General Dentistry
When a tooth is damaged, it is often common that a dentist will recommend a dental crown. Crowns are small synthetic caps that can be placed over a tooth or a dental implant. They are designed to mimic the look and feel of a tooth and can be made out of many different materials. They are often used in restorative dentistry for broken, damaged, stained, or worn-down teeth. CEREC crowns are a popular choice in dental crowns.
Traditionally getting a dental crown could take weeks or in some cases months. Most dental crown procedures required 2 or more appointments. Often patients would even have a temporary crown while their permanent crown was designed and manufactured. CEREC crowns use digital technology to design and manufacture the crown in the office so that patients can have it installed on the same day.
One of the core benefits of a CEREC crown is the aesthetic appearance. Your friends may not even notice that you have a dental crown because they so closely resemble natural teeth. Unlike resin, porcelain, or metal crowns, a CEREC crown mimics the look of your surrounding teeth.

A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth by filling in a gap with a false tooth called a pontic. The bridge is typically created by placing crowns on the natural teeth on both sides of the missing space. These are called the abutment teeth. The pontic is bonded to the abutments and cemented in place. A dental bridge can help improve your speaking and chewing. It also restores the smile’s appearance and helps maintain the face’s natural shape. Dental bridges can also be supported by implants placed in the jawbone.
Dr. Takahashi might recommend a dental bridge if you have a missing tooth or teeth either due to an injury, gum disease, tooth decay or a physical condition. A dental bridge can help restore your ability to eat and speak properly, prevent your other teeth from moving, realign your bite, and maintain your appearance.
The most popular type of dental bridge consists of an artificial tooth or teeth held in place by dental crowns that have been placed on both sides of the space left by the missing tooth or teeth. Traditional bridges can be made of gold, alloys or porcelain. They are cemented in place and can only be removed by a dental professional.
Filings are now less evasive and more aesthetic, thanks to composite “tooth-colored” filings. You have many choices when it comes to restoring damaged or decayed teeth, even down to the type of dental filling material to use. You may choose to have white “tooth-colored” fillings (composite or porcelain) or silver amalgam restorations. Furthermore, many people decide to replace their older silver amalgam fillings with newer white “tooth-colored” composite fillings. There are a number of pros and cons associated with both composite and amalgam fillings.
A root canal is a dental procedure used to save a tooth that has become deeply decayed or infected. During root canal treatment, Dr. Takahashi will remove the damaged pulp from inside of the decaying tooth and follow by cleaning and sealing the canal(s) to protect against future infection. He can then place a crown or filling to protect your tooth and restore it to full function.
Although they’re called wisdom teeth, many people don’t see any wisdom in them. Often these teeth are troublemakers that decide to turn crooked, refuse to grow in completely, or become misshapen.
Also called third molars, wisdom teeth are the rearmost teeth on each side of your top and bottom jaws. Commonly, they arrive between ages 17 and 21.
Because these teeth arrive last, they may enter a jaw that is already crowded. As a result, these last teeth usually don’t get a seat on your gums. And if they do manage to squeeze in, often little or none of each tooth rises above the gums, becoming impacted. There are a number of possible risks associated with leaving impacted wisdom teeth, such as infection of the gum and surrounding bone.
Impacted teeth don’t always cause problems, but it is important to visit Dr. Takahashi regularly so that he can monitor their arrival.
If you do need to have your wisdom teeth removed, it’s best to do that before they start bothering you. The optimum time for removal is as soon as possible after the dentist tells you they aren’t growing straight. This helps ensure the quickest and easiest healing.
Keep your semiannual dental appointments because even before wisdom teeth emerge, they show up on X-rays. Dr. Takahashi can tell if there’s going to be enough room and if they’re going to cause problems.
A tooth extraction (sometimes called “pulling a tooth”) is a dental surgical procedure where a tooth is removed from its socket. Dental extractions that can be done without making any incisions in the gums and without using any special techniques are often called “simple extractions.” Those that require more complex procedures are often referred to as “surgical extractions.”
If you have missing or badly damaged teeth, dentures can restore your smile. A denture is a removable dental appliance made of acrylic plastic — and sometimes porcelain and metal — that replaces missing teeth and tissues. Due to advances in dentistry, dentures are more natural looking and comfortable than before. A denture can improve your appearance and help you chew properly and speak well again.
