Dental Services

Our Services

White Fillings
White fillings consist of a family of tooth colored compounds. The majority of these compounds used in dentistry are called composite resins. Composite resins may be used in most locations in the mouth including the back teeth.

Composite resins may be used as a filling material when new areas of dental decay are discovered and removed or to replace unsightly silver or gold fillings. These versatile materials may also be used to close gaps between front teeth. This is procedure is called diastema closure and is just one of the many areas composites are used to improve a smile.

3M Company is a pioneer in developing new resins based on nano-technology. This is a brand new and very exciting area of research and development which promises the world many new products.

Veneers and Lumineers
Veneers are thin preshaped shells made of tooth-colored materials such as porcelains that are designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are fabricated by a dental technician, usually in a commercial dental laboratory, from the impression provided by the dental office. Veneers are used to cover gaps or teeth that are stained, poorly shaped or slightly crooked. They may last from 3 to 12 years or longer.

Placing veneers is often an irreversible process because a small amount of enamel is usually removed to accommodate the thickness of the shell. Once teeth are veneered, they must either be periodically reveneered or crowned if failure occurs or decay develops adjacent to the veneer.

Bonding
Bonding is a procedure in which tooth-colored compounds such as composite resins that are applied to the enamel. Bonding covers discolorations, repairs chips, breaks and cracks and fills in gaps. It is virtually painless procedure that can be completed in one visit. Periodically, it may have to be replaced, since it usually last from three to five years.

Bonding is a process that involves etching the tooth surface with a solution that allows the bonding material (composite resins) to adhere. To match your own teeth, the resin is contoured into the proper shape and hardened using a special light or chemical process. It is then smoothed and polished to appear natural.

Bleaching
Bleaching is a procedure that brightens teeth that are discolored, stained or darkened. It can be performed on all types of teeth, even those that have root canal treatment. A chemical oxidizing solution is applied to the teeth and may be activated by heat or a combination of heat and light. This is done in our office. Or a bleaching tray may be custom fabricated and used at home for approximately one hour per day for one to two weeks. If in office whitening is done, at home trays are also provided as a part of this treatment. The advantages of bleaching are that it's economical and does not require tooth removal. Occasional touch-ups may be necessary to keep the teeth white.

Bleaching - Actual patients

Crowns and Bridges
A crown or cap is a restoration that covers, or caps, a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. A crown is placed for a number of reasons:

to support a large filling when there isn't enough tooth remaining
to attach a bridge
to protect weak teeth from fracturing
to restore fractured teeth
to cover badly shaped or discolored teeth
to cover a dental implant

A bridge is placed to replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently fixed to your teeth and does not come out once it is finished. A partial denture or a full denture, on the other hand, is made to be removable.

Dental Implants
A dental implant is a substitute or replacement tooth root that provides a stable foundation for a replacement tooth or prosthetic appliance. The implant is firmly anchored into the jawbone through osseointegration, a natural process where the bone and implant become integrated, providing the same stability as natural teeth. This state of the art technology makes it possible to provide replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth.

If you or someone you know are experiencing any of the following difficulties, you should consider Tooth Replacement Therapy:

The loss of one or more teeth;
Impending loss of a bridge when a tooth fails;
Unattractive changes in facial features;
Lack of confidence when speaking or smiling;
Difficulty chewing certain foods;
Loose denture or partial denture.

A referral is made to our oral surgeons to place the implant(s). After integration (approximately 4-6 mos.) The doctors will begin the procedures that will lead to the restoration of the lost teeth. An interim appliance may be necessary during the healing phase.

Partial Dentures
An important step in maintaining a healthy smile is to replace missing teeth. When teeth are missing, the missing ones can change position, drifting into the surrounding space. Teeth that are out of position can damage tissues in the mouth. In addition, it may be difficult to clean thoroughly between crooked teeth. As a result, you run the risk of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to the loss of additional teeth.

A removable partial denture fills in the space created by missing teeth and fills out your smile. A denture helps you properly chew food, a difficult task when you are missing teeth. In addition, a denture may improve speech and prevent a sagging face by providing support for lips and cheeks.

Bridge - Actual Patient
Before		After

Dentures
If you're like most people learning about dentures, you probably have many questions. Dentures have been round for many years. The earliest form of denture was introduced more than 2,000 years ago. Today, dentures are of better quality and more comfortable than ever before.

Replacing missing teeth has substantial benefits for your health and your appearance. A complete denture, also called a full denture, replaces all the natural teeth and provides support for cheeks and lips. Without this support, sagging facial muscles can make a person appear older. And by replacing missing teeth, dentures improve a person's ability to speak and eat.

Root Canals
Root canal (endodontic) therapy treats disorders of the nerve (pulp) of the tooth. In the past, a tooth with a diseased or infected nerve had to be removed. However in 95 percent of these cases today, this is no longer true. We believe in saving teeth (instead of removing them) and we will make every effort to save yours!

Dr. Gaasedelen has a special interest in this area and has taken extra course work in the placement of root canal filling materials and instrumentation.

Cleanings and Gum Treatment - The Dental Hygiene Department
Crystal Lake Family Dental Care is fortunate to have an exceptional full time dental hygienist. Amanda is board certified by the State of Minnesota to administer local anesthetic agents and to place dental sealants and fluorides, as well as other adjunctive dental procedures such as root planing and scaling and the control of periodontal disease using nonsurgical medicaments.

Gentle but effective dental care is the top priority of the dental hygiene department. Amanda makes this possible by using advanced dental technologies for the objective measurement of gum tissue health. She can also show you areas in your teeth and gums under magnification on a 20" multimedia monitor using a dental intraoral camera that uses fiberoptics. Amanda routinely uses an ultrasonic scaling instrument which may decrease appointment time and potentially decrease your sensitivity during the procedure. She will offer you a choice of tooth polishing techniques. The traditional technique utilizes a rotating rubber cup and a pumice containing paste and the second technique uses a relatively now polishing system that delivers a stream of bacteriostatic mint sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) under pressure.

Preventative dentistry is the cornerstone of care at Crystal Lake Family Dental Care. Amanda will work to provide you and your family with nothing but the best in dental care.

Dental Sealants
A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth- premolars and molars. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and groves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plague and acids.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a new, state of the art, CAD-CAM process for doing orthodontic treatment. The patient's teeth are scanned into a computer and the dentist manipulates the teeth through the use of computer software to place them in their new positions. A clear plastic splint is fabricated for each two weeks of treatment. The patient changes this splint to bring about changes in the alignment of the teeth. When the splint is worn, it is practically invisible and very comfortable. It is also removable so the patient may remove it to clean the teeth and eat. This is a very exciting new development in dental technology.

Extractions
Removal of teeth, though becoming less common in the public, is still a serious matter. After a thorough medical history, this is accomplished in our office with local anesthetic agent. Compassion is always utmost on the mind of the staff and the doctor.

After proper healing this service is many times affiliated with the placement of bridgework such as a cosmetic fixed fiberglass and resin bridge or a removeable appliance. Sometimes an interim appliance is placed directly after an extraction if there is a cosmetic concern.

Also, a referral to a specialist such as an oral surgeon may be needed when a bony impaction is present or a medical condition makes it imperative to be treated under a more controlled situation. Other situations may warrant the enlistment of an oral surgeon or periodontal surgeon after routine dental extractions to achieve a final treatment outcome.

Materials: American Dental Association

James R. Gaasedelen DDS
Crystal Lake Family Dental Care - 3925 37th Ave. Robbinsdale, MN - 763-588-8426