Family Dentistry
Dr. Cooke and team provide comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages. We recommend beginning your relationship with our team as early as 3yrs of age. It is important that children develop a good relationship with the oral care health team in order to establish a life long oral health and wellness routine. Our team also treats patients in their golden years. We have found that people who have established and maintained a life long oral health routine enjoy overall health and wellness well into their 70’s, 80’s and beyond.
Oral Health Exam, Cancer Screening
Dr. Cooke recommends an oral health exam at each hygiene appointment. This is vital in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment if necessary of any soft tissue (gums, cheeks and tongue) diseases which may develop in the mouth. When caught early, these diseases can usually be successfully treated and prevented from affecting other areas. It is very important to inform Dr. Cooke if you have noticed any changes in the soft tissues of you mouth.
Soft Tissue (Gum) Management
Our clinical team is trained to identify when there may be the need for extra treatment of your gum tissues. The health of your gums is vital to supporting your teeth and your overall health. Diseases such as heart disease and diabetes are impacted by the health of your gums. If your gums become inflamed and irritated they can pull away from your teeth. This can lead to a variety of issues such as loose teeth, the introduction of bacteria into your blood stream when your gums bleed as well as the inability to nourish your body properly due to difficulty with chewing. A program of regular visits with our dental hygienists and a good home oral hygiene routine can restore your gums to a more optimum condition and support your overall health. Feel free to discuss these issues with your hygienist or Dr. Cooke at your next visit.
Preventative Maintenance
On average, Dr. Cooke recommends visiting your office twice per year for a dental cleaning and check up in order to maintain your oral health.
Digital X-Ray Technology
What does it mean for our patients?
- Reduced exposure to radiation. Digital x-rays use less than half of the radiation of conventional x-rays.
- Less waiting time as images are instant. We no longer have to wait for the x-ray film to be put through the chemical developing process. The elimination of the chemical process is also environmentally friendly as there are no chemicals to dispose of.
- Both the patient and the Doctor are able to view the images on a large computer screen. This leads to a better understanding for the patient of why treatment may be required.
- The images sensor is smaller with rounded corners and therefore more comfortable in the mouth.
- Images can be easily duplicated or reproduced. This eliminates the need to take duplicate x-rays or 2 x-rays of the same area if the patient has more than one insurance plan or needs to be sent to a specialist.
Dental Appliances
Some patients require dental appliances to assist them in maintaining their oral health. A few examples of these are:
- Custom sports mouthguards – these are made from an impression of your teeth and fit snugly in place in order to protect your teeth while playing sports. Mouthguards also act as shock absorbers for any impact to your head. They absorb the shock instead of your brain and help to reduce the incidence of concussions as well. They can be made in our clinic, you come to the clinic for a set of impressions to be taken, then the mouthguard is fabricated and you return to pick it up. Adults will be able to keep the same mouthguard until it becomes damaged or worn out and no longer fits properly. Children should have new impressions taken as they grow, usually once per year in order to ensure that it fits snugly and can perform the necessary protective functions.
- Nightguards – these are also called bruxism appliances. They are fabricated from an impression of your teeth and are custom fit. They are prescribed for people who experience clenching or grinding of their teeth when they sleep. The use of a nightguard will protect the teeth from being worn down during the nighttime grinding. They can also be useful in preventing the strong jaw muscles from cramping during the clenching and grinding activity and are often the first step in the conservative treatment of jaw pain (temperomandibular pain).
- Snoring appliances – Dr. Cooke can fabricate this device when snoring or sleep apnea has become a problem for you. This device is custom made to fit your upper or lower teeth. It is designed to prevent the tongue from slipping back in your mouth and keep your airway open while you sleep. With your airway supported your snoring and sleep apnea should decrease. If these issues are problematic for you feel free to discuss these treatment options with Dr. Cooke at your next visit.
General Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry includes any treatment which supports repairs and restores the structure of your teeth. This includes most fillings and is usually considered a basic service by most dental insurance plans. This also includes endodontic treatment, also known as root canal therapy. This is because root canal therapy is done to retain a tooth when a nerve has become compromised. With root canal therapy the tooth can become pain free and the canals are sealed allowing you to keep the tooth. Dr. Cooke believes that retaining your natural teeth is the ideal outcome when possible. This type of treatment is best maintained by regular cleanings and check ups to further ensure the successful retention of your natural teeth.
Major Restorative Dentistry
- Crowns – a crown or “cap” is a restoration that covers the top and sides of a tooth. They are used to restore the ideal size shape and color of your teeth.
- Bridges – bridges are used to replace missing teeth. They are two or more crowns connected to each other to fill the gap created by the missing tooth or teeth. The bridge is anchored in place by the teeth on either side of the gap which requires that they be shaped to support the bridge.
- Implants – are also used to replace missing teeth. An implant is an artificial root that is placed in the jaw and a new “tooth” is fabricated on top of this implant. Implants are done in stages with the root placed first; Dr. Cooke has the dental specialist surgically place the root. After this has healed, Dr. Cooke will then fabricate the artificial tooth or crown. Implants are an excellent method of tooth replacement. Unlike a bridge, they do not require the support of any other teeth and they are highly resistant to gum disease and do not get cavities.
Aesthetic Dentistry
The focus of our practice is to achieve an aesthetically pleasing and functional result. To this end, we offer tooth whitening, all porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns and composite or tooth colored fillings. Feel free to discuss any of these options with our team at your next visit.