Implants
Dental implants provide excellent replacements for teeth and benefit patients who desire complete smile restoration. Tooth implants are dental restorations that replace teeth at the root and stabilize crowns, dental bridges, and dentures.
Before implant treatment, we need to ensure that patients have good oral health. We are also able to provide our patients with bone grafting if they do not have sufficient jaw bone to support their implants. This procedure will help restore a patient’s jaw to its natural shape and state. We will examine the smile and take x-rays to plan where and how many implants we need to place to secure crowns, bridges, or dentures.
To begin treatment, we place the titanium implant posts in the jaw underneath the gums and place healing caps over the implants. Over 3 to 6 months, the implant posts will fuse with the jaw bone. Once the implants are fully healed, we will place a permanent restoration. We customize each restoration to ensure that prosthetic teeth look and feel natural.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Feel like your pearly whites aren’t so white? So many products claim to whiten teeth, but there may be more than meets the eye, particularly when it comes to store-bought whitening products.
If you would like to try an at-home, teeth-whitening product, see Dr. Takahashi first. Why? Because you want to first rule out dental problems such as periodontal (gum) disease or tooth decay, sometimes even on the teeth that you are trying to whiten. Whitening your teeth won’t fix those problems and can even aggravate them. Also, Dr. Takahashi can give you advice on how the different products work and what might work best for your situation.
Tooth whiteners won’t work on all teeth. They won’t whiten:
- Crowns and fillings.
- Antibiotic-stained teeth.
- Gray teeth, which do not respond to bleaching as well as yellow and brown teeth.
Teeth Whitening Options:
- Custom trays that fit perfectly in your mouth and you can use them at home. They usually provide stronger bleaching agents that you won’t get in over-the-counter tooth whiteners.
- Over-the-counter products, which will take longer and require some dedication on your part.
Tooth whitening can cause tooth and gum sensitivity in some people, so call us if you experience this side effect.
A veneer is a covering, something like the thin layer on a piece of furniture that gives it the look of natural wood. When it comes to your teeth, a veneer refers to a thin covering made of porcelain. It can mask discolorations, brighten teeth, and generally improve your smile.
Veneers are also very easy to replace and not easily stained.
Veneers can be applied to a single tooth or a series of teeth. The entire process may take up to three appointments: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparing the teeth, and bonding.
Before the veneer is applied, Dr. Takahashi will lightly buff and reshape the tooth to allow for the added thickness of the covering. This may require anesthetic. After the tooth is prepared, a molded image is taken of the reshaped tooth and sent to a dental laboratory where the porcelain veneer is custom-made to fit your mouth. The veneer is applied by your dentist with adhesive material that bonds it to the original tooth structure. A special light beam is used to harden the adhesive.
Pediatric Dentistry
Children should be seen by a dentist beginning as early as age one. Not only does this introduce your child to the sights and sounds of the dental process from an early age, but it makes them more comfortable with the dental experience as they need procedures later on in life. This is the first step in guiding your child to proper oral health and teaches them good oral hygiene techniques from the beginning of their life. Our team of dentists and hygienists really go the extra mile to make children feel comfortable. We offer pediatric dentistry in a warm and inviting environment to children of all ages.

Oral Appliance Dentistry
You may be wondering if you’re in need of a nightguard. While occasional teeth grinding or clenching should not be a major cause of concern, consistent, long-term bruxism can lead to pain, broken teeth, loss of tooth enamel, and in severe cases – loss of teeth themselves. For these individuals who experience moderate to severe bruxing, an occlusal guard could greatly benefit oral health.
Bruxism is a fairly common problem. It is estimated that about 10 percent of adults and as many as 15 percent of children are affected.3 This grinding and clenching typically occurs at night, but may also be a daytime habit, and most people are unaware they have the problem. Unless your sleep partner complains about the noise, your dentist is usually the first to recognize the damage to your teeth and raise concern.
