DENTAL SERVICES
Our practice can provide a wide range of dental services. Our emphasis, however, is first and foremost – preventative care. This care begins with regular six-month hygiene visits, regular exams and x-rays and, most importantly, a good home oral health routine.
Our practice provides the highest quality dental services for restoring mouths that have been damaged by dental disease, mouth injury or other common problems that may require cosmetic dentistry. Our primary goal for our patients is to achieve and maintain optimum oral health through advances in techniques and technologies.
Use the following links to select the services you are interested in:
Taking care of your teeth is a serious commitment. Early detection and treatment of cavities can prevent more costly and painful treatment later. That is why it is so important to make sure you see our office every six months for a thorough oral examination and professional teeth cleaning. During these examinations our office will take only the necessary x-rays to reveal any problems with your teeth that we can’t see with the naked eye. Special x-rays of the head are used to determine the size, position and relationship of the jaw and teeth. We want to keep your smile healthy for a lifetime.
Taking care of your child’s teeth is a serious commitment. Early detection and treatment of your child’s cavities can prevent more costly and painful treatment later. There are many things that can lead to your child’s tooth decay. Excessive sweets, snacks or baked goods can cause decay if not brushed away quickly. A balanced diet and regular six-month visits to the dentist is a necessity for your child’s dental health.
A crown (sometimes called a "cap") is a tooth-like covering placed over a carefully prepared existing tooth. Used to strengthen, restore or improve the appearance of your natural tooth, a crown is placed on an individual tooth much like a thimble over your finger. Crowns serve many functions in addition to being used to strengthen a tooth to accommodate the attachment of a fixed bridge. One of the most common is to support the tooth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling. Crowns may also be used to protect the structure of a tooth that is fractured or broken.
A bridge is a custom device anchored to neighboring teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. When a lost tooth is replaced with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one must be prepared as crowns to serve as abutments to hold the prosthetic (replacement) teeth in place. Crowns and bridges are most often made from superior materials such as semiprecious or precious metals, porcelain or a combination of metal fused to porcelain. Both appearance and function are considered when selecting the material most suitable for you.
Veneers, usually fabricated from porcelain, are a thin, semi-translucent "shell," custom made to fit precisely over an existing tooth. They are permanently bonded, held in place by a special resin that adheres the back of the veneer to the front of the tooth. The finished result is extremely strong and durable. Though veneers are not suitable for every patient, they are a cosmetic alternative for a variety of dental conditions affecting the front teeth, including:
- closing diastemas (spaces between the teeth).
- restoring broken or chipped teeth.
- covering unsightly, stained or washed-out fillings.
- whitening permanently stained or discolored teeth.
- correcting uneven or crooked teeth
Veneers resist stains and maintain their excellent appearance for many years.
Visit the Lumineers Smile Gallery here.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal health is an important part of good dental health! Dr. Bult performs comprehensive periodontal care with the most gentle touch. Improved periodontal health can help patients who have receding gums, and can help prevent periodontal, or gum disease. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Bult today to begin your routine of maintaining excellent periodontal health.
Wisdom Teeth & Tooth Extractions
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that usually erupt between age 16 and 25. Most people do not have room in their mouth for these extra teeth. Wisdom teeth may either erupt or remain hidden under the gum line. Their presence can cause crowding and shifting of other teeth, pain and even infections. X-rays can determine the presence of wisdom teeth and if they will cause concern. Dr. Bult can provide extractions for these as well as other teeth, if needed. Oral sedation, nitrous oxide and local anesthesia are all offered with complete and continuous monitoring.
Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Dr. Bult works closely with a local Oral Surgeon who surgically places a titanium post into the jawbone where teeth are missing. After a period of time the bone eventually bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation. Once the bone has healed Dr. Bult then places a crown over the post. Patients love the look and feel of these implants knowing that their teeth appear natural and their natural facial contours are preserved. Implants also help to prevent bone deterioration, which occurs when teeth are missing.
If you are extremely fearful of coming to the dentist, or if you need extensive treatment, we can help with sedation dentistry. Here's how it works: one hour before your dental appointment, you take the pill that we've given you (you will need someone to drive you to and from our office). The pill works quickly to create a relaxed state so you will be drowsy when you arrive. During treatment, you'll be in a sleep-like state but still be able to respond to any given commands or questions. We'll carefully monitor your vital signs during the whole procedure.
Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as �laughing gas,� is used during the dental visit. The gas is administered with a mixture of oxygen and has a calming effect that helps anxious patients relax during the treatment. Because it is a mild sedative, patients are still conscious and can communicate during their visit. After treatment, the nitrous is turned off and oxygen is administered for 5-10 minutes to help flush any remaining gas. The effects wear off almost immediately.
The Diagnodent is a safe, painless laser that scans your teeth in search of hidden decay, often detecting cavities well before they�ve begun, or are seen on x-rays, to damage your teeth. Catching decay in the early stages allows Dr. Bult to place smaller, less invasive fillings and preserve more of your natural tooth.
Digital X-Rays & Digital Imaging
Digital x-rays are a fast and comfortable tool we use to accurately diagnose your dental health needs. They require no chemical processing and emit up to 90% less radiation than traditional x-rays, so they�re the smart choice for your smile and for the environment, too.
An intraoral camera is about the size of a pen and fits easily into a patient�s mouth. The unsurpassed image quality of this little device sends a picture to a monitor that can magnify the image hundreds of times larger. Patient�s can then see for themselves what work needs to be done and which teeth are doing fine. You then become a participant in each dental decision.
Also called loupes, dental microscopes increase visibility allowing us to accurately diagnose and treat small problems before they get big. Wearing a pair of dental loupes, Dr. Bult can easily detect small areas of decay and hairline fractures not visible to the naked eye. Early detection and treatment will prevent you from needing extensive reconstructive work in the future.
Automatic Appointment Reminders
Appointment reminder automation is a snap with today�s computer technology! Our software system delivers email and/or text message appointment reminders to make sure you are reminded of their scheduled visit.
Proper color selection of your teeth is critical to any cosmetic case that involves implants, crowns, bridges or veneers. Our patient operatories are equipment with special fluorescent lights that use a unique blend of phosphors giving us a balanced full spectrum color temperature for supreme color rendering.
While we know that everyone loves the hi-pitched whine of a dental drill our office putting on these special headphones not only significantly reduces the outside noise but these can also be plugged into our Apple iTouch for complete music control.
Environmentally Aware Dentistry
We all have a role to play in protecting our environment and community. As part of the Bellingham community we take this role very seriously. Here are some of the ways our office contributes to minimizing waste and energy usage:
- Digital images that eliminate the need for silver, lead, hydroquinone, and chromium-containing processing chemicals
- Industry-best, low-energy sterilization equipment
- Amalgam separator (for vacuum suction) that eliminates mercury waste going down the drain.
- Computerized patient records which are encrypted and stored electronically
- Email correspondence with insurance companies and other doctors, including digital X-rays and photographs
- Email and text message appointment reminders that minimize paper letters and postcards.
