OUR SERVICES

Our office prides itself in the variety of dental services we make available to our patients:

     Cosmetic Dentistry

          Bonding – The art and science of repairing/restoring decayed, chipped,
                             misaligned, or discolored teeth with a plastic, tooth
                             colored resin. Dr. Bonin only places “white fillings”.

          Bleaching – A safe, quick, and inexpensive way to brighten your smile.
                             There are two methods available: the one (1) hour chair-side
                             technique, also known as ZOOM and made famous on the
                             television series Extreme Makeovers. The other easy way
                             is for us to fabricate custom trays made from impressions of
                             your teeth. Bleaching is then done in the privacy of your
                             own home at times convenient for you.

          Porcelain Veneers – Thin, shell ceramic laminates that are “bonded” to
                             the facial surfaces of your teeth, giving a new, “whiter” and
                             brighter look to your teeth as well as restoring shape, form,
                             and function. This is more of a long-term choice since
                             veneers don’t have to be replaced and remade as often as
                             bonding materials do.

     Preventive Dentistry

Our office prides itself in its highly trained, experienced, and friendly dental hygiene staff. Even if you consider yourself an “expert” brusher and flosser, plaque and tartar still builds up in many hard to reach areas including gum pockets. If not removed, and allowed to build up over time, this might lead to:

          • gingivitis,
          • periodontitis (gum disease)
          • pulling away of the gums from the teeth
          • underlying bone destruction
          • tooth mobility & loss
          • infection
          • and halitosis (bad breath)

Our Dental Hygienists will:

           • remove the tartar from your teeth with specialized instruments and ultrasonic (fine vibration) scalers
           • polish your teeth with polishing paste
           • take necessary X-rays for the Doctor to utilize in detecting tooth decay, gum disease,
             and other possible problems
           • measure periodontal pockets
           • application of medications to periodontal pockets
           • our hygienists are certified to apply fluoride varnishes that help to strengthen teeth
              and dental sealants that help prevent tooth decay in children
           • they are experts in oral hygiene and will spend the time necessary to help you learn
             and understand good principles and necessary techniques for good oral hygiene

     Periodontal Therapy

When gingivitis progresses to the point that you are experiencing bone loss, shrinking gums, bad breath and loose teeth, you are most likely suffering from “periodontal disease”! Our treatment regimen includes:

          • intensive oral hygiene instructions and explanations of gum disease concepts
          • application of medications to diseased gum pockets
          • scale & root planings (deep cleanings)
          • oral medications and rinses
          • gum surgery including bone grafts and bone osteoplasty (bone reshaping)
          • more frequent recall visits (every 3 months)
          • specialty referral in many cases

     Crowns & Bridges

          Crowns – sometimes it becomes necessary to restore teeth with large

                             old fillings or teeth that have broken/fractured or are severely
                             misaligned with crowns. Crowns cover the whole tooth, usually
                             to the gum line and help to prevent any further damage to the
                             tooth. They are commonly made out of metal, like gold, or
                             porcelain fused to gold. We also have all ceramic (porcelain)
                             crowns for those highly esthetic-demanding situations.

          Bridges – A bridge replaces one more missing teeth. The “fake” tooth
                             is anchored to two or more teeth on either side of the gap.
                             This improves chewing function, the way sounds are made
                             by the tongue and lips, cheek support, and appearance.

     Oral Surgery

We provide a wide range of oral surgical procedures, striving to make your experience as pleasant as possible with no or minimal discomfort. Dr. Bonin has one (1) year additional post-doctorate training in a General Practice Residency at the Olin E. Teague VA Hospital in Temple, Texas. There he learned and performed a wide variety of oral surgical and pre-prosthetic procedures including:

          • tooth extractions
          • broken root removals
          • shaping of bone for dentures & partials
          • wisdom teeth surgery
          • soft & hard tissue biopsies
          • tori (excess bone) removal
          • excess gum tissue contouring
          • draining & treating infections

     Conscious Sedation

To help make visits for certain procedures less stressful and frightening, we make available three
 conscious sedation options for our “nervous” patients:

          Nitrous Oxide – Also, known as Laughing Gas, it is a safe and effective
                                        means of calming apprehensive patients. The gas works
                                        quickly and wears off quickly. You never actually “go
                                        to sleep”, so you can talk to Dr. Bonin and staff at all
                                        times about any uncomfortable sensations. Nitrous
                                        oxide also has a “pain control” effect for certain areas
                                        of the mouth and various procedures. Cost is minimal.

          Enