OUR SERVICES

Using advanced CEREC CAD/CAM digital technology, we’re able to design and create a crown that fits your tooth in our office while you wait. This saves you the trouble of having to make two appointments and is far more convenient than waiting weeks for the relief that a permanent crown provides. It allows you to restore healthy color and alignment to your smile within a matter of hours. Plus, its able to take impressions that are proven to be more precise than traditional methods.

What is CEREC CAD/CAM Technology?

Short for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, CEREC uses computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to quickly and accurately take impressions and design a restoration that’s precisely fitted to your mouth.

How can it help?

The convenience of CEREC, plus its ability to take more precise impressions, makes it a superior option. If you come into our office in need of a crown, inlay or onlay, it allows us to get the job done in just one visit. Because we don’t have to bother with impression material or a temporary restoration, you’ll leave our office with a permanent crown that day.

The digital component of this process allows us to take impressions that are far more precise than traditional restoration methods. Not only is CEREC more convenient, it results in a permanent solution that’s more comfortable for you.

CEREC restorations also tend to have a longer lifespan than traditional methods and more closely match your natural teeth color, so your restoration is virtually invisible.

To learn more about our process and the difference it can make for you, feel free to reach out to Southern Tier Family Dentistry.

Southern Tier Family Dentistry might be a small town practice, but we are proud to offer the most high tech dental procedures for our patients.

We utilize our advanced technology for:

• Same Day Crowns: Custom-made coverings that fit over original decayed, damaged, or cracked teeth.
• 3D Imaging: The most accurate and comprehensive views of your teeth and gums, along with surrounding bone anatomy.
• Digital Radiographs: Digital X-Ray imaging that allows for enhancement of images.
• Implant Placement and Restorations: Artificial tooth replacements for single tooth replacement, anterior/posterior replacement, and full upper replacements.
• Porcelain Crowns and Veneers: Thin, semi-translucent “shells” customized from porcelain material and permanently bonded to your teeth to improve the appearance of your smile.
• Digital Impressions: A scan of your mouth and teeth using an intraoral wand inserted into the patient’s mouth.

…and more.

By providing these important services with the best available technology, our patients enjoy shorter procedure times, less pain, and a decreased need for repeat visits.

Dental implants are a great option for patients with missing teeth and healthy gums. Our team at Southern Tier Family Dentistry utilized a 3D imaging system that allows us to place dental implant with great precision and accuracy leading to more predictable long-term success.

By using this advanced implant technology, our doctors are able to collect data on bone levels, bone height, and surrounding anatomy to determine optimal placement with each implant – resulting in the most comfortable and natural appearance for your smile.

Early dental care gives parents and caretakers the information needed to maintain children’s dental hygiene from an early age.

Did you know… A child’s teeth actually begin forming prior to birth. Primary or “baby” teeth typically push through the gums as early as four months of age, and by the age of three, most children will have all 20 primary teeth. So what is the point of practicing good dental hygiene on teeth that are just going to fall out anyway? We’re glad you asked! Maintaining the health of these teeth is extremely important, as primary teeth allow children to chew food properly and speak clearly. They also guide the permanent teeth into place.

What to expect at an early dental care visit:

A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled around his or her first birthday. The most important part of an initial dental visit is getting to know the doctor and becoming comfortable with the staff. A pleasant, comfortable visit will build trust and help ease anxiety for future appointments. If possible, allow the child to sit in a parent’s lap in the exam room during the consultation. Children old enough to communicate are encouraged to discuss any fears or anxiety they may feel during the visit.

3 Simple ways to keep children’s primary teeth healthy:

• If your baby is teething, monitor the teeth closely for signs of bottle decay, which appears as dull spots whiter than the tooth surface or lines on the teeth, typically on the inside (near the tongue side).
• Do not leave any liquid other than water in your infant’s crib or bed. This can cause decay due to the sugar in the liquid mixing with bacteria in dental plaque, ultimately forming acid that attacks the tooth enamel.
• Maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. Most snacks that children eat cause cavities, so be cognizant to provide healthy foods such as vegetables and low-fat yogurt and cheeses, which promote strong teeth.

At Southern Tier Family Dentistry, our emphasis is on total preventive care for our patients. Our experienced doctors provide a wide range of dental services without having to refer patients to outside specialists, saving you time and keeping your total dental care within one practice.

From regular checkups and continued oral health routines to restorative services and treatment for dental disease, Southern Tier Family Dentistry’s primary goal is to achieve and maintain oral health through utilizing advances in technology and techniques and maintaining scheduled dental exams.

The words “Root canal” carry one of the most negative connotations in the minds of dental patients. While the root canal procedure was one daunting, painful, and time consuming, Southern Tier Family Dentistry is proud to offer root canal procedures with minimal pain.

You might be in need of a root canal if…

• You have inflamed or infected tooth pulp
• Your teeth are extremely sensitive to hot and cold elements
• You have tooth decay
• Your have a chipped or broken tooth
• You’ve experienced a blow to the tooth
• You have swelling or tenderness near the infected tooth
• You’ve had repeated dental procedures on a tooth

When left untreated, these problems can lead to severe tooth decay reaching the root of the tooth, causing extensive damage to the tooth structure. When the damage goes beyond what can be treated with a filling, a root canal procedure works to preserve the tooth and retain its original integrity.

What to expect during a root canal procedure:

• The patient undergoes anesthesia
• A dental dam is used to isolate the tooth
• The tooth is opened to allow for removal of infected or dead dental pulp
• The tooth is comprehensively cleaned, including any cracks and canals
• The doctor reshapes the canals with special tools
• The tooth is filled again with cutting edge biocompatible filling material
• A temporary covering is used to cover the access opening
• Following a recovery period, the patient will return for the placement of a permanent restoration

Periodontal or gum disease comes in many forms. If left untreated, gum disease can cause inflammation, tooth loss, and bone damage. Good oral hygiene and regular dental visits can prevent and lessen effects of periodontal disease, while certain factors increase the risk of gum disease forming, including:

• Smoking or tobacco use
• Stress
• Genetics
• Pregnancy
• Medications
• Diabetes
• Poor nutrition

If you are suffering from symptoms of periodontal disease, our doctors at Southern Tier Family Dentistry can help by suggesting a proper care course to reclaim your oral health. We may advise procedures such as pocket reduction, soft tissue grafts or bone regeneration, dental implants for permanent tooth replacement, and more.