An oral examination is a visual inspection of the mouth, head, and neck, performed to detect abnormalities. Radiographs allow for a more complete examination, helping the doctor to detect cavities, problems in existing dental restorations, gum and bone recession or other abnormal conditions within the mouth, head and neck area.

A dental cleaning, also known as an oral prophylaxis, is the removal of dental plaque and tartar (calculus) from the teeth. Specialized instruments are used to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. First, an ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water is used to loosen larger pieces of tartar. Next, hand tools are used to manually remove smaller deposits and smooth the tooth surfaces. Once all the tooth surfaces have been cleaned of tartar and plaque, the teeth are polished.

Fluoride is a natural substance that helps strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Fluoride treatments are administered at this office as in important component of pediatric dental treatment. The fluoride is applied to the teeth in a gel, foam, varnish or rinse form.

Dental X-rays are a valuable diagnostic tool used to identify decay, extra teeth, bone defects, tumors, cysts and check the progress of previous procedures. Advances in technology now allow for digital X-rays, which reduce radiation exposure more than 90 percent, and produce instant, high-quality images that can be viewed immediately by the dentist and the patient.

Dental sealants are a safe resin material applied to the surfaces of teeth (commonly permanent molars) to prevent cavities. Sealants fill in the crevices of a tooth and “seal” off the tooth from cavity causing agents like food and plaque. The teeth are prepped for the sealant application and the sealant is painted directly on the chewing surface of the teeth and then hardens. Sealants are applied in one visit.

Oral cancer affects thousands of Americans yearly. We use the latest technology to detect changes in oral tissue consistencies and/or lesions. A UV light is shined into the mouth to detect unhealthy tissue. Healthy tissue looks lighter under the light while spots of bad tissue appear dark. With early detection, cancer may be caught before it has time to spread, potentially saving lives.

Composite fillings are done in one visit. And look very natural. We clean the tooth from the decay and possible an old filling, than we fill in the composite material and use a special light to harden immediately.

A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers the outside of a severely decayed tooth. Dental crowns can be completed in two visits. During the first visit, the tooth is prepped (shaved down) and an impression is taken. A temporary crown is placed while the permanent crown is being made. During the second visit, the permanent crown is fitted comfortably and then cemented into place for a permanent restoration.

A bridge replaces missing teeth without the use of a denture or dental implant. We use the adjacent teeth as anchors, place crowns and connect them with a fake crown that replaces the missing tooth. We may also recommend dental implants to replace the missing teeth.

Bridges are usually made from the PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal). The biggest difference here is the metal. Despite it being invisible (covered by the porcelain), it has the most crucial influence on the long term success. The metal is divided into 3 groups. Non-precious, semi-precious and precious (also high noble). The higher the percentage of precious metals in it, the better is the corrosion resistance, which makes the bridge longer lasting.

The latest research is working on replacing the metal all together with ceramics, and it does look promising.

Learn more about dental bridges.

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth. To place a veneer, a very small amount of the original tooth enamel must be removed. Afterwards, an adhesive layer is placed between the slightly prepped tooth and the veneer. The veneer is then hardened with a curing light.

We use this alternative to a “regular” crown, when the existing damage to the tooth is too big to be restored by a filling, but not big enough to justify a full coverage crown. It is done in 2 visits, and while you wear the temporary restoration, certain precautions should be taken, in order to ensure that you do not dislodge it from its place.
These used to be made out of gold, but now we use modern ceramics to make them blend in better and we can also preserve this way more tooth structure.
Once the real restoration is in place, it looks and feels same as your natural tooth, while preventing any additional damage to the gums, by staying away from the gums, whenever possible.

Using a tooth colored composite material, we fill in and/or build up your front teeth to improve their appearance. It is a less expensive, but also less durable restoration than the veneers, but is used for the same purpose.

Dental implants are the replacement of tooth roots in the mouth. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium, which are placed in the jawbone. The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth.

