• Education
• Comprehensive exam with oral cancer screening
• Cleaning and oral care instructions
• Tooth whitening
• Periodontal (infection on the gum, bones and ligaments) treatment
• Amalgam/silver and composite/tooth colored fillings
• Root canals
• Veneers and bonding
• Gold or porcelain (tooth colored) crowns
• Extractions (including wisdom teeth)
• Other oral surgery
• Bridges and dentures
• Implant restorations
• Orthodontics
• Comprehensive esthetic (cosmetic) dentistry
• Emergency treatment
• Sterilization protocol
• Referral service
Education – We ask our patients for permission to tell them everything we see going on in their mouth. They have our permission to ask us any questions about how it got that way, how it can be treated, how it can be prevented, how much it will cost and if there are alternative treatments. We look inside the mouth and realize there are people attached to what we see. They need to make the most informed decision they can for themselves and their household and we respect whatever they decide for their oral health once they have that information.
Comprehensive exam with oral cancer screening – Dr. Neff or Dr. Linn will do a thorough evaluation of your teeth, gums and jaw joints. This typically requires a current Full Mouth Series of x-rays. If you have not had one within the last year, we will take one. If you have a history of TMJ problems and are still having problems, they will let you know if you need a more extensive evaluation. If there are concerns about possible oral cancer, they will refer you to a specialist immediately. In additon to an oral cancer screening, we evalutate for TMJ, look for periodontal disease, tooth decay, Mal-occlusions, discuss snoring, teeth clenching, and braxium (teeth grinding).
Cleaning and oral care instructions – It is clinically proven that the majority of people need to have their teeth cleaned every six months in order to keep the naturally occurring bacteria under control. One of our registered clinical staff will clean and polish your teeth and examine the health of your gum tissues and bone levels. You will be shown specific areas of concern through an examination as well as the use of an intra oral camera. Oral care skills will be taught to help our patients take control of the challenging areas to prevent gum disease from setting in.
Tooth whitening – We have in-office and at-home tooth whitening available. Tooth whitening is a procedure that brightens teeth that are discolored, stained or have darkened due to injury. Chair side bleaching takes from 30 minutes to an hour per visit. A chemical solution is applied to the teeth. A special light may be used at intervals to help activate the bleaching agents. Two or more sessions, one week apart may be required. With in-home bleaching your dentist makes a custom fitted tray that holds the bleaching gel. The tray is worn during the day or at night for about two weeks. The length of time may vary depending on the patient's teeth or the doctor's recommendations. Periodic touch-ups may be needed. It is not uncommon to have tooth sensitivity during either chair side or at home bleaching. Professional bleaching is about 80% more effective than over-the-counter methods.
Periodontal (gum disease) treatment – Periodontal disease: infection of the gum, bone and ligaments around the tooth. Our doctors and hygienists are trained in diagnosing and treating gum disease. If periodontal treatment is needed, they will explain what it is, how it happens, how to get rid of it and keep the gums and bone healthy. They will prepare a printout of a specific treatment plan for the level of disease each individual patient has. Sometimes it may require the services of a specialist and they can also refer the patient in the right direction.
Amalgam (silver) and composite (tooth-colored) fillings – The Doctors provide both types of fillings, depending on your preferences and your budget. They will discuss the features of each type if you ask for more information.
Root canals – Root canal treatment usually involves the removal of the tooth's pulp, a soft tissue inside the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. Once removed, it is replaced with material that seals off the root canal from the surrounding tissues. Even if the pulp in one of your teeth becomes injured or infected, the tooth often can be saved through root canal (endodontic) treatment. When the pulp is injured or infected and unable to repair itself, it loses its vitality. The most common causes of pulp death are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, complications involving large dental restorations or traumatic injury to the tooth, all of which can allow bacteria to enter into the pulp . Treatment involves one or more visits. There are several steps in the process of endodontic treatment that your general dentist will perform to save your tooth. A tooth with a root canal filling can provide years of service similar to adjacent teeth that have not been treated. Oral hygiene and regular dental exams will help you keep and maintain healthy teeth, whether or not they are endodontically treated.
Porcelain veneers and composite bonding veneers – Veneers are a thin layer of porcelain that is applied to the front of a tooth to improve its position, size, color and shape. These restorations are a very long lasting aesthetic solution. Bonding is applying composite resin bonding material to chipped, stained or worn teeth. This is a lower cost way to restore or enhance your smile.
Gold or porcelain crowns – Crowns are similar to veneers, except they are placed over the entire tooth. A crown's purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. A crown is placed for a number of reasons: to support a large filling; to protect weak teeth from fracturing; to cover badly shaped or discolored teeth; to attach to a bridge or to cover a dental implant. Crowns are made from three different materials: porcelain fused to metal; all porcelain/ceramic; or gold. Your dentist will discuss which materal works best for you and your mouth. Several steps are involved in placing a crown. Usually two dental visits are required. The main goal of your dentist is to create crowns that look like natural teeth.
Extractions – Teeth that are beyond repair and teeth that can cause potential problems such as wisdom teeth and teeth causing crowding are surgically removed.
Bridges and dentures – bridges are generally made of porcelain or a composite material, and are used to replace missing teeth. Bridges are placed on the neighboring teeth so they span the site of the missing tooth/teeth. There are two types of bridges-fixed and removable. Fixed bridges are bonded into place and can only be removed by a dentist. Removable partials or dentures may not be as desirable as fixed bridges and are generally not as stable. Your appearance, dental health and the proper functioning of your mouth are all important reasons for wearing a bridge. Your teeth work together to help chew, speak, sing and smile. If your teeth are missing, it can be difficult to do these things. Fortunately, missing teeth can be replaced and you can restore your oral health and your smile with a fixed bridge or partial denture.
Implants – Dental implants replace missing teeth. They are fixtures that are inserted into underlying bone to serve as the base for an artificial tooth. They are metal posts or frames that are surgically placed beneath your gums. After placement, the bone fuses to the implant in your jaw and act as artificial tooth roots. Replacement teeth are then mounted to the implant. One key advantage of implants is that they offer stable support to artificial teeth. This secure fit also helps replacement teeth feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures. Implant placement involves more than one oral surgery, so candidates must be in overall good health. Candidates need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular visits are crucial to the long-term success of the dental implant.
Orthodontics – Dr. Neff and Dr. Linn have a combined total of over 30 years of experience straightening teeth. In addition to the traditional method of using braces to straighten teeth, Dr. Neff is also certified to use Invisalign technology.
Invisalign technology uses computer imaging, with a treatment plan from the Doctor, to create a series of clear aligners that the patient wears when not eating or drinking. Each stage of the straightening process uses a new set of aligners, which the patient can insert and remove as necessary. Visits to the office can be as few as one per month for the Doctor to check progress, make adjustments, and/or insert a new set of aligners.
Comprehensive esthetic (cosmetic) dentistry – See cosmetic dentistry section.
Emergency treatment – See the Emergency Policy in the How to Find Us section.
Sterilization protocol – All procedures at our office exceed the most stringent guidelines established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA). All instruments and handpieces are steam autoclaved after every use and disposable items are utilized whenever appropriate. Staff wears protective safety glasses and masks during treatment. Staff wears disposable gloves during treatment and always changes gloves for each patient. All surfaces, chairs, lights and units are thoroughly disinfected before and after every patient.
Referral service – When appropriate and needed, we have excellent specialists to whom we can refer our patients.
