Learn about the SERVICES we offer:
Crowns, Root Canals, Cosmetic Dentisty - (bonding, veneers, teeth whitening), Extractions, Cleanings, Dentures, Implants, Children's Dentistry, Periodontal Surgery, Laser Treatment, Micro-air abrasion and more. Seniors welcome.

The following will help you gain a better understanding of the services we provide.

Amalgams. Silver fillings are the metal type of fillings and have proven to hold up for years and are an easily placed filling material. Now that newer composite (white) fillings are coming out with stronger materials, more people are getting those placed instead. Recent studies are showing that larger amalgams can actually fracture teeth due to the variation in coefficient of expansion when exposed to hot and cold compared to tooth enamel. Typically, amalgams may cost less to place that's why insurance companies favor them), however, with the risk of fracture and mercury exposure and leakage, our office has chosen to provide METAL-FREE FILLINGS. We find them to be stronger and more aesthetic. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR RESTORATIVE SECTION.

Bleaching. Teeth can often be whitened by the several new techniques of "bleaching" available today. The most common methods used are the "in-office" method where a strong bleaching agent is placed over the isolated teeth and a special light is used to assist the bleaching material lighten the teeth. This method is generally more controlled and probably better for people who have tetracycline stains or streaks on their teeth. The "home" techniques involve making trays which fit into the mouth and these are then filled with bleaching materials. When worn for a few hours daily, noticeable results are seen generally within a few days to a couple weeks. Results vary from individual to individual and it is probably best to check with your dentist to help decide which method works best for you. Some of the factors involved include the intensity of the stains, whether or not you have fillings or crowns on your front teeth as well as what may have caused the stains. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR AESTHETIC DENTISTRY SECTION.

Bonding. Bonding is more of a generic term that is used to describe several procedures. When we place a composite filling, we are doing a "bonding" of the composite to the tooth. When we close a space in the front teeth, sometimes that is referred to as bonding. Closing these spaces (or "diastemas") can radically improve a person's look as well as self confidence. Bonding can also be the term used when we place a veneer (or bond a veneer) over a tooth. Again, this is primarily for closing spaces, rotating teeth and lengthening teeth or changing their color. The procedure is relatively common these days and many people have benefitted from the different types of "bonding" available today. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR AESTHETIC DENTISTRY SECTION.

Braces. Braces are put on teeth to help correct rotated teeth, too large of spaces, crowding or misalignment of teeth. This is a specialty of dentistry and we do only limited orthodontics when there is a situation of one or two teeth needing splinting together to support them, or space maintainers for children if they should lose a baby tooth too early. Generally, we refer all orthodontics out of the office, as do most general dentists. INVISALIGN is one type of procedure that utilizes the clear plastic "aligners" that can move and rotate teeth without any metal brackets or braces generally.

Children's Dentistry. Children often require a little extra attention when having their dental work done. They also need to be educated and treated with dignity. At our office, we enjoy treating children. Unless a child has a serious dental condition or a phobia of dentistry, there is no need to have them see a specialist. We can treat them here at our office. We have many things at our office to help kids keep pre-occupied, such as headphones, TV, a fish tank and a toy box. We also have special medications (which we rarely need to use) for children to help them relax prior to treatment. The Doctors and hygienists at our office currently have children and therefore have been trained "on-the-job", how to take care of children. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR CHILDREN'S DENTISTRY SECTION.

Composites. Composite or white plastic fillings, are used when aesthetics is a concern. Many of the currently available materials used for composites are nearly as strong as silver fillings on the chewing surfaces, and they do excellently in the grooves, and dramatically lower the development of cavities. We use the Air abrasion. A relatively new technique to the dental field in which a small high pressure spray of aluminum oxide (27 micron particle size) is used to remove decay or drill out pieces of old fillings and even tooth structure. It cuts down the need for a drill in many cases and often can eliminate the need for anesthetic since there is less trauma to the tooth while it is being used. Advantages include: less vibration, less noise, less heat build-up. It acts like a mini sand blaster and works excellently in preparing teeth for sealants or conservative dental care. Sometimes it is referred to as Micro-Dentistry or "Soft-Prep". FOR MORE INFO VISIT OUR AESTHETIC DENTISTRY SECTION.

