Bridges
If you are missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference when chewing or speaking. Your remaining teeth can also shift or tip without support. Bridges are similar to crowns but will “bridge” the gap present. These can be all porcelain (no metal), porcelain fused to metal alloys (porcelain on the outside, metal on the inside), and metal only (if indicated). Bridges are fixed and cannot be removed by the patient. Alternatives to bridges would be an implant and implant crown or a removal partial dentures.
Crowns (Caps)
If you want to return your tooth to its crowning glory, crowns are sometimes the best treatment. Crowns are needed for a variety of reasons, usually due to lack of supporting tooth structure due to a large cavity, a root canal, a failed filling, cracks or fractures. A crown will make your tooth stronger, improve its appearance, and return it to its normal shape and size. We offer a variety of crowns including all porcelain (no metal), porcelain fused to metal (porcelain on the outside, metal on the inside), and metal only (if indicated). Crowns are fixed and cannot be removed by the patient. Crowns are also used to cover a dental implant. You do not need a root canal prior to a crown. Sometimes, it is just the opposite, the crown can prevent a future root canal. The lifespan of a crown is significantly longer than a filling and due to the protection a crown provides, it is often much more difficult to get a cavity around a crown versus a filling.
Dentures
Dentures made with precision and care can provide you years of service. We offer the finest full (complete) dentures as well as partial dentures. We pay particular attention to tooth anatomy and aesthetics when constructing dentures. There is never a “one day denture”. We work with you step-by-step to fabricate your new set of dentures. We also repair any set of dentures/partials or add teeth to an existing denture/partial. If your appointment is early in the morning for a repair, we can often return it to you the same day.
Extractions
We will extract most teeth in the office, both adult and primary (baby) teeth. More extensive surgery and impacted third molars (wisdom teeth) will be referred to an oral surgeon. We also extract many pediatric primary teeth. This may be due to crowding, cavities, or fractures. We have years of experience treating children for extractions.
Fillings (White-Mercury-Free)
Composite (white) fillings are used to repair teeth after fractures, decay removal, or even to replace old or leaky fillings. These very modern restorative materials bond directly to the tooth. They require less tooth removal than silver fillings and have less post operative sensitivity. Of course they look much better, too. We have many shades of white filling material so as to match your tooth as best as possible.
Implants
Implants may be used to replace one or more teeth or even to support a denture. An implant is placed and replaces the tooth root only. Drs. Bhargava or Valentine will then place an implant supported abutment (post) and crown onto this implant that will look like a natural tooth. This will be fixed in place and cannot be removed by the patient. If you are already missing a tooth and considering an implant, we will coordinate all of your treatment from consultation to implant placement to the final restoration. We can restore any type of implant and have years of experience with implants.
Orthodontics (Braces)
We will likely refer you or your child to an orthodontist for evaluation for braces. At each recare visit (cleaning), we will constantly monitor your child and then recommend orthodontics if needed. For your convenience there is an orthodontist, Brian Smith, DDS, within the Broadmoor Dental Group but we also work together with many orthodontists in Wichita and the surrounding area.
Partial Dentures
Dentures made with precision and care can provide you years of service. Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases. A partial denture may or may not have a metal framework. We pay particular attention to tooth anatomy and esthetics when constructing dentures. There is never a “one day partial denture”. We work with you step-by-step to fabricate your new set of partial dentures. We offer non-metal partial dentures (Valplast) and standard partials with metal clasps. In emergency cases, we can make an interim partial denture in 24 hours that can serve you until a removable partial denture is made. We also make immediate partial dentures that are placed immediately following an extraction. Our practice is able to repair any set of dentures/partials or add teeth to an existing denture/partial. If your appointment is early in the morning for a repair, we can often return it to you the same day.
Pediatric Dentistry
We love children and will see children of any age. Most children are ready to begin to see the dentist around 2 years old. We offer a no charge “fun visit” at anytime for our young patients to become used to the dentist and dental office. Dr. Bhargava has three young children themselves and are very skilled at working with most kids. Our staff is also very welcome to children. We have a TV/DVD in the waiting room with, books, puzzles, balloons, and even juice and crackers to keep your children busy. Our treatment rooms all have over the chair flatscreen TVs and we can put on Nick Jr anytime! We treat hundreds of families from infants to grandparents and enjoy these FAMILY relationships. Being local, we are not going anywhere and we hope to be your child’s dentist for life. We also have a wall full of cavity-free photos to encourage your child to keep their mouth healthy.
Periodontics
This is the treatment of gum and oral bone diseases. At our office we are able to treat gum disease non-surgically, which includes deep scaling and root planing. In more complex cases, we may refer you to a periodontist (a specialist in gum and bone disease). Gingivitis and Periodontitis are responsible for the majority of tooth loss in the United States. Pain is not a symptom and therefore these diseases are often neglected. Each time you visit us for a cleaning, you will be evaluated for gingivitis and periodontitis. At these visits, we will take six measurements around each tooth (pocket measurements), map any bleeding, recession, and loss of gums/bone. We have great dental software that can project this information on an easy-to-read graph mapping your mouth and even compare each visit.
Root Canals
Root canals (Endodontics) is the treatment of teeth with injured nerve tissue. We do perform root canal therapy in our office. Complex root canal therapy may be referred to an endodontist (specialist in root canals).
TMJ or TMD (Tempomandibular Joint Disorder)
Tempomandibular Joint evaluation is done by Drs. Bhargava and Valentine. Each patient that presents with TMJ symptoms will be evaluated. We also fabricate splits and bite guards designed to aid in treating TMJ symptoms, migraines, and grinding (bruxism).
Veneers
Veneers can turn your smile into your dream smile! They work very well at masking deep stains, white patches, or even correcting overlapping or spaced out teeth. These porcelain coverings are very similar to a porcelain crown but they only require minimal tooth removal.
Whitening (Zoom!)
As seen on ABC’s Extreme Makeover, we offer ZOOM! tooth whitening. We have two ways you can remove stains and improve your smile. We offer the latest ZOOM! Advance Power chairside in-office whitening system. This system is completely done in one appointment at our office using the ZOOM! Advance Power whitening light. Read more about this incredible system at www.zoomwhitening.com. You will spend about 2 hours in our office from set up to finish and we will do ALL the work for you while you watch TV (nice, huh?). This includes take home trays for touch up whitening in the future. We also offer take home trays. This is also a great option and we have a variety of take home options. We will fabricate custom trays and provide you with whitening gel and instruction to whiten at home. If you already own custom trays, you can obtain refill gel from us also.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous Oxide is a safe, effective form of making your dental experience more relaxing. We have nitrous oxide (laughing gas) available in our treatment rooms which can be used for virtually any dental procedure and can be used by almost everyone. If you are an adult, you are permitted to drive home after your appointment.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is available for certain complex cases. A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) will use IV sedation at our office and all of your treatment will be completed in our office. Please call us with questions regarding IV sedation. We are very experienced with IV sedation dentistry and this type of dentistry is very beneficial to many of our patients.