Our Services

Aurora Dental Wellness provides comprehensive dental services to patients of all ages!  

​Dental Exams During Pregnancy-Not exactly pediatric dentistry but we want to remind mothers to be on the importance of their oral health during their pregnancy.  Pregnancy can affect a mother's oral health, so visit us today to learn more.  We can also give you tips on how to care for your little one's oral health and what to expect and care for their teeth once they begin to erupt.

​First Dental Visits-Our dentists recommend a child's first dental visit take place when their first teeth come in or by the age of one year old.  

​Under 3 exam-Exams on these little ones are intended to ease them into feeling comfortable at the dental office.  We do a simple exam to see how everything is developing and introduce them to simple items in the dental office.  The more they get used to us the less scared they are in the future and can learn that dentistry does not have to be scary.  

​Sealants-Sealants are a type of flowable tooth colored filling material that are often placed in the molars of children and young adults.  Some teeth have very deep grooves that tend to trap food debris and are, therefore, more susceptible to decay.  Sealants are placed to fill in these deep grooves, making them less likely to trap debris, and easier to clean.  Often times no drilling is necessary to place a sealant.  On occasion, the dentist may want to conservatively open up the grooves to verify that no decay is present.  In these instances, anesthetic is typically not necessary, because only the outermost portion of tooth structure is minimally removed.  Sealants are a great conservative treatment that can help prevent future decay

​Space Maintainers-Sometimes little teeth need to come out a little earlier then expected.  In these instances your dentist will take an impression of your child's teeth and have a space maintainer made.  This is a metal device that is glued in to preserve the space for the adult tooth to grow in.  When the adult tooth begins to erupt, your dentist will easily remove the space maintainer.

Preventive Dentistry:

Digital X-rays - Dental X-rays are used to help diagnose decay in between teeth, to check bone levels, to look for infection, to evaluate a tooth prior to extraction, or to look for other issues inside the bone.  The amount of radiation emitted from digital x-rays is minimal.  There are various types of x-rays according to what we need to see.  A panoramic x-ray goes around your head and gives us information regarding your teeth including any wisdom teeth, your TMJ and even your sinuses.  This type of x-ray does not do well showing us dental cavities.  Bitewings are x-rays that show how your back teeth come together and allows us to look for cavities in between the teeth as well as your bone level.  This type of x-ray does not show us the roots of your teeth.  Periapicals are x-rays that show your whole tooth, from the crown to the tip of the root.  New patients may require a full series of x-rays which includes 18 total pictures of your teeth including bitewings and periapicals to give us a full view of your overall mouth presentation. A full series of x-ray may seem overwhelming but our assistants are pretty efficient at getting them done and this is considered the standard of care in dentistry.  Typically, you will only need a set of bitewings once a year once you have had a full series completed unless something drastically changes in your oral health or your dental provider decides it is indicated. 

​Oral Cancer Screening -Your dentist will do an oral cancer screening during your exam and look for any pathologies.

​Dental Exam - A periodic oral exam is performed every 6 months with your dental cleaning.  During this check up, the dentist will perform a complete intra and extra oral exam.  We will check all of your existing dental work to make sure that it is still performing as it should, while also looking for any new decay or additional issues.  We also perform an oral cancer screening in which we thoroughly examine your gum tissue, tongue, and entire mouth as well as your TMJ, lymph nodes of the neck, and your thyroid gland.

​Dental Cleaning - It is recommended that you get your teeth professionally cleaned by a dental hygienist or dentist once every 6 months. For patients who have a history of periodontal disease, or other diseases that affect the gum and bone tissue, more frequent cleanings may be recommended.  While you may be great at brushing and flossing, there is bacteria that builds up below the gum line that cannot be adequately removed by these methods alone.  The hygienist or dentist will gently clean the teeth both above and below the gum line to remove calculus (hardened plaque) and the bacterial biofilm that can cause inflammation in the gum tissue and, eventually, bone loss if left untreated.

Gum Disease Treatment:

Gum Disease Assessment - Our assessment involves a thorough examination which involves a head and neck exam, examination of structures and tissues outside and inside of the mouth, the presentation of your gums, a full charting of any existing presentations of your mouth, a set of x-rays and a full mouth probing.  Dental probing is when your dental professional will evaluate the gum health surrounding each tooth with a dental measuring instrument.  It gives a good indication of your gum health. 

Deep Cleaning/Scaling and Root Planing -This is a form of cleaning where the teeth are scaled, meaning the tartar is removed from above and below the gum line, and the roots are planed, meaning the rough spots on the tooth root are smoothed to prevent further buildup. A special instrument using water and vibration may be used. For your comfort, anesthetic may be used.  In certain instances medications may be recommended as a part of treatment and/or based on the extent of the disease your dental professional may decide it is best for a gum specialist to evaluate your gum health and a referral may be given. 

