Special Services
Bad Breath Treatment
Bad breath often strikes when people aren't properly taking care of their oral health. The odor is usually caused by decaying food particles and bacteria in your mouth. That's why brushing and flossing your teeth is so important, but don't forget to gently brush and "scrape" your tongue to get rid of even more bacteria. Ask the staff at Valley Dental about your specific concerns.
- Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly after every meal to remove food particle from the mouth.
- When you are brushing your teeth, also brush your tongue. The tongue is covered with thousands of tiny hairs that can trap bacteria.
- Have regular check-ups with your dentist to rule out gum disease and to correct any faulty restorations, overhanging fillings or leaking crowns, all of which can trap food in the mouth.
Invisible Braces
These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you simply wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movement that Dr. Gavin plans out for you.
Night Guard/Splint Therapy
No More Clenching & Grinding!
If you are one of the millions of people that clench or grind your teeth together, you may greatly benefit from a night guard or splint. There are many proposed reasons why patients clench and grind, but it is clear that whatever the cause, the destruction that can be caused to the teeth, gums and bone in a person that is clenching or grinding, is very substantial.
The process of making the splint is relatively simple. First, we make impressions of your upper and lower teeth. Then at a subsequent visit we will try the splint in, make any adjustments that are necessary and advise you on how often to wear your splint and how to clean it.
Orthodontics
Dental braces are a type of orthodontic treatment used to correct teeth that are crowded, crooked, protruding, out of alignment or have irregular spacing. By moving the teeth into the ideal position, dental braces help to create a more attractive and healthier smile for both children and adults.
Snore Guard
Snore Guard is worn during sleep. It uses normal body reflexes to help keep the airway open. The device fits snugly on the upper teeth. When the lower jaw closes, the lower anterior teeth naturally strike the ramp and are induced by natural jaw movement to advance along the ramp moving the lower jaw to a more forward position. An aperture in the device between the upper portion and the lower portion facilitates the passage of air for mouth breathing and attracts the tongue forward. By inducing the lower jaw and tongue to a more forward position, the device induces a more open airway in the user resulting in a significant reduction in snoring. Minor forward movement of the lower jaw, in the range of 2 to 6mm serves to reduce the incidence of snoring.
Sports Guard
Sports mouth-guards (also referred to as football protectors, sports mouthpieces, or spelled as two words "mouth guards") are resilient plastic appliances that have been designed in a fashion where they cover over and encase an athlete's teeth and the gums and bone that support them.
The idea is that when a guard is worn it helps to provide protection for the hard (teeth and jaw) and soft (lips, cheeks, gums) tissues of the mouth by way of absorbing and redistributing the forces generated by traumatic blows.
TMJ/TMD
Disorders of the teeth can contribute to TMJ dysfunction (TMD). Impaired tooth mobility and tooth loss can be caused by destruction of the supporting bone and by heavy forces being placed on teeth. The movement of the teeth affects how they contact one another when the mouth closes, and the overall relationship between the teeth, muscles, and joints can be altered. Headaches, clicking or popping of the jaw, excessive tooth wear, pulpitis (inflammation of the dental pulp), are symptoms that may result from TMJ/TMD. Maybe the most important factor is the way the teeth meet together.
Under Armour Performance Mouthwear
Research has shown that when training or competing in sports, the natural instinct for most people is to clench their jaw, compressing the temporomandibular joint. This in turn triggers the release of excess amounts of hormones like cortisol, which can lead to stress, fatigue, and distraction. The same holds true for high-stress occupations like fire fighting.
Under Armour (UA) Performance Mouthwear- which includes the ArmourBite Mouthguard, ArmourBite Mouthpiece, and UA Mouthguard- was engineered to provide an optimum space between the teeth to lessen the negative effects of clenching while under stressful situations and during athletic performance.
Zoom Whitening
Zoom!, offers the best cosmetic teeth whitening available. Of all the dental whitening treatments (laser teeth whitening, whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, whitening gel and trays, and more), nothing whitens better or faster. Get an average of 8 shades whiter in just 45 minutes with Zoom!'s innovative teeth bleaching system. Zoom! has been clinically proven to be safe and effective and many dentists consider whitening the safest cosmetic dental procedure available.
Dr. Gavin has been whitening for 20 years. He has used Zoom from its inception. He personally uses Zoom and recommends it to almost all of his patients. Please call us to schedule a complimentary "smile assessment" to see if you are a candidate for this treatment.