Services at Winterset Dental Care - A Different Kind of Care

Here at Winterset Dental Care, in addition to high-quality prosthodontic care to replace your missing teeth, you'll find comprehensive dental care that spans nearly every major dental specialty and treatment type. Why run from one specialist to another when you can find everything your smile needs in one place?

Our main focus is replacing teeth, known as prosthodontics. To do that, I often need to coordinate patients' care with other specialists. I've found that patients understand and apprecia te the procedures best when they speak with me and, simultaneously or a short time later, another specialist. I invite these hand-selected specialists to work in my office. Here are some examples of the care that my team provides:

Restorations / Prosthodontics

Our primary specialty is replacing missing teeth. In addition to making your smile whole and healthy, we can help you enjoy steak, apples and corn on the cob again. Whether you are already missing teeth, about to lose a tooth , have a broken tooth or are in need of full mouth reconstruction (due to accident or illness), Dr. Agarwal can help. Your options include implants, high-quality full or partial dentures and precision crafted porcelain crowns and bridges to make your smile new again.

The removal of dead or diseased nerve tissue from the center of a tooth, intended to avoid a toothache or premature loss of a functioning tooth.

Most patients refer to restorations as “fillings” because material is used to “fill” a hole or broken spot in the tooth. Modern dental materials now allow dentists to remove minimal tooth structure and attach tooth-colored materials in a process that involves etching, to roughen the spot, and bonding to create adhesion. Patients prefer restorations that cannot be seen, but traditional silver fillings are also available. If too much tooth structure is missing, a tooth must receive a crown (cap), made out of metal, porcelain, or both, that is cemented in place for years of service. Crowns are also linked together to create a “bridge”, a restoration that closes a gap where teeth have been lost so patients can resume proper chewing.

Implants

A permanent, titanium-metal structure that attaches to the jawbone, serving as a foundation upon which to build natural-looking teeth.

Many patients have used implants as a root structure for porcelain front teeth, giving them a more youthful appearance, or for a precision-crafted, lower denture that stays in place while chewing. Implants require minor surgery and very exacting techniques to ensure successful attachment to bone. They should be performed by dentists who have received additional training beyond dental school.

Root Canals

The removal of dead or diseased nerve tissue from the center of a tooth, intended to avoid a toothache or premature loss of a functioning tooth.

Many patients have the misconception that root canals are painful and require many appointments, but that is not true. Advanced technology allows endodontists, specialists in root canal therapy, to complete most root canals in one visit with no discomfort during or after treatment.

Disease Prevention

The careful, periodic removal of deposits, known as tartar or calculus, that cause disease which can result in tooth loss. Licensed dental hygienists remove deposits that form under the gums and around teeth with ultrasonic technology and hand instruments. They also monitor the condition of gum tissue, advise dentists of changes, and teach patients how to better maintain the health of their gums.

A vast majority of adults will have some form of dental disease in their lifetime. One of those diseases, periodontitis, causes bone loss around teeth which ruins their foundation. Periodontitis goes undetected until a dentist or hygienist takes x-rays or measures the bone with a special ruler. Like most diseases, it continues to get worse unless treated. Treatment may be as simple as flossing daily or as complex as surgery for gums and bone, performed by a specialist who is called a “periodontist”. The disease must be treated before extensive dental work begins.

Smile Design

The cosmetic improvement of existing teeth to gain confidence, decrease signs of aging, and modify the shape.

Patients often admit that they are embarrassed to smile because their teeth are too yellow, too short, too crooked, too…something. Some believe that their gums show too much. They are amazed to discover that two hours of dental treatment solves the whole problem. Sometimes, their teeth need whitening so they wear specially-fit trays that place gel on the teeth at bedtime. Porcelain veneers, similar to the procedure for artificial nails, are fit to teeth when patients need to reshape teeth and brighten them. Tooth-colored materials can fill in chips or roughness, or even appear to straighten a tooth that is rotated out of position.

Sedation Dentistry

Few dental practices have the training to administer state-of-the-art medications to reduce anxiety or encourage sleep during dental procedures. I have found that many patients like to “get it over with” in one longer appointment rather than deal with temporary teeth or multiple, short appointments.