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At Kirk Dental, our focus is on conservative and preventive treatments.

We will listen to your concerns and respect your goals. Our dialogue will be the cornerstone to achieving excellent results.

Read on to learn about the services we regularly provide to our patients.

Prevention

At Kirk Dental Associates prevention is our by-word. We believe that prevention is the key to a lifetime of oral health. All of our treatment decisions are based on this premise.

At each visit we will examine your mouth and reevaluate your risk for various oral diseases (tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, TMD/ occlusal wear) and discuss conservative and preventive treatments that might be of benefit to you.

Understanding prevention and the causes of dental disease helps people of all ages. Nutrition, proper use of fluorides, dental sealants, many oral hygiene aids and rinses, and the use of effective daily oral hygiene techniques are factors to prevent future problems.

These Services Include:

• Application of fluorides
• Sealant application
• Personalized home care instructions with follow-up
• Nutrition counseling
• Occlusal splints for tooth grinding and clenching
• Custom athletic mouth guards

Cosmetic Dentistry

We offer a full range of cosmetic services available to enhance any aspect of your smile.

These services include:

• Tooth whitening
• Bonding and cosmetic contouring
• Invisalign invisible braces
• Composite fillings
• Fixed bridgework
• Porcelain crowns
• Dental implant restoration
• Porcelain veneers
• CAD/CAM digital restorations

We have a portfolio of before and after photographs of 'make-over' dentistry that will give you an idea of the potential of these treatments.

A beautiful smile can be life-changing.

Restorations

It's true that the incidence of tooth decay has significantly diminished over the years due to the use of fluorides and an increase in patient awareness. However, teeth are still susceptible to decay, accidents, and breakage.

Improved techniques and modern technology allow us to offer many options for restoring a tooth back to its normal shape, appearance and function. We are an evidence-based practice and recommend restorative treatment options that are minimally invasive and based on scientific research.

These services include:

• Composite restorations
• Glass ionomer restorations
• Amalgam restorations
• Porcelain crowns
• Fixed bridgework
• Implant restoration
• Partial and complete dentures
• Porcelain veneers and onlays

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease attacks the gums and the bone that support the teeth. It is an infectious disease that can be controlled with diligence and proper therapy.

Its successful treatment depends greatly on meticulous daily home care. Certain antibiotics and mouth rinses used judiciously can aid in treatment.

Diagnosis

Dr. Kirk and your hygienist will evaluate your gums and assess their health.

If the disease is caught in the early stages we may recommend more frequent professional cleanings. You will also be given instructions on improving your daily oral hygiene habits.

Therapy

Periodontal therapy is aimed at making your mouth healthy and less susceptible to periodontal infection.

The very first line of therapy is root planing and scaling the teeth in the affected areas. This often involves using local anesthesia and then removing deposits that are below the gum tissue and between the teeth.

Further treatment may include some reshaping of tissue or gingival grafting which will cover areas of recession.

Maintenance

It only takes twenty-four hours for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into tartar. Daily home cleaning helps control plaque and tartar formation, but those hard to reach areas will always need special attention.

Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, we will recommend that you have regular maintenance cleanings (periodontal cleanings), sometimes four times a year.

Once you have periodontal disease you are never 'cured', however it is possible to keep it in check and have prolonged periods of stability.

TMJ Treatment

TMJ stands for TemporoMandibular Joint, or the jaw joint. It is a very complex joint in our body that can cause pain and headaches that can be very debilitating. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that over 10 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ problems at any given time.

TMJ patients often see multiple healthcare providers, such as dentists, primary care physicians, sleep specialists, ear, nose and throat specialists, neurologists, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, pain specialists, chiropractors, etc., in their search for answers.

We offer conservative therapy with advice about protection of the joint and multiple types of intraoral splints. It often takes several sessions and strategies to find the treatment indicated in each individual.

We have had great success with this approach but also utilize liasons with specialists who treat this problem.

Oral Surgery

The most frequent oral surgery is to remove impacted, fractured, and non-restorable teeth and teeth removed for orthodontic purposes.

Wisdom tooth removal is quite common and judging the timing of that treatment can make a big difference in the recovery period. Our past training allows us to offer this service to our patients. If there is a reason for you to be seen by an oral surgeon we have close relationships with specialists in that field.

Oral Pathology

The inside of the mouth and other oral structures besides the teeth are areas that are routinely checked by us for abnormalities. Any alteration in their appearance could be a warning sign of a pathological process. We are vigilant about looking throughout the mouth and surrounding areas for anything suspicious. We work with specialists whenever something is out of the ordinary which needs further scrutiny.

Children's Dentistry

Kirk Dental is committed to preventive care for all, especially children. Our staff is trained in the care and treatment of children. They are experts at dealing with children's concerns and calming their fears.

At the initial appointment and examination, we get to know your child and let your child get to know us. We proceed with caution until we feel the child is ready. We consider age and previous dental experience to make the initial exam as positive as possible. We want their first experience to be a pleasant one.

Many children in our practice need have little restorative dentistry but some who need special care with dental decay or orthodontic considerations. We utilize sealants wherever indicated and maintain them whenever needed.

We monitor the growth and eruption of teeth as far as timing the loss of primary teeth and allowance for the eruption of the permanent teeth. We look for jaw development and size so indicated treatment can be done at the most advantagous time.

We are also available to attend to childrens' dental emergencies including the accident-prone years when tooth fracture or sports mishap may cause dental trauma. We encourage the use of mouth guards in children's sports and can fabricate one that is comfortable and protective.