Comprehensive Exam

When you arrive for your first visit, please be prepared to complete all insurance and health information forms that will allow us to begin your dental treatment.  We will ask you to fill out forms that will help us get acquainted with you and your dental needs.  Please be sure to bring a list of your current medications, phone number for family doctors and the pharmacy you prefer.

If you have an extensive health history background,  Dr. Kayser may require a medical clearance from your physician.  Please notify us when scheduling if you have had a history of hip or knee replacement, cardiac stents, heart murmurs or anomalies. You may need to take an antibiotic prior to dental treatment or stop blood thinners.

Your initial exam will last approximately one hour. Dr. Kayser will gather information regarding your dental background, take a complete set of x-rays and determine your current needs.  Please take this time to ask questions regarding treatment recommendations. Remember, this is your mouth, your teeth and ultimately, your decision for treatment choices. Working as a team, we can help you receive the care you need.

If you would like us to complete a dental cleaning at this time, please allow an additional 45 minutes so that we can review oral hygiene instructions and tailor a home care routine for your specific needs. Please note: if it has been an extended amount of time since your last recare appointment or you have a history of periodontal disease, we may need to schedule additional appointments to complete your treatment and establish a state of health.

Periodontics (gum disease)

Periodontal(gum) disease
is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The disease can cause inflammation of the gums and damage to the jaw bone. The early stages of the disease known as Gingivitis may reveal itself as sore, swollen gums with bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth.  Bad breath may also be noticed.  Fortunately, gingivitis can be reversed and does not damage the bone. 

Periodontitis is the 2nd stage of the disease.  Plaque and calculus(tartar) begin to build up under the gumline, increasing the irritation of the gums. They may begin to bleed more readily, be bright red and shrink back or recede.  Bone starts to be destroyed and the teeth may start to loosen.

Advanced Periodontitis is the most severe stage of the disease.  At this point, the space between the tooth and gum deepens and may fill with pus.  There may be swelling around the roots or your teeth may become more sensitive to hot and cold.  Bleeding may be spontaneous and bad breath is often present.  As bone loss increases, your teeth may fall out.  Some teeth may need to be removed to preserve the health of your mouth.

Diabetics, patients with High Blood pressure or other immunocompromising diseases (Aids, Cancer, Lupus) are more prone to gum disease.  Frequent recare appointments will help us evaluate what stage your gums are at and how to treat them before the disease progresses.

Our hygiene staff all have backgrounds in treating patients with periodontal disease.  They have practiced in Periodontal specialty offices as well as established periodontal programs for the general practices they’ve worked in.  Staying committed to remaining current with the ongoing changes and advancements in treatment, they all belong to the Periodontal Study Club for continuing education.

Endodontics (Root Canal)

Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the removal of blood vessels and nerves that have died within the tooth. Often a fracture, trauma to a tooth or decay that has progressed into the pulp of the tooth will cause the nerves to die.  Eventually, the nerves and blood vessels need to be removed due to infection that has entered the pulpal chamber.

Increased sensitivity to hot, biting or a swelling in the gums are indications that the nerve has died.  Left untreated, the infection will destroy bone causing the loss of one or more teeth. In chronic cases a person may feel ill, sluggish and become more prone to other diseases because the bodies defenses are weakened from the infection.  In some cases, the infection can travel through tissues into the brain and cause death.

Being seen as soon as possible allows for the best possible outcome.  Today’s endodontic procedures are relatively painless and done within one hour.

Oral Surgery

This branch of dentistry entails many different aspects.  Most common is the removal of wisdom teeth but oral surgery can include the removal of any tooth .

Surgical procedures correcting skeletal defects before, during or after orthodontic treatment will produce the best possible results. Often replacing a jaw bone that has been lost to cancer or correcting a genetic defect will allow a patient to gain the confidence they need to live a normal life.

Simple extractions may be performed by Dr. Kayser, however, if you are in need of an oral surgeon for other treatment needs, we will be happy to give you a referral to a qualified practioner.

Emergencies

 Dr. Kayser is always available for emergency treatment both during and after office hours.   If he is not in town, he will have a doctor on call for him to help get you comfortable until you can be seen by our office. We are happy to help you, a friend or out-of-town family member.

No one knows when an accident can happen but often they can be prevented.  If you or your child plays sports, it is recommended that you have a custom made mouth guard for full protection of your teeth.  We offer this service at no charge to our patients.

If you have lost a tooth to trauma, follow this protocol and be seen within 2 hours.

