Dentistry is micro-surgery. Our practice only uses high power microscopes to enhance the precision of patient care. We use a microscope similar to the one that an ophthalmologist uses to enable us to create dental restorations with a precise fit and finish. You just can't fulfill that level of care with the naked eye. In addition to allowing precise, close-up work, the microscope directs a beam of light directly on the teeth, minimizing glare to you.
Many dentists use air-driven "hand-pieces" (the dental term for "drills"). While acceptable for many procedures, these "whiney sounding" air powered hand pieces all have a degree of non-concentricity, meaning they do not rotate perfectly smoothly.
For the most precise aspects of restorative procedures, we use electric hand-pieces. This results in extraordinarily precise interfaces between your tooth and your new restoration (crown, veneer, or filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise!
Periodontal or gum disease happens when bacteria gets below the gum line and the attachment between the gum and tooth is lost. Three out of four Americans have some form of periodontal disease and only 3 out of 100 will ever get treated before it's too late.
Gum disease is a silent, chronic, painless and communicable bacterial infection that often goes undetected or ignored until severe gum and bone destruction is unbearable and can no longer be ignored. Left untreated, gum disease can cause tooth loss and traditional treatment can hurt.
The latest conservative gum therapy uses a laser. The laser gently disinfects and evaporates diseased tissues from around the tooth and inside the gum pocket. This treatment interrupts the bacterial destruction of the tissues and bone, giving the gum pocket a chance to heal. Systematic repeated visits, generally 2-8, allow the gum pocket to be disease-free and sometimes allow tissues to reattach to the pocket and return back to a normal or near-normal depth. This new laser therapy is gentle, less painful, and allows a quick recovery. While surgery may still be indicated for severely advanced periodontal cases, laser therapy is a much more conservative, effective and comfortable option for beginning to moderate periodontal cases.
Dr. LeBourdais chooses carefully when and which radiographs are taken. There are many guidelines that we follow. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes. Radiographs enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth and determine bone level and bone health. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, and assess damage when trauma occurs.
Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs is extremely minimal. Dr. LeBourdais utilizes Digital Imaging Technologies within the office. With digital imaging, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs. Digital imaging can also help us retrieve valuable diagnostic information, including the ability to see cavities better.
The advantages of digital imaging enables us to not only store patient images, but also enables us to quickly transfer them to appropriate specialists or insurance companies.
Conscious Sedation dentistry involves the use of oral medications to place the patients in a sedated state while maintaining their own airway and reflexes. It is extremely safe and effective and provides an opportunity for patients with dental anxiety to receive the dental care they need. Dr. LeBourdais has received advanced training in this field of sedation through the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation and has performed sedation procedures for many years.
Invisalign and Clear Correct therapy are both orthodontic processes that use a system of clear aligners worn comfortably by the patient over the course of treatment. It is a state-of-the-art treatment for straightening teeth and improving smiles and isparticularly appealing with adult patients, since the braces are nearly invisible. Dr. LeBourdais is certified for Invisalign and Clear Correct treatments.
