Parsell Family Dental

Products And Services

• Bridges

  Dental Bridges If you are missing a tooth or are in need of an extraction, a bridge may be a great option for you to “bridge” the gap left from the missing tooth. A bridge is a series of dental crowns that will be specifically designed and fabricated to match your existing smile and fill the space left by the missing tooth. A crown will be placed over each of the adjacent healthy teeth in order to hold the crown in the empty space in place. The result is a “bridge” of three or more crowns that will look, feel and function almost exactly as your natural teeth. This bridge will also help prevent your remaining teeth from shifting into the empty space left by the missing tooth.

• Exams & Cleanings

  At Parsell Family Dentistry, we stress the importance of early detection and preventative care in the protection and preservation of your overall oral health. Your natural teeth are going to be far stronger, more functional, and much more comfortable than any dental appliance or restoration. Because of this, Dr. Parsell believes in the importance of educating her patients to ensure that they are prepared to make the best decisions regarding their treatment and home care. This attention to detail and focus on education allows our patients to develop healthy habits and hygiene regimens that will benefit them throughout their entire life. We take the time to make sure that you understand your role in the ongoing battle to keep your smile clean and healthy. Dr. Parsell and the American Dental Association recommend visiting the dentist at least every 6 months for a professional cleaning, exam, possibly xrays. Maintaining this schedule is the best way to help you keep your smile healthy and beautiful for years to come. During this visit, Dr. Parsell will complete a comprehensive examination of your teeth and gums and inform you of any treatment that you may need to keep you healthy. The doctor or her hygienist will then perform a professional dental cleaning that will remove any plaque that may have built up on your teeth since your last visit. The result of all of this is that wonderful “fresh from the dentist” feeling and a clean healthy smile.

• Extractions

  If your tooth has become too decayed to restore, has become infected, fractured or experienced trauma, Dr. Parsell may recommend that it be removed. Dr. Parsell will always try to recommend a course of treatment designed to save an infected or decayed tooth if it can be restored. This is because your natural tooth is always going to be preferable over a dental replacement such as a bridge, denture or implant. If your tooth is severely damaged or decayed, removal may be the best course of action to keep your mouth healthy. Fortunately, this does not need to be a painful or traumatic experience. Dr. Parsell and her team work diligently to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. We offer nitrous oxide to help make this experience much more pleasant.

• Fillings & Crowns

  Tooth-Colored Fillings If Dr. Parsell finds that you have a cavity and are in need of a filling to restore the tooth, she will use a tooth-colored resin composite material. These composite fillings are also known as “tooth-colored” fillings, due to our ability to match the shade of the composite material to your natural teeth’s shade. This material will allow for Dr. Parsell to create a natural-looking filling that is nearly invisible to the naked eye. As an added benefit, this resin composite material will strengthen the weakened tooth as it is bonded to the enamel. It will be bonded directly to the existing tooth, allowing for a better fit and an increase in the structural strength of the remaining tooth. Silver fillings, which had been the standard material of choice, has greatly decreased in popularity due to environmental and health concerns about the mercury component.

• Gum Therapy

  Over time bacteria, tartar and plaque can build up not only on your teeth, but also in the pockets where your teeth and gums meet. In order to remove this bacteria and return your gums to health, Dr. Parcell may recommend Gum Therapy or a deep cleaning. A “deep cleaning” is the commonly used term for a procedure that will allow Dr. Parcell or her hygienist to remove the tartar, plaque, or calculus that may have built up on your teeth and/or below the gum line. This procedure will allow your gums to heal and begin to become healthy again. Just like the foundation of a house, your gums are the base of every healthy, beautiful smile. A deep cleaning is the first step to better overall health. After you have completed this deep cleaning, more frequent cleanings may be required. These more frequent visits are sometimes known as periodontal maintenance visits, where our team will focus on the health of your gums and soft tissue to ensure that the healing is progressing properly.

• Root Canals

  If your tooth becomes infected or severely damaged, Dr. Parsell may recommend a root canal. There are many reasons that a tooth can become infected including, trauma, decay, and some fillings that need to be placed near the pulp of your tooth. Many reported toothaches are caused by an infection that can be treated with a root canal. During the procedure, Dr. Parsell will remove the nerve and pulp from the space inside the root of your tooth. It is then cleaned with antibacterial agents and filled and sealed. After the procedure is completed, Dr. Parsell may recommend that you have a crown placed over the restored tooth. After removing the nerve and the infection, the tooth may become brittle and susceptible to further damage if left unprotected. A dental crown will be fabricated to match your tooth exactly and placed over the restoration to protect the tooth for years to come.

• Whitening

  Teeth whitening is a common dental procedure where Dr. Parsell and her team can help whiten your natural teeth and brighten your smile. The professional whitening products that can only be offered by a dental professional can drastically whiten your teeth and deliver as many as a 5 to 10 shade improvement in just one office visit. For the best results, your whitening will be done in our office with Dr. Parsell and her team supervising your care and monitoring the progress of your whitening as it is occurring. There are also some take home kits available that will allow you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. Many of our patients will use these kits to keep their smile bright or touch up small areas after an in-office treatment has been performed. Your teeth darken naturally over time and professional whitening is a cosmetic option that can allow you to erase years of staining and give you that bright, white, “movie star” smile that you have dreamed of.

  Link: Whitening

• Crowns

  Dental Crown At times, the decay on your tooth may grow too large for a traditional filling to restore or there may be trauma or other damage to your tooth. In these cases, Dr. Parsell may recommend a crown to restore your tooth to form and function. A dental crown is sometimes also called a cap and it covers the entire visible portion of your tooth. This restoration will be cemented in place so it will look and feel like your natural tooth. Crowns are be made of many materials, but are most commonly made from porcelain and can be matched to the shade of your existing natural teeth to maintain a consistent beautiful smile. Ask Dr. Parsell about the different options available for crown materials and how they can affect the look of your smile.

• Dentures & Partials

  Dentures If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, a complete denture can replace your missing teeth and give you back your smile. Regardless of whether you have suffered from periodontal disease, tooth decay or even an injury or trauma, replacing your missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. A denture will give your mouth and jaw the structure it needs to keep your face looking healthy and natural. Your teeth and gums keep your facial muscles in place. Without dentures, these muscles start to sag and typically make a person appear older. Partials Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are connected by metal framework. Removable partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments. Precision attachments are generally more esthetic than metal clasps and they are nearly invisible. At Parsell Family Dentistry, we believe that it is important to save your natural teeth whenever possible. A partial denture will allow Dr. Parsell to replace the missing teeth while maintaining as much of your natural smile as possible.