat, vibration and pressure associated with the dental drill. With many procedures, it’s possible to use less anesthetic, or no anesthetic at all.
MORE CONVENIENT Your WaterLase dentist can often get you in and out of the dentist chair faster, since it’s less likely that you’ll need an injection. It’s nice to avoid that shot, isn’t it? Not using anesthetic can allow your dentist to perform procedures that used to require more than one visit in a single appointment. Also, a WaterLase dentist can perform procedures that once meant an additional trip to a specialist, saving you even more time.
MORE PRECISE A WaterLase dentist can remove decay far more precisely than the drill. This saves more of the healthy parts of your tooth and avoids micro-fractures that the friction of a drill can cause. Saving your natural teeth can save you the discomfort and cost of bridges, dentures and implants. Even better, studies show people with natural teeth live longer.