Some symptoms that may indicate the need for an occlusal guard include:
- Teeth clenching and grinding
- Jaw pain or stiffness
- Fractured or worn-down teeth and dental restorations
- Loose teeth
- Temperature-sensitive teeth
- Headaches, earaches, toothaches in the morning
- Facial pain
- Disrupted sleep
- Sleep partner complains about the noise
Types of occlusal nightguards
There are common types of occlusal guards used to limit the effects of bruxism. If you have any questions about which type is the best for you, then we recommend speaking with your dentist who will be able to advise.
- Soft nightguards – Used to alleviate symptoms for mild cases of bruxism. They fit comfortably and are usually easy to get used to wearing.
- Hard nightguards – Used for very severe cases of bruxism. They are made from acrylic, are extremely durable and long-lasting, and will need to be custom-fit by a dentist.
The temporomandibular joints, called TMJ, are the joints and jaw muscles that make it possible to open and close your mouth. Located on each side of the head, your TMJ work together when you chew, speak or swallow and include muscles and ligaments as well as the jaw bone. They also control the lower jaw (mandible) as it moves forward, backward and side to side.
Each TMJ has a disc between the ball and socket. The disc cushions the load while enabling the jaw to open widely and rotate or glide. Any problem that prevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working properly may result in a painful TMJ disorder
If necessary for your symptoms, the following treatments may be advised:
- Exercises to strengthen your jaw muscles
- Medications prescribed by your dentist; for example, muscle relaxants, analgesics, anti-anxiety drugs or anti-inflammatory medications
- A night guard or bite plate to decrease clenching or grinding of teeth
Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous Oxide
Oral Conscious Sedation
Periodontal Dentistry
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of bacterial etiology resulting in loss of periodontal tissue attachment and alveolar bone. The response to the bacteria leads to clinical signs such as deep pockets, bleeding on probing, gingival recession, and tooth mobility, which can ultimately cause tooth loss.
The goal of periodontal treatment is to eliminate plaque, biofilm and calculus, from the tooth surface and establish an environment that can be maintained. Treatment of periodontitis can be non-surgical or surgical. The optimal treatment is based on the patient, site and systemic factors.
Routine & Preventative Dentistry
Brushing your teeth is an important part of your dental care routine. For a healthy mouth and smile the ADA recommends you:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth allowing you to reach all areas easily.
- Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
- Make sure to use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.
The proper brushing technique is to:
- Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
- Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
- Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.
Toothbrushes with either multi-level bristles or angled bristles perform better than the conventional flat-trimmed bristles in removing plaque. Although toothbrushes with medium bristles have been shown to be effective at biofilm removal, the ADA recommends use of a toothbrush with soft bristles because they minimize the risk of gingival abrasion.
Both manual and powered toothbrushes are effective at removing plaque. While the powered toothbrushes can be more expensive than most manual toothbrushes, some people prefer the powered version. People who have dexterity problems—like the elderly, people with disabilities, or children—or those who have dental appliances, like braces, may find a powered toothbrush easier to use.
Look for the ADA Seal—your assurance that the product has been objectively evaluated for safety and efficacy by an independent body of scientific experts, the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs.
Replace toothbrushes every three to four months or more often if the bristles are visibly matted or frayed.
Here is a step by step guide to proper flossing. Of course, if you have any questions, you can always speak with your dentist or hygienist who will be happy to demo for you.
- Take about 16-20 inches of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving only about an inch or two of floss to work with.
- Holding the floss with your thumbs and index fingers, carefully guide the floss between your teeth and in gentle sawing motion pop the floss between the tooth contacts, being careful not to jam it into the gums.
- Once between the teeth, curve the floss into a C-shape, pressed tight against one tooth. Then, slide the floss up and down the tooth and root surface, going just under the gumline. Make sure to never force the floss further than it wants to go since this action can irritate or cut your gum tissue. Repeat this process on the tooth on the other side of the space.
- To remove the floss, use the same back and forth sawing motion to bring the floss up and away from the space between your teeth.
- Repeat this action for each tooth, using clean sections of floss as you move from space to space. Don’t forget the back side of the last tooth in each corner of your mouth.
- Dispose of the dental floss in a trash can. It’s important to never re-use a piece of floss as it will not be as effective and could leave behind bacteria that you don’t want in your mouth.
Regular dental visits (every 6 months) are important because they can help spot dental health problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. They also help prevent many problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist regularly is also important because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.