​Periodontal Maintenance - A dental cleaning is preventative measure whereas periodontal maintenance is a treatment for a patient with gum disease.  Periodontal maintenance is prescribed to treat and prevent the progression of periodontal disease. This treatment occurs after a patient has been diagnosed with periodontal disease. Its purpose is to maintain the gum status and decrease bacteria and their toxins that causes the continuation of gum disease and its destructive effects on oral heath.  Periodontal maintenance is usually recommended every 3-4 months.  During your periodontal maintenance visit your dental professional will monitor the health of your gums and underlying tissues. Your hygienist will monitor your gum health by evaluating the depths of any gum pockets, inflammation and active infection.  If any areas of concern arise, they are able to help treat it early.  The treatment includes scaling and root planing, the removal of tartar and smoothing of root surfaces, to prevent further bacteria adherence and the decrease of bad bacteria. 

​Restorative:

Dental fillings -Tooth fillings are one of the most common dental treatments.  They involve removing the decayed part from a tooth and shaping a filling material to "fill" in the space and restore the tooth's shape and function.  Recently, tooth colored fillings, or resins, are the most common material used for dental fillings.  These fillings are matched to your existing tooth color making them more cosmetic.  Silver fillings, are another material used for dental fillings although they are not used as often anymore mainly due to cosmetics.  Although silver fillings, amalgam, are not utilized as frequently there are certain instances that require them or where they are better suited than resin fillings.  

​Crowns and Bridges - A dental crown is a lab fabricated "cap" that is cemented over existing tooth structure.  A crown may be recommended after a tooth has been treated with a root canal, if the tooth has a large filling, or if the tooth is cracked.  A crown helps to bind the tooth together so as to prevent the tooth from chipping or cracking in the future.  A bridge is two crowns with a fake tooth (or pontic) in between.  A bridge is one of the recommended treatment options to replace a missing tooth.  In order to fabricate a crown/bridge the dentist must first remove a small amount of tooth structure on all surfaces to make room for the crown.  The dentist will then take an impression of the prepared tooth/teeth to send to the lab for crown/bridge fabrication.  The dentist will then fabricate a temporary crown/bridge to cover the tooth until the final crown/bridge is delivered from the lab.  Crowns/bridges can be made from various materials but most commonly they are made of gold, porcelain fused to gold, or ceramic. 

Partials and Dentures:

A denture is a removable prosthesis that replaces an entire arch of missing teeth.  You may have both an upper and lower denture or one or the other.  A partial is a removable prosthesis that replaces one or more missing teeth and uses the remaining teeth to stabilize the appliance.  A denture is made entirely of acrylic while a partial is typically composed of a metal framework and acrylic.  Both dentures and partial dentures require a series of appointments to fabricate the most functional appliance.

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Oral Surgery:

Dental Extractions-

A tooth may need to be removed for a variety of reasons including extensive decay, gum disease and trauma.  Prior to the procedure we administer local anesthetic so that you are comfortable throughout the procedure.  Feeling pressure is normal as we are slowly rocking and lifting the tooth.  If you experience any discomfort let your dentist know right away.

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Emergency Appointments:

Whether due to an accident/trauma, decay or infection, dental emergencies should be addressed quickly.  True dental emergencies involve, pain, swelling, fever, abscess/infection including a pimple on the gum or drainage, fracture/loss of tooth structure, loosening or complete loss of a tooth/teeth due to trauma.  If you have a dental emergency, your dental professional will schedule you an appointment as quickly as available for an appointment.  At your appointment a thorough medical history will be taken, any necessary x-rays will be taken, and the localized affected area will be examined.  Your dental professional will inform you of their findings.  There are times where treatment can be rendered same day, however, sometimes emergency treatment may be more extensive then time in the schedule allows and or requires the need for specialized treatment and therefore your provider will direct you on how to move forward. 

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Night guards:

Patients who clench or grind their teeth at night can cause significant damage to their teeth.  The biting surfaces of the teeth can wear and flatten, chip, or crack.  Night guard appliances help protect the teeth from these habits.  The appliance is made of a hard plastic/acrylic material that fits over the biting surface of the top teeth.  An impression is taken in office and sent to the lab for night guard fabrication.  Upon delivery in office, any adjustments are made by the dentist to insure that the appliance is comfortable and functional.

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Teeth Whitening:

Custom whitening tray fabrication with a take home bleaching agent:  Recommended for patients who are in need of greater whitening potential, or those who want the flexibility to whiten and refresh on their own time.  The trays are made of a thin plastic made to fit specifically to your mouth and are meant to be worn for 2 hours a day for 2 weeks at a time.  Unlike the disposable trays offered OTC, these trays can be repeatedly used for future whitening touch ups.