General Dentistry

A crown is a restoration that covers the entire tooth like a glove to give it back it’s strength and function. It is used for severely broken down teeth, extensive tooth decay, after a root canal, teeth with large silver fillings, and for cosmetic reasons. At Aura Dental Spa in Dr. Phillips, we only use all-porcelain crowns to avoid the ugly gray metal lines around the gum line. Porcelain is the strongest and most aesthetic dental material to restore beautiful smiles.

A bridge is when three crowns or more are connected to restore missing teeth or gaps in your dentition. If missing teeth are not replaced, teeth can easily drift into the empty spaces and these areas can collect plaque and food more easily, increasing your risk for decay and bone loss around your remaining teeth. Teeth opposite of the missing teeth can also grow into the space and cause even more problems. Bridges are a great treatment option to restore your bite and can be very natural looking and highly functional.

A root canal is usually needed when a tooth has deep cavities or nerve damage. The cavity, or infection, has started at the surface of the tooth and worked its way all the way into the center where the pulp (nerve and blood supply) is now infected and traveled up/down the root of the tooth. Sometimes, a tooth may need a root canal if the nerve has been severely damaged due to many years of grinding or due to an accident/trauma. A root canal can sometimes be the only treatment option except taking out the tooth. It is also a very effective way to treat tooth pain.

Patients who need dentures can sometimes be very self-conscious that people will notice they have fake teeth. Here at Aura Dental Spa in Dr. Phillips, we pride ourselves in creating well-fitting, beautiful dentures that no one can tell are fake. It’s about building your confidence and restoring your function when reconstructing your smile and bite. Also, don’t fall for dentists who claim they can do “dentures in one day”, for they are cutting corners and you get sub-par results. We offer traditional full dentures, partial dentures that hold on to existing teeth, overdentures that clip on to implants, and hybrid dentures that are permanently screwed into several implants. Ask us about your options today!

Unfortunately in some cases, taking out a tooth is the only option. We offer gentle, pain free extractions through the use of nitrous gas and syringe-less computerized anesthesia to make you comfortable.

Dental implants are the gold standard of care in dentistry when it comes to replacing teeth. Over 3 million Americans have at least one dental implant, with 500,000 implants being placed each year. It is quickly becoming the most popular option due their longevity, predictability, and versatility. They will last you the longest from any other option and feel the most like a real tooth. Benefits include longevity, ability to floss and keep hygienic, and it’s the most conservative because you don’t have to rely on adjacent teeth to restore the missing space. Implants are completely safe and made up of 3 parts: the implant (which is placed in the bone and then heals for 4 months), the abutment (the part that screws into the implant and sticks out past the gumline), and the crown (which is then cemented or screwed over the abutment). Viola! Now you have a tooth again!

Dental phobia is real and very prevalent! We understand and empathize with severe dental anxiety. Along with our comfort menu, at Aura Dental Spa in Dr. Phillips we offer Nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) and oral sedation as tools to help our most anxious patients feel at ease. Laughing gas is administered during the treatment and wears off immediately. Oral sedation is offered in medication form, where the patient takes a pill the night before and day of the dental appointment. Caution: You will need a driver to and from the office with this option. Both options will make you feel like you are in the twilight zone, calm your nerves, and are extremely safe once approved and reviewed by the doctor.

Living with constant TMJ pain or excruciating migraines is no fun! It can really negatively affect your quality of life and daily activities. Luckily, at Aura Dental Spa in Dr. Phillips we have helped countless patients live a painless and headache-free lives after years of suffering. Botox along with night appliances have revolutionized our treatment approach. Botox works by inactivating the nerves of the overworked muscles of the jaw and joint areas. Essentially it relaxes these jaw specific muscles to prevent patients from overusing them (as seen in grinders or clenchers) and thus causes pain relief. Same concept is used for migraines when the temporalis muscle is relaxed and your head doesn’t feel the same tension as before.

Your mouth is connected to the rest of your body. In fact, many systemic diseases show signs and manifest in the oral cavity. Gum disease, or periodontitis, is when there is chronic inflammation caused by bacteria that is harbored under the gums. It accumulates in gum pockets between your teeth and over time destroys the bone that holds your teeth in your jaw. Gum disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss. Gum disease also harbors the same bacteria that causes heart disease. The bacteria in your mouth spreads to the rest of your body causing systemic inflammation, blood vessel damage, possible blockage in the arteries, and can lead to heart attacks and stroke. Gum disease is treated with gum therapy called scaling and root planing and completed by comfortably numbing the gums with no needles.