Routine cleanings, exams, x-rays, and sealants (to prevent decay).

Old silver fillings can be replaced with tooth coloured fillings. If you desire an aesthetic upgrade, we would be happy to improve your smile.

Sometimes when more than half of a tooth is missing due to decay or fracture, a filling can no longer be done and a crown is needed.  Crowns cover the tooth and protect the tooth from breaking further.  This is especially important with teeth that have had root canal treatment  because a tooth that has a root canal is more likely to fracture if it is not protected by a crown.  Crowns are cemented to the tooth and do not come off.  They should look and feel like a natural tooth.

In recent years here have been many advances in creating more beautiful smiles.   Crooked, stained teeth can be straightened and whitened with a number of techniques including braces, bleaching, bonding and porcelain veneers.  We may choose to use one or more of these techniques to enhance your smile.

Many people suffer from TMJ disorders, which is referred to in the dental field as TMD, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder.  Symptoms of TMD include joint pain, clicking or popping of one or both joints, sore chewing muscles (especially upon waking), tooth wear, tooth pain, cracked teeth, headaches/migraines, and in some cases ringing of the ears . For the most part, TMJ pain is caused by tooth grinding and clenching. Many people unconsciously clench and grind at night during sleep. Grinding of the teeth is considered a sleep disorder. Fortunately, many TMJ problems can be corrected by wearing a nightguard, which protects the teeth and joint from the damage done by grinding. No one can stop you from grinding, but the damaging effects of doing so can be controlled. The picture to the left  is of a nightguard, which fits on just the front teeth and prevents you from being able to clench and grind on your molars. Wearing a nightguard can significantly reduce tooth wear, joint pain, muscle pain, tooth pain, and headaches.

Dental implants are currently the best option to replace a missing tooth.  The implant is usually 4 millimeters in diameter and 11 millimeters in length.  The implant itself acts like the root of a natural tooth.  The implant is surgically placed in the bone and is allowed to integrate into the bone during the healing period.  After the implant is integrated, the crown can then be inserted to replace the missing tooth.

Nobody wants to have a tooth taken out.  However, when a tooth is too badly decayed or fractured to be saved, it must be taken out to prevent the spread of infection.  Both Dr. Houwer and Dr. Boose have extracted thousands of teeth and can complete the procedure quickly and painlessly.

When decay or fracture extends to the nerve of a tooth, a root canal can often be used to save the tooth and end any pain that is being caused.  It is very important to catch this problem before it deteriorates too far and eliminate the infection via the root canal procedure.  During the root canal treatment, the root (or roots) of the teeth have canals that are filled with a material called gutta percha.  This seals the root.  As long as the tooth is properly filled or covered with a crown when necessary, the tooth should last for many years.  It is important to put crowns on molar teeth and premolar teeth after they have had a root canal to prevent fracture of the tooth.  The illustration to the left demonstrates the root canal procedure.

Dentures should be aesthetic, comfortable and functional.  The best way to ensure that your denture stays in place while chewing and speaking is the placement of dental implants to retain your denture.  Before dental implants, denture wearers often suffered from poorly retained dentures.  Fortunately, dental implants have dramatically improved the quality of life for many denture wearers.  Two or more implants are placed in the bone and integrate into the bone.  The implants then have attachments embedded in them that click into the denture to hold it in place.