Services

Dental Cleaning & Examinations

We believe that preventative care is essential for staying in good oral health. Our goal is to help our patients maintain great oral health. The best way to do so is through ongoing dental care and teaching our patients how to practice good oral hygiene at home. By visiting the dental office twice a year, we as dental professionals are able to identify and treat problems when they first arise. Early detection of problematic issues helps to avoid risk of infection and patient discomfort.

Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth. This procedure is extremely effective for restoring a tooth that has become infected or damaged but can also be used for cosmetic purposes in order to improve the appearance of a smile. A crown can be made in three different materials, all-metal, ceramic-on-metal, and all-ceramic. Many factors come into play when deciding which type of material to use such as location of crown, amount of tooth structure, Para-functional habits etc.

At Dutchman Dental, we offer same day all-ceramic crown service. Using state of the art digital technology, we are able to complete the entire crown procedure from start to finish in as little as 2 hours. This avoids the need for patients to be in a temporary crown and make multiple trips to the dental office.

Bridges

A dental bridge is a way to replace a missing tooth. At Dutchman Dental, we provide clients with dental bridges if they want to replace a tooth without wearing dentures or undergoing surgery. The new tooth is held in place by two crowns. It looks natural and is made out of a ceramic or porcelain material to match the surrounding teeth.

Dental Implants

Missing teeth can be embarrassing, causing people to hide their smile and lose their self-esteem. The space created by missing teeth can easily become infected with bacteria, causing other teeth to shift out of place, and making it difficult for people to speak or eat correctly. We provide dental implants so that our patients can regain their self-confidence, improve their health, and approach life boldly.

Dental Fillings

At Dutchman Dental, we use tooth-colored fillings as a way to restore teeth that have had cavities. Once the decayed area of the tooth has been removed a filling is necessary to replace the missing enamel. Traditionally, this was done using silver amalgam but now we can complete dental restorations using materials that look natural so that when you smile, no one can tell that you had cavities.

Teeth Whitening

We often recommend a teeth-bleaching procedure because it is by far the easiest way to transform your smile. After cleaning your teeth, we can complete this procedure in time for a special event or as part of your regular oral health routine. As people age, it is common for teeth to become dull and yellow. This is in part due to age itself and also due to what a person eats and drinks. Drinking coffee, tea and wine, for example, can stain your teeth. Smoking and eating foods that contain food coloring can also stain your teeth. Brushing immediately after eating and drinking can help to prevent stains but is typically not enough to remove the risk entirely. Fortunately, stained and yellow teeth don't have to stay that way.

Emergency Treatments

If you come into our Dutchman Dental offices in pain, we will identify what is creating the issue and the treatment options available for dealing with it. Often, we will also prescribe medication to help with the pain. This can prevent you from feeling discomfort while your tooth is being treated and at home. You may also want to apply a cold compress or ice pack to the area in order to reduce or prevent swelling.

Treatment Options
When a tooth is infected…
If a tooth infection is left untreated for a long period of time, it can lead to a dental abscess. This is extremely painful. An abscess is a major tooth infection that can settle into your jawbone and the floor of your mouth. As an emergency dentist, we will assess the situation and inform you of what is infected and the best way to treat it quickly. Performing a root canal procedure can typically save infected teeth, however, if the tooth cannot be saved then we may need to extract it. Our job is to keep you comfortable, healthy and pain-free. Our patients trust us to remove infections and keep their teeth and gums in excellent oral health.

When a tooth has fallen out...
If your tooth has been knocked out, try to find it. Once located, rinse the tooth under warm water without scrubbing it. Next, place it in a cup of milk and bring it with you to your dental appointment. We will try to save the tooth, if possible. If not, we will discuss options for replacing the tooth. This may include dentures, a dental bridge or dental implants.

When a tooth is broken…
It is common for people to damage a tooth while playing sports or getting into a car accident. It is likely that the tooth will become cracked or chipped. As long as the tooth structure remains in place, it can typically be restored. As an emergency dental facility, we can provide you with information on what your options are and the best way to restore your tooth while achieving the goals that you have for your smile.

Dentures and Partial Dentures

Dentures are a trusted solution for replacing missing teeth. As with any dental solution, there are pros and cons to wearing dentures and whether or not they will work for you depends largely on your lifestyle and the goals that you have for your appearance and the functionality of your smile.

Partial Dentures
If only a few of your teeth are missing, partial dentures are a good solution for replacing them. Unlike a full set of dentures, these are held in place by a plastic base that is the same color as your gums. A metal framework is typically created in order to secure the base and prevent it from falling out. As long as you have natural teeth in place, you cannot wear a full set, so a partial set of dentures is necessary.

Complete Denture
When all of your teeth are missing, complete dentures can replace them. Technology has improved in recent years, making them more comfortable and natural looking than ever. If you proceed with getting a complete set of dentures, your gums will be healed and ready in 8-12 weeks after your teeth have been removed. When teeth are removed the bones and gums will start to shrink. By waiting for up to 12 weeks, you can be sure that your set of complete dentures will fit securely. Many patients throughout Rhode Island prefer not to wait and get immediate dentures. This solution does not require a waiting period, but there will be adjustments later on after the gums and bone have settled into their permanent size.

Pediatric Dentistry

We encourage parents to bring their children for a dental visit as early as a year old. This is important for ensuring that baby teeth grow in properly and stays healthy until the adult teeth are ready to come in. Many people don't realize how important healthy baby teeth are. Children can get cavities and gum disease just like adults do with the difference being that children are less capable of understanding or dealing with discomfort. We recommend that parents bring their children in for dental cleanings and examinations at least twice a year. This way we can remove harmful plaque and bacteria in order to prevent cavities.

While cleaning children's teeth, our staff has been trained to take it slowly and practice gentle dentistry. By building a rapport with our young patients, they will feel more relaxed during their dental appointments and visiting the dentist becomes fun instead of intimidating. By doing so twice a year, their baby teeth are more likely to stay in until they are supposed to fall out, and their adult teeth will also stay healthier.

As a general dental office, we see patients of all ages. However, in certain cases a referral to a Pediatric dental specialist may be needed. For pediatric patients who are in need of extensive dental work or patients who have trouble tolerating dental procedures, we recommend that they see Dr. Daniel Gonzalez at Rock St. Pedodontics in Fall River, MA.

Click this link to visit Rock St. Pedodontics: www.rockstpedodontics.com

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are the modern solution for an age old problem. Dutchman Dental offers SureSmile Aligners from Dentsply Sirona as an alternative to traditional metal braces. We assess each patient on a case by case basis and once we determine that clear aligners are your best option for a new and improved smile, we start a customized program. The first step is to take a digital impression of your mouth. From here, we'll analyze your bite and anatomical features to create a unique treatment plan using our SureSmile software. Your aligners are then fabricated using state-of-the-art technology and advanced manufacturing techniques. As you go through the program we'll be supporting you throughout the entire process. The aligners are nearly invisible and can be removed periodically allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods. At the end of the treatment you'll have a smile you'll love, faster than you'd ever imagined, with minimal changes to your lifestyle.