Crowns. Crowns are placed over a tooth when a large portion of the tooth is lost to decay or has broken off. Usually when a filling is more than half of the size of the tooth, the tooth is weakened. If the filling would comprise a significant portion of the tooth, often the tooth can fracture under the stresses of chewing and therefore, placing a crown over the tooth protects the chewing surface and prevents that from happening. Crowns that are white are made of porcelain and are usually placed in areas of esthetic concern. Gold crowns might be placed in the molar region or when there is heavy grinding that might damage the opposing teeth. More conservative bonded all-ceramic VENEERS, ONLAYS and inlays can often be done which are highly aesthetic and save more tooth structure. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR PROSTHETICS SECTION.

Dentures. Dentures are false teeth. They are typically made from impressions (molds) that are taken of the inside of the mouth and they are made of a type of plastic or porcelain that duplicates the shape, size and function of the teeth. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR PROSTHETICS SECTION.

Emergencies. How do you decide if something is a true dental emergency? Generally, if you have swelling, an exposed tooth, bleeding, or sharp throbbing pain, that is a dental emergency. If you knock a tooth loose or out, attempt to gently rinse it off lightly with water and reposition it as soon as possible. A tooth that is knocked out and let dry in the air for over an hour has a poor prognosis, whereas a tooth that is reimplanted within twenty minutes has a good prognosis. If you have spontaneous ongoing pain or swelling or have experienced trauma, you should make arrangements to see your dentist as soon as possible. Our office provides emergency care for our patients after-hours. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR EMERGENCY CARE SECTION.

Extractions. Dental extractions are usually done when a tooth is so badly decayed, fractured or causing a chronic infection, such that it cannot be restored. These days, we attempt to save as many teeth as possible using all of the latest techno logy available, however, there are times when nothing can be done and the tooth needs to come out. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR ORAL SURGERY SECTION.

Implants. Dental implants, simply put, are replacements for the roots of teeth that were lost. They are typically titanium posts that are imbedded into the jawbone and then plastic or porcelain teeth are placed over the portion of the implant that sticks out of the gums. On the upper jaw, after an implant is placed, we wait up to 6 months or longer to complete the procedure of putting a crown on top of it since the bone is not as dense as the lower. On the lower, this may take 4-6 months. The bone must fuse to the titanium posts before any kind of pressure can be put on the implant itself. The most common brands of implants that we utilize at our office are the Noble Biocare, Straumann, MIS, and Sterioss. These are some of the longest term proven implant systems on the market with the highest success rate. A dentist typically allows the implant "fixture" to integrate fully before "loading" with a crown on top of it. Implants consist of a surgical portion done by a specialist and a restorative portion which is done at our office. Doctor LaFrom has been treating implant patients for nearly twenty years now and has hundreds of successful cases. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR PROSTHETICS SECTION.

Intra-oral Cameras. Intra oral cameras have been around for about fifteen years. We recognize this as an invaluable tool during our dental exam. By magnifying a tooth 20 to 30 times, we are able to see things that we couldn't see with just an overhead light and a mouth mirror. In addition, and more importantly, it allows our patients the opportunity to see their own teeth on the overhead TV monitor so they can see what it is we are talking about when we describe things we see going on in their mouth. Secondly, it gives us an additional tool to use should there be insurance involved to help explain treatment better to them. FOR MORE INFO, SEE OUR HIGH-TECH DENTISTRY SECTION.

Laser. Dental Lasers have been in dentistry for about twenty years. Our office was one of the first offices to get the dental laser in Santa Clara County. Dr. LaFrom generally uses the laser to help with soft tissue work and gum treatment, however, it is also excellent at treating teeth that are sensitive. We can desensitize a tooth in just a couple minutes using some fluoride and the dental laser. It micro-hardens the outer layer of the tooth, making it more resistant to decay, air, cold and sweets. There are several different types of lasers in use in the dental field today, the ones that get the most publicity are the bleaching lasers, the lasers the cut tooth structure, and the lasers that are used in gum therapy. We also use an argon laser that can be used to cure composites, as well as another new laser called the DIAGNODENT, which can actually be used to help detect the intensity of decay. FOR MORE INFO, SEE OUR HIGH-TECH DENTISTRY SECTION.