Using Air Abrasion technology, Dr. Kniter is able to offer our patients the comfort of drill free dentistry. Air Abrasion is a new micro-dentistry technique which sprays a very fine stream of particles such as silica or aluminum oxide using compressed air or gas. Like a mini sandblaster, this technology can be used in place of a drill for many dental treatments, improving comfort and reducing anxiety traditionally caused by the noise of a drill.

ZOOM!® Whitening, also known as bleaching, is the procedure used to brighten teeth. This in-office whitening treatment offers immediate results and uses a laser to facilitate the whitening process. It allows Dr. Kniter to customize aspects of the treatment to each individual patient’s needs to provide the best possible results.

Check our Whitening Transformations!

An affordable alternative to traditional braces, Fastbraces® offers a quicker, more convenient and comfortable solution for straightening your smile. Using a patented triangular bracket, treatment with Fastbraces® can be completed in as little as 3 months to a year. Unlike traditional braces that make adjustments to the position of the tooth before adjusting the root of the tooth, the triangular bracket is designed to reposition the root of the tooth from the onset of treatment, reducing both treatment time and discomfort.

In addition to their original triangular bracket, Fastbraces® also offers Fastbraces® Clear braces, an aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional metal braces.

Invisalign® takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements your dentist or orthodontist plans out for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You just pop in a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks, until your treatment is complete. You’ll achieve a great smile with little interference in your daily life. The best part about the whole process is that most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth.

In case, where a tooth can not be saved due to the sustained damage, we numb the area sufficiently and profusely. Using the most gentle extraction technique we remove the tooth, and often use bone graft material to either provide for a better implant placement, or to prevent a periodontal (gum disease) defect. While nobody is looking forward to have their teeth extracted, Dr. Roman had a 4 year associateship in an oral surgeon office and is very experienced in this treatment.

Root canals are most often necessary when decay has reached the nerve of the tooth or the tooth has become infected. When root canal therapy is performed, infected or inflamed pulp is removed from the tooth chamber. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and disinfected before filling and sealing to limit the possibility of future infection. Soon after the root canal is performed, the tooth is restored with a dental crown or filling to protect the tooth and restore normal tooth function.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is similar to a sliding hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull. TMJ disorders can cause pain in the jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.

To treat TMJ disorders, first the cause has to be identified. In less severe cases TMJ disorders can be treated with self-managed care (easting soft foods, using ice packs, avoiding extreme jaw movement) or nonsurgical treatments (anti-inflammatory medications, Botox injections, stabilization splints).

We also use TENS units to assist in relaxing the jaw and facial muscles. Please visit www.myotronics.com for more information.

A lot of people tend to grind, or clench their teeth. For those that do it at night, we recommend a night guard, which is a custom made dental appliance that fits over your lower, or upper teeth and protects them from the enormous forces that we apply at them nightly.

It needs multiple appointments of fitting and bite adjustment This guard also stretches your muscle, and even helps sometimes with headaches.

Nitrous Oxide, sometimes referred to as “laughing gas,” is an effective and safe sedation dentistry agent that is inhaled through a mask that fits over the nose to help patients relax. Mixed with oxygen, nitrous oxide allows the patient to breathe normally through the nose. The effects of the sedation will be felt within just a few minutes and may be experienced as a light-headed feeling or a tingling or heaviness in the arms and legs. Ultimately, patients should feel comfortable and calm. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly after the small mask is removed. Talk to the doctor about whether nitrous oxide would be a good option for you.

Conscious Oral Sedation is an alternative minimal sedation that allows patients to remain awake but relaxed. For people who have a fear of dental procedures, conscious sedation may take away some of the anxiety. Under the medication, patients may feel very drowsy or even fall asleep, but will not become unconscious. The doctor will combine the use of oral sedation along with a local anesthetic so you have little to no discomfort. Patients should plan to have someone bring you to the appointment and be available to drive them home following treatment.

Our office also offers NuCalm® for patients with dental anxiety.

Developed by a leading neuroscientist to reduce extreme anxiety, this system can help patients enter a deep meditative state using headphones that play relaxing music, light-blocking glasses, mild electric nodes for the throat, and a GABBA amino acid supplement.

Read more about NuCalm® by clicking on the link below.

More Information on NuCalm®