Opalescence offers a diverse menu of products to brighten your smile. With take home, on-the-go, and in-office options, Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems accommodate all lifestyles and budgets.

Prescription-strength Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems are only available through your dentist. Stronger and more effective than over-the-counter teeth whitening products, Opalescence provides brighter, whiter smiles in as little as one hour. For more information, please visit www.opalescence.com.

Professional Whitening Trays - This whitening system utilizes custom fabricated whitening trays that intimately fit the teeth to provide safe and controlled whitening. Results of 6 shades whiter can frequently be achieved. The whitening product is applied by the patient at his or her own schedule with the maximum effect achieved in approximately 2 weeks.

Endodontic Treatment: There is often damage to the soft tissue inside the tooth that causes pain/swelling/discomfort requiring the need to have a root canal performed. Essentially this is the process of removing this soft tissue from inside the tooth to end pain, sensitivity and/ or infection. Following root canal therapy, a crown is recommended due to the loss of internal tooth structure. A crown will help protect the tooth from fracture and prevent microorganisms from reaching the root canal.

One of the most essential pieces in maintaining your overall dental health is the role of our hygienists and the services they provide. They provide comprehensive periodontal therapy including peridontal scaling and oral hygiene instruction. The hygienists will tailor a hygiene schedule that meets each individual patient's needs. The foundation for all dental restorations relies on sound gums and bone.

This is a method of replacing a missing tooth or teeth that involves placing a titanium metal root within the bone. This artificial root is allowed to integrate to the bone for a number of weeks before a crown, bridge or denture is attached to it. The use of dental implants to retain complete and partial dentures produces dramatic results for patients. Often, long-term denture wearers will report being able to eat foods they have not been able to eat since they first received their dentures. Improved nutrition is one of many improvements implants can provide. The success rate of implants averages at 97%. Dr. Perko works in conjunction with several area oral surgeons to facilitate placement and restoration of dental implants.

This is a broad category of dentistry that concentrates on maximizing a patient's smile through the use of veneers, onlays, crowns, implants, bridges and bleaching.

Veneers: Veneers have been made popular by every makeover show on television and have become a routine part of our restorative procedures. They are thin porcelain surfaces (like a fingernail) that are bonded over the front tooth surface. Very little tooth reduction is needed in order to have a veneer. Veneers can be used to restore aging, worn down teeth, close spaces, change the color of teeth or repair chipped teeth.

Inlays/Onlays: When the cavity is large, an inlay/onlay may be needed for strength. These are less invasive then full coverage caps or crowns as they preserve tooth structure.

Crowns: These are used when a tooth is heavily filled or was previously treated with root canal therapy. Crowns provide excellent strength to the tooth while improving overall aesthetics. They can be fabricated with gold, porcelain or porcelain coated metal.

Bridges: Bridges are restorations designed to replace missing teeth. It involves reducing the size of the teeth next to the space that act as supports. There is a limit to the length which can be bridged and there needs to be tooth support at each end for long term success.

Aesthetic Contouring/Bonding: This technique can be used to alter the shape of worn or chipped teeth - providing the damage is not too great. Plastic bonded materials are used to reshape defects and close spaces between teeth. The results are performed quickly, but the patient should be prepared to replace these restorations more frequently as they are prone to discoloration. Better long term results can be obtained with the use of ceramic non-metal crowns or veneers.

These can be full (whole arch) or partial (replacing one or more teeth) which can be attached to dental implants. All dentures are removable and have a tendency to move. To achieve stability, partial dentures need clasps (hooks) to help the partial hang on to natural teeth. Claspless partials can be fabricated with the aid of dental implants which allow the partial to "snap on" much like a snap on a jacket. Both partial and complete dentures can be made to appear quite natural using the latest artificial teeth and acrylics.

Sealants are an excellent way to reduce the incidence of cavities in a young person's mouth. A sealant is simply a very thin layer of material that is bonded to the biting surface of the back teeth creating a barrier that protects the teeth from getting cavities.

Sports guards or mouth guards are not simply for protecting teeth from damage, they are equally as important in reducing concussions in sport-related injuries. A custom fitted sport guard is far superior to the boil-and-bite, one-size-fits-all types that are available at sporting goods stores (and are surprisingly affordable!). They are available in a variety of colors and levels of protection depending on the intensity of the sport.

Bruxing (grinding or clenching of the teeth) can lead to premature wear on the biting surfaces of the teeth as well as TM.J (Temperomandibular Joint) Dysfunction. Symptoms may include jaw pain, limited movement of the jaw, joint noises (with or without pain), neck pain and/or headaches. These conditions can often be effectively controlled and treated with a custom made device worn at night.

Nearly one out of four orthodontic patients these days is over the age of 21. Dr. Perko offers limited, affordable treatment for adults as well as children. Referrals for more complex cases can be arranged.

More and more adults are benefiting from orthodontic braces. Having your teeth, jaws and lips properly aligned can do more than just give you a beautiful smile. It can help prevent many of the problems caused by misaligned teeth, including:

• gum disease
• tooth decay and loss
• speech impairments
• difficulties chewing and swallowing
• chronic headaches
• neck pains

Call us today for more information on our orthodontic treatment offerings and references!