The Northshore Smiles team is comprised of one experienced, full-time dentist—Dr. Emily Lubar (Schuster)—and a committed staff of dental professionals. Every time you visit our practice, you will have a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Lubar, because she understands that open communication is the most important step in providing personalized dental care.
Dental Cleaning
Many people tend to avoid teeth cleanings. Between the prodding, strange noises, and occasional jaw discomfort, it’s easy to understand their apprehension. But for our patients, teeth cleaning is simple and painless.
Knowing exactly what is going on during the process can help ease your stress and allow you to better enjoy the fresh, clean results.
At Northshore Smiles, we have the experience and technology to keep your teeth looking their best and brightest. Don’t wait any longer. Call today to make your appointment with our hygiene team.
Digital X-Rays
Digital X-rays are an extremely useful tool for evaluating and diagnosing the condition of your teeth. Whether it’s helping us to identify decay, see how well a filling is holding up, or check the placement of a dental implant, these X-rays are an invaluable part of your treatment planning.
Digital x-rays are also frequently used for monitoring teeth yet to emerge, such as wisdom teeth that may be impacted. They can also be used to monitor the growth and development of your jaws or to identify any problems in your jaw joints (temporomandibular joints).
Examination/Diagnosis/Cancer Screening
Oral cancer screenings are a regular part of every patient’s examination. These screenings could lead to additional tests. Many people have sores in their mouths, with the great majority of these sores being noncancerous. While an oral exam can’t determine which sores are cancerous and which are not, they are a first step in process of diagnosis.
If we find an unusual sore, we’ll start the process with your medical doctor or healthcare provider to have further tests, since the only way to definitively determine whether you have oral cancer is to remove some abnormal cells and test them for cancer with a biopsy.
Fluoride Varnish
Fluoride varnish is a dental treatment that can help prevent tooth decay, slow it down, or stop it from getting worse. Fluoride varnish is frequently given to younger people to strengthen tooth enamel, but it can be helpful at any stage of life.
Healthy gums and teeth are vital to your overall health. These fluoride treatments can significantly reduce the likelihood of decay and promote the maintenance of a healthy smile.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth—usually the back teeth (the premolars and molars)—to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.
Although thorough brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, they cannot always get into all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to remove the food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by “sealing out” plaque and food.
Oral Hygiene Instruction
Proper oral hygiene is essential for healthy teeth and gums. This includes daily brushing and flossing. In addition, you should see your dentist regularly for dental exams and cleanings. Preventative dentistry gives you the best chance for a beautiful smile and long-lasting oral health.
At Northshore Smiles, we keep patient education at the center of all we do, with informative treatment plans and instructions for better dental hygiene practices.
Tooth-Colored (Resin) Fillings
Composite fillings—also known as tooth-colored fillings—are dental restorations designed to be inconspicuous and natural in appearance. They blend well with the teeth and appear more natural than amalgam fillings, which are darker and more easily seen by other people. Composite fillings are made of ceramic and plastic compounds that chemically bond to the teeth. They can be used to fill in decayed areas of the teeth, as well as to help repair chipped or broken teeth. Most dentists use composite restorations to treat the teeth closest to the front of the mouth, as they are more noticeable when patients smile. However, advancements in dental technology and the composition of composite fillings have made it possible for us to also use tooth-colored fillings on molars, which receive more wear than other teeth.
Tooth-Colored Inlays and Onlays
A dental inlay is a filling that fits into the fissures or grooves of a tooth’s chewing surface. It doesn’t cover any of the tooth’s cusps or bumps. A dental onlay is also sometimes referred to as a partial crown. This restoration is larger than an inlay and covers one or more of your tooth’s cusps. Dental inlays and onlays similar: Both are types of indirect fillings and are used to repair the chewing surface of a tooth. The major difference is how much of the tooth’s chewing surface is covered. At Northshore Smiles, Dr. Stoiber will recommend inlays or onlays if the decay or damage to your tooth’s biting surface is more extensive than a simple filling can restore.