Mouthguards. If you play contact sports such as basketball, hockey, football, judo, karate, martial arts, skateboarding, racquetball, soccer, squash, wrestling, volleyball and other similar sports, you may wish to talk with us about a mouthguard to protect your teeth. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR MOUTHGUARD SECTION.

Oral Surgery. Dental extractions, cyst removal, implants, jaw augmentation, TMJ treatments and emergency care from serious trauma, all come under the category of ORAL SURGERY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR ORAL SURGERY SECTION.
" Orthodontics. Straightening of the teeth and jaws. This also involves TMJ treatment, INVISALIGN, Space maintainers, mouth guards, night guards and more.. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE OUR ORTHODONTICS SECTION.

Periodontal Treatment. When it has been a while since your last cleaning, or if you have deep pockets around your teeth, then you are a candidate for a more involved treatment to restore your teeth and gum tissues back to optimum health. Without proper gum support, you can still lose a tooth, even if it doesn't have a cavity. Periodontal surgery is done when the extent of the bone loss is such that the bone is irregular and jagged and the bacteria can get into the area around the tooth, however, you can't get in there to clean it. As a result, the bacteria produce an acid that eats away at the bone and causes disease. The accumulation of the bacterial by-product and the debris from the tooth together can cause plaque. If left on long enough that can lead to tarter (which is harder to clean off). If this is left on the tooth for many months, this can begin to calcify and demineralize the outer structure of your tooth and bone. As this occurs a build-up gets larger and creates a "shelf" that doesn't allow a person to get a toothbrush under the gumline. If you can't clean under the gumline, then bone loss can occur and this can lead to tooth loss. Our hygiene department has attended several additional courses on periodontal therapy and soft-tissue management. This includes the use of chemicals to stimulate bone growth, tissue reattachment, and the use of the dental laser. Both of our hygienists are BOARD CERTIFIED in the use of dental LASERS for dental hygiene therapy. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR HYGIENE SECTION.

Porcelain Veneers. Thin porcelain covering the tooth. These can be made as a conservative approach to replacing larger portions of the tooth when esthetics is a concern. They are often used to close gaps, change the color of teeth and modify teeth shapes instantly - sometimes called - "Instant Orthodontics". Dr. LaFrom has taken hundreds of extra hours of additional continuing education training for COSMETIC AESTHETIC DENTISTRY procedures that many general dentists don't take the time to incorporate into their practice. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR AESTHETIC DENTISTRY SECTION.

Root Canals. A root canal is typically done whenever the decay or injury to the tooth invades the inner part of the tooth where the pulp is. This is where the nerve and the blood supply are located. When a root canal is done, the inner portion of the pulp is removed, along with any infection that may have invaded the inside walls of the tooth. Then a sealer material is placed with a rubbery plastic to fill the hole so that new infection can't get into the tooth. Generally, by removing the root, it can potentially weaken a tooth and therefore, it is common to protect the integrity of the tooth by placing a crown over the tooth. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR ENDODONTICS SECTION.

Sealants. Sealants are plastic coatings that are placed on the etched surface in the grooves of teeth-typically on the back molars and sometimes on pre-molars. The procedure is fairly straight-forward and generally can be done without anesthetic at all. We place sealants to help prevent cavities from developing in those areas that the toothbrush cannot clean - such as the pits and fissures of the teeth. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT OUR PREVENTIVE CARE SECTION.

TMJ. The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) is a very unique and fragile joint. Because of the numbers of tendons, ligaments and muscles that are used to hold it in position, it is subject to trauma and stress. As a result, headaches, jaw soreness and neck aches can all be related to problems related to the TMJ. Sometimes the small disc that separates the lower jawbone from the socket where it rests gets displaced and a bite splint may be used among other therapies to "reposition" the jaw into the proper alignment. Because this is such a fragile joint, we often refer to specialists when we see a need to begin extensive treatment to help a patient. FOR MORE INFO, SEE OUR TMJ SECTION.