Cosmetic Dentistry

Very few people are born with perfect teeth. Almost everyone can think of something that they’d like to fix or change, whether it is something simple like whitening their teeth, or more complicated like fixing chipped, misaligned, or even missing teeth. Fortunately, Eastview Family Dental offers an array of solutions to all of these problems. We are proud to be an amalgam-free office; we no longer use silver in any of our fillings or treatments. During your initial consultation, Dr. Christensen will help you to identify your cosmetic dental goals and discuss with you your options. Then, all you have to do is sit back and let Dr. Christensen provide you with the dazzling smile of your dreams!

Porcelain Veneers

Ideal for patients with crooked, broken, or chipped teeth, porcelain veneers are an option that can correct several cosmetic problems at once. Veneers usually take three visits to complete, but when finished, provide a durable, natural looking means of restoring beauty to your smile.

During your first visit to Dr. Christensen’s office, you will receive a thorough examination. Dr. Christensen will tell you about the possible benefits and limitations of porcelain veneers, and will determine whether veneers are the best choice for your situation.

Preparing your teeth to receive the porcelain veneers is the next step, and will be accomplished during your second trip into the office. Dr. Christensen will need to remove about ½ millimeter of enamel from the front surfaces of the teeth that will be covered by veneers. Most patients report minimal discomfort from this step; however, Dr. Christensen is happy to offer anesthetic to those patients who need it. At this point, Dr. Christensen will make an impression of your teeth and send it to the lab that will custom create your porcelain veneers.

About two weeks later, you will be rewarded on your third visit to Eastview Family Dental by receiving your brand new porcelain veneers. Your teeth will be cleaned, and the veneers will then be bonded to your teeth and cured with a special blue light.

For more information about porcelain veneers, or to find out if you are a good candidate for them, please do not hesitate to contact Eastview Family Dental today!

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ZOOM!™ Teeth Whitening System

Oftentimes, teeth stained by coffee, tea, soft drinks, or tobacco are the only obstacle to an otherwise beautiful smile. Dr. Susan Christensen is proud to offer her patients the ZOOM!™ teeth whitening system, a safe and effective method of getting teeth six to 10 shades whiter in just one hour.

This simple procedure begins with Dr. Christensen applying the proprietary ZOOM!™ bleaching gel to your teeth, then positioning a curing lamp over the mouth. The light-activated gel will release hydrogen peroxide, which will penetrate the surface of your teeth and remove yellowing and staining. Your treatment will last for about an hour; many patients choose to watch a movie, read, or even nap during the ZOOM!™ process. When the hour is up, Dr. Christensen will complete the procedure with a five-minute fluoride treatment, and you’ll be shown your beautiful new smile. To keep your teeth looking wonderful, Dr. Christensen will send you home with a touch-up kit.

Although the ZOOM!™ teeth whitening system is as safe as it is effective, there are certain people who should not undergo the in-office ZOOM!™ procedure. These patients include people who are taking medications that make them sensitive to light, and those undergoing photo-chemotherapy. To find out if you are a good candidate for ZOOM!™, please contact Eastview Family Dental today to schedule an appointment.

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Nite White®

Certain patients may not be candidates for in-office ZOOM!™ teeth whitening. These may include patients with a sensitivity to light, or those undergoing photo-chemotherapy. Fortunately, Nite White® is an excellent alternative to in-office teeth whitening, and is just as safe and effective.

During your first trip to Eastview Family Dental, impressions will be taken of your teeth, so that your custom whitening trays can be made. Since they are molded to the shape of your mouth and teeth, these trays are comfortable enough for you to sleep with them in place.

Your trays will be given to you on your second visit, along with the Nite White® whitening gel and instructions on how to use it with your trays. You will probably see results within the first two days of using Nite White®; the best results are obtained with ten to 14 days of continued use.

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Crowns and Dental Implants Made With CEREC

Crowns

Sometimes, due to past injury or disease, it is not possible to repair a tooth with a simple filling. In these cases, a crown that covers the affected tooth or even a dental implant may be the answer. In the past, crowns were often made of unsightly metal, attracting unwanted attention to the patient’s mouth.

Porcelain crowns are a far more attractive option; they can be customized to match the size, shape, color, and texture of the surrounding teeth, and the final result is nearly undetectable. Unlike other dental practices that have to send molds to a lab to have crowns created, Dr. Susan Christensen saves her patients time by making custom porcelain crowns right in the office with the CEREC machine.

The procedure for creating a crown using the CEREC machine is very simple. Instead of the patient having to make a messy, goopy mold, Dr. Christensen coats the tooth with a special flavorless powder that allows her to take an accurate digital picture. Then, she uploads the picture into the CEREC machine and it creates a three-dimensional virtual model of the required crown or implant. This information is sent to the milling portion of the machine, which creates a precise crown from a small block of medical grade ceramic.

Dr. Christensen will then attach and bond the crown to the patient’s existing tooth, much as she would with a traditional crown that had been made in a lab. The only difference is that a CEREC crown only takes about 30 minutes to complete, rather than one or two weeks with a lab-created crown.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most popular contemporary methods for replacing missing teeth. Since they are anchored to the bone in the jaw, implants are far more durable than alternatives like bridges and dentures. If you are a candidate for a dental implant, Dr. Christensen will refer you to an oral surgeon, who will insert a support post into your jaw. After a healing period of approximately six months, you will return to Eastview Family Dental, where we will attach a porcelain tooth to the support post. Your new tooth will be matched in color and size to the surrounding teeth, so it will be nearly indistinguishable from a natural tooth.

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Invisalign®

In addition to traditional bracket braces, Eastview Family Dental offers Invisalign®, the latest in orthodontic technology. One of the main reasons that adults put off correction of crooked teeth is that they don’t want to be seen with braces. Invisalign® consists of a series of virtually undetectable plastic aligners designed to move your teeth into their proper places over time.

When you come in for your consultation, Dr. Christensen will discuss with you your orthodontic goals. Perhaps you have an overbite or a space between your front teeth that you’ve had since you were a child. Dr. Christensen will then take impressions and photos of your teeth, which will be sent to the Invisalign® lab with detailed instructions about the desired outcome.

A full set of aligners will be sent back to the dentist’s office when they are complete. Each aligner is slightly different, meant to be worn for about two weeks before the patient moves on to the next one. Most people will wear between 18 and 33 sets of aligners, and treatment usually lasts about a year, but of course the length of treatment will depend on the severity of your case.

During treatment, you will wear your Invisalign® aligner at all times, except during eating, brushing, and flossing. You will need to visit Dr. Christensen every six to eight weeks, so she can monitor your progress and give you new sets of aligners. The best part about Invisalign® is that you can straighten your teeth and improve your smile, all without anyone knowing!

Dr. Susan Christensen and her friendly staff at Eastview Family Dental know that everyone wants a beautiful, confident smile. Contact us today for a consultation, so we can help you take the first step towards a healthy and happy mouth.

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