Veneers
Dental veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that are attached to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. They’re often made from porcelain or resin-composite materials and are permanently bonded to your teeth.
Veneers can be used to treat a number of different cosmetic concerns, including chipped, broken, discolored, or smaller-than-average teeth.
Some people may only get one veneer in the case of a broken or chipped tooth, but many get between six to eight veneers in order to create an even, symmetrical smile. Ask us about this and other cosmetic dental options available at Northshore Smiles.
Crowns and Bridges
If you’re in need of significant tooth restoration or replacement, you might want to look into dental crowns or dental bridges. These are two of the most convenient ways to address severely decayed or damaged teeth.
So what is a dental crown? It’s a cap, or cover, that dentists put over a tooth. Dental crowns bring the tooth in question back to its normal size, shape, and function. Crowns can even make your teeth stronger and improve the way they look.
There are a few reasons you might want to get a crown: cavities that are too large for fillings, teeth that are cracked or worn down, root canal treatment, to cover a badly shaped or discolored tooth, and to fix your smile. Dental crowns can be made from ceramics, metal alloys, porcelain, porcelain that’s been fused to metal, or composite resin. Whatever the material, Dr. Emily Lubar will ensure it blends in with the natural color of your teeth.
A dental bridge is made with two or more dental crowns on either side of a gap made by a missing tooth, with a false tooth (or teeth) placed in between. These types of fake teeth are called pontics, and they can be made of multiple materials, such as alloys, porcelain, gold, or a combination of them. The purpose of a dental bridge is just what its name implies: to bridge the gap created by a missing tooth or teeth. The bridge is supported by natural teeth or, in some cases, by implants. Call Northshore Smiles today to learn more about all of the services we offer in restorative dentistry.
Tooth Whitening
Teeth whitening involves producing a chemical reaction that bleaches your teeth to make them lighter. It can’t make your teeth completely white, but it can lighten the existing color by several shades.
Here at Northshore Smiles, we offer a range of cosmetic services to help you to achieve your healthiest, most vibrant smile.
Endodontic Treatment (Root Canals)
What most people refer to as a root canal is an endodontic treatment in which the infected pulp and nerve in the root of a tooth are removed, the root canal is cleaned out, the space is filled, and the tooth is sealed and crowned to restore the tooth to healthy function. Because this treatment preserves your natural tooth structure and bite, it’s much preferred to extraction whenever possible. Despite the negative impressions of pain and discomfort that many people have about root canals, this procedure functions to immediately alleviate tooth pain caused by rampant infection and often abscess at the tooth’s root.
Tooth Extraction
Excessive tooth decay, tooth infection, and crowding can all require a tooth extraction. Those who get braces may need one or two teeth removed to provide room for their other teeth as they shift into place. Wisdom teeth frequently need to be removed to avoid them becoming impacted.
Dr. Lubar and our Northshore Smiles team have decades of experience performing extractions, and we always work to ensure that the process is efficient and free of pain.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a revolutionary form of permanent tooth replacement. Unlike other tooth replacements like bridges or dentures, they are surgical devices that enter and interact with the bone of the jaw or the skull to support a dental prosthesis, often a dental crown. The dental implant itself specifically refers to the screw-like titanium component that is placed into the bone; this implant then connects to an abutment that sits within and holds a tooth-like porcelain crown. Adults of all ages who are missing teeth can benefit from dental implants: those who have lost teeth due to injury and those who have lost teeth due to infection or decay.
Call our office today to learn more about implant dentistry here at Northshore Smiles.
Implant Retained Fixed Prosthetics
An implant-supported fixed prosthesis can replace both teeth and gum tissue. It looks and acts like your natural teeth. The prosthesis fits securely even when you chew and speak. In addition, they do not allow the opposing natural teeth to move and shift, protecting your bite and jaw joint.
Dr. Lubar and our Northshore Smiles team are here to answer all of your questions about implant dentistry and fixed prosthetics.