• Pick up the tooth by the crown –not the root.
• Briefly run it under cool water DO NOT clean or scrub the tooth, this will remove the fibers needed for reattachment
• Try to keep the amount of time exposed to air less than 10 minutes
• Try to put it back into the socket
• If the tooth can’t be placed into the socket, submerge it in milk or place it under the tongue. In a pinch, spit saliva and blood into a cup and carry it in that way
• NEVER KEEP A TOOTH IN WATER- it will damage the tissue beyond repair

Pedodontics (children)

We know how very important your family is to you.  We’ll take special care in making certain we provide a positive dental experience for your child.  Having a lifetime of beautiful smiles, is our goal for your child.

All the little people are invited to watch their favorite video or play with the toys in our reception area.  The “prize box” is offered to all children following their dental appointment, creating a sense of pride because they did so well.

The American Dental Association of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s 1st dental visit at age 1.  This simple evaluation is to access your child’s developmental progress and address their dental care at home and for the future.  Often we will review nutritional concerns affecting their teeth, special techniques to clean their teeth and a chart  showing the age of tooth eruption.

We discovered that by age 3 most children are eager and ready to have their 1st dental cleaning.  This process is always taken one step at a time, introducing your child to all the surroundings of the dental experience.  No child is ever forced into having a procedure done.  This helps them become more comfortable and trusting of the patient-doctor relationship, ensuring a lifetime of pleasant dental experiences.

If your child has extensive decay or behavioral issues they may be better served in a practice that specializes in extreme cases.  Dr. Kayser can recommend a Pedodontic Specialty practice for you.

Orthodontics(straightening teeth)

 Orthodontics is the practice of establishing a functional as well as aesthetic dentition. Just because a person’s teeth are straight or look good, does not mean that they come together well and function in harmony.  If there is malalignment of the teeth or jaws a person will be more prone to gum disease, tooth loss, excessive wear and TMD – jaw joint issues later in life.

Orthodontic evaluations and monitoring of skeletal structure is done as early as age 3 or 4.
If Dr. Kayser sees a discrepancy in your child’s skeletal structure he may recommend an evaluation with an orthodontist.  Often expanders or head gear may be indicated to allow the jaws to catch up to one another or expand the jaw during your child’s growth spurt creating enough space for their permanent teeth to erupt. These techniques have proven to shorten the amount of time your child will need to be in braces and eliminate the need for extraction of permanent teeth .

Although Dr. Kayser does not do traditional orthodontics, he is a certified Invisalign provider.

Invisalign uses clear custom molded aligners to gradually move teeth. Diagnostic casts can be taken to evaluate if you are a candidate for the nearly invisible way to move your teeth. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions regarding this orthodontic option.

Restorative

This field of dentistry centers around restoring the health of your teeth and creating the confidence you need to feel good about yourself.  Whether there is decay, loss of a filling, chipped teeth or the loss of a tooth, restorative dentistry is designed to re-establish a functioning dentition.  Without a healthy set of teeth, an individual may have difficulties with speech, digestion and begin to see a change in their facial structure. Studies have shown that people with healthy teeth and are proud of their smile, are more confident in their careers and have more self esteem.

Modern dentistry offers an incredibly large variety of restorative options:
You can now choose between Amalgam(silver) fillings or Composite(white) fillings for your back teeth. Both are recommended by the American Dental Association and although there is much controversy about mercury in the silver fillings there is no research supporting any adverse effects. Dr. Kayser offers both, the choice is yours.      

Composites can also be used on the front teeth to eliminate decay, fill in gaps or fix a fractured tooth.  A veneer (a thin porcelain shell) or a crown(cap)may also be an option depending on the extent of treatment needed. Dr. Kayser will review the pros and cons of each option. Together you can decide on the best choice for your needs.

Bridges or Partial Dentures

are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth.  A bridge is a permanent structure that is cemented onto the remaining teeth on either side of the missing tooth (teeth). 

A removable partial denture has a metal framework that clips around remaining teeth to help support the structure.  It can be removed to clean.  Although a partial denture is effective in replacing multiple teeth, many patients have difficulty with them staying in place.  Complaints of sore teeth, tissues, difficulty in chewing or speech are common.

Implants

are a superior solution to the complications of complete or partial dentures, and bridges.  An implantis a titanium screw or post that is placed into the jaw bone imitating the root of a tooth.  Often the implant is placed by a Periodontist or Oral Surgeon and restored by your general dentist. This non-removable structure provides the support needed to place a crown, or denture into a site that once was toothless. Because it is a permanent post it does not require the dentist to impinge upon the surrounding teeth, allowing them to remain intact. The evolution of dental implants has provided many patients with alternatives that at one time were only a dream.

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity.
These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway,
the good they do is inconceivable
-Joseph Addison-