CEREC Scanning and Milling AKA “Same Day Crowns”

CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction. Simply put, CEREC is an advanced technology that allows us to design and craft porcelain crowns and bridges right in our office. The process usually goes like this:

-We prepare your tooth to receive the crown. We may need to remove a bit of enamel so it will fit well under your new restoration.

-We use the CEREC scanning technology to take a digital impression of your tooth and the surrounding area.

-Once the design is complete, our in-house milling unit creates the new restoration out of a single block of a high-quality dental material of the choosing.

-Your dentist verifies that the crown is shaped ideally for your teeth, then cements it permanently in place IN JUST ONE VISIT!

Only a handful of dental practices around the country use CEREC technology; most stick with traditional restorative procedures. At Bemidji Family Dentistry, our commitment to our patients motivates us to invest in tools that create the most comfortable and efficient experience possible for our patients!

CBCT Imaging

Dental Cone Beam Tomography [Dental CBCT] is a specialized type of x-ray that provides more information than conventional dental or facial x-rays. This computerized scan uses advanced technology to generate three-dimensional[3-D] images.

The benefits of a Dental CBCT scan are that it provides 3-D images of dental structures, soft tissues, nerve paths and bone which are considerably more detailed than conventional two-dimensional dental x-rays.  It alllows for more precise diagnosis and treatment planning.  It can also simply and comfortably be used to take image of both bone and soft tissue simultaneously.

A dental CBCT scan is commonly used to: evaluate the position of teeth, bone structure, jaw joints and the airway.  It aids in accurate placement of implants, surgical planning for the removal of impacted wisdom teeth, 3-D orthodontic evaluation, and complex root canal diagnosis and treatment. 

Veneers/Crowns "Caps"

-Veneers are made out of a porcelain material, they are custom made by a dental laboratory technician, and are bonded onto the fronts of anterior teeth. They are utilized for a variety of situations: discoloration, crooked teeth, cosmetically for the "movie star" smile, closing spaces, creating new shapes for misshaped teeth, or chipped/worn teeth.  They allow for a beautiful long lasting smile.

-Crowns "Caps" are made out of a variety of material: gold, porcelain, or metal.  It encases the whole crown of the tooth.  It is custom made by a dental laboratory technician to fit your exact needs for shape, size, and color.  It is needed for a variety of reasons: broken tooth, cracked tooth, large decay, large old fillings, dental anomalies, prior root canal completion, ect.  Crowns allow you to add function, strength, and beauty back to your teeth.

Composite fillings "White Fillings"

Composite "White fillings" are created by using a composite resin material, which is a mix of plastics and glass, that is bonded to the tooth to restore areas of teeth that are lost to decay.  Composite fillings are tooth colored, require less tooth removal, and bond to enamel.  This bond helps strengthen the tooth, as well as prevents it from breaking down further.  Composite, because it requires less removal of tooth structure, allows the tooth stucutre to stay stronger longer.

Root Canals

Root canals, also known as endodontics, is required for a tooth with an infection or for a tooth that is severely broken down and there is decay or bacterial within the pulp of the tooth.  During the procedure, the pulp is removed from the roots, the bacterial, debris, and inflammation within the canals are cleaned out, and canals are sealed by being filled back in with a material called gutta putcha.  It is usually advised that after a root canal is preformed, a crown is placed onto of the tooth's crown for added support and strength.                                                               

Dentures

If you have lost some or all of your natural teeth, dentures are used to replace your missing teeth and improve your quality of life.  Dentures give patients back their confidence and smile that they loose when the loose their natural teeth.  Dentures can be made to look that your natural teeth, or better if you want.  Dentures can provide length back to your face and provide support and fullness to lips and cheeks that appear "stunk-in", which is a natural phenomenon after loosing the natural support of teeth and bone.  More commonly these days, dentures are used along with implants to provide extra support and stability. If you are missing teeth, call us today to see how we can help bring back your confidence and give you your smile back again!

Extractions

Extractions are done for a variety of reasons, during a variety of stages in life.  We perform extractions of children who have infected primary teeth, for children and adolescents who need to make room for adult teeth or for orthodontics, or for people with infected teeth, cracked teeth, fractured teeth, ect.  At Bemidji Family Dentistry we work with of our patients and their goals for their health, their wants and needs, and make a plan.  When we treatment plan extractions we also ensure that we have a plan for replacement, if the situation is available and warranted, after.  We pride ourselves on providing our patients with the education in being able to make their oral health decisions with us, not us for them!

Botox/Filler/PDO threading

As a member of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, we create beautiful faces every single day. We are dedicated to providing the most advanced minimally invasive non-surgical techniques for beautiful facial esthetics.  Botox is FDA approved for Botox® treatment for facial treatment of chronic migraines.

Botox® treatments only take a few minutes depending on the number of injections needed.

The effects of treatment last for approximately 3 months.  Patients will begin to see results from their treatment with Botox® from 3-5 days following the procedure.

Botox is used to reduce or eliminate facial wrinkles and facial pain caused by muscles in the head and neck

The PDO Lifting and Smoothing Threads work in two

ways – Building your own collagen through the body’s natural healing process and also creating biostimulation so your skin develops better blood flow which will tighten your skin and improve the skin texture and look.

Nitrous

At Bemidji Family Dentistry we never like to see our patients feeling nervous or scared.  So to help, we offer Nitrous Oxide Sedation "Laughing Gas" as a safe way for patients with anxiety to feel more comfortable in the dental chair.  It is extremely safe and can be used during a wide variety of procedures.  Whether your appointment is for a dental cleaning or you are receiving more complex treatment, it is a great choice for those who suffer from anxiety.  The process is simple and only involves the patient inhaling the Nitrous Oxide through their nose from a small mask that fits over their nose.  There are no side effects, patients are awake and able to interact during the use of Nitrous, it is not intended to put them to sleep.  Patients using Nitrous should expect to feel very warm, calm, relaxed, and comfortable.  

SureSmiles/Clear Aligner Therapy

SureSmiles is an orthodontic option, which uses clear retainers to correct malocclusion aka misaligned teeth.  SureSmiles is less painful than traditional metal brackets and wires, there are no restrictions on foods or activities, the process can be unto 50% faster, and it is easier to brush and floss, which will lead to better oral health.  Misaligned teeth can lead to premature wear, tooth loss, gum disease, and the buildup of bacteria associated with bigger problems, including heart disease.  Seven out of ten American adults have some kind of issue with her bites and that is why we offer our patients Invisalign.  Your smiles deserves the very best!

Sleep Apnea and TMD (night guard) Appliances

Sleep Apnea and TMD Appliances come in a variety of designs, which are custom made by a dental laboratory technician.  They are worn during sleep and fit ideally to the patient's teeth.  They fit like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer.  

The sleep apnea appliance supports the lower jaw in a forward position, similar to the idea of jaw thrust with CPR, it works by opening the air way while you sleep.  Research shows that oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for patients with a mild form of sleep apnea.  

The TMD/Nightguard appliances aid in patients who suffer from clenching and grinding at night.  The goal of a custom guard is the prop the patients jaws open to the patient's specific centric relation to help ease stress on their jaw joint, help decrease stress in their facial muscles, and to relieve the stress on their teeth.  Clenching and grinding causes adverse effects on the teeth, such as cracks and fractures, facial pain, and daily chronic  migraines.  

Teeth Whitening

At Bemidji Family Dentistry, we want all of our patients to have the whitest and brightest smile to shine where every they go! Please call us today to find out if this will work for you!  We provide our patient will custom trays and whitening gel that they can use at home to whiten their teeth.  Fillings do NOT whiten, so we need to ensure that whitening will work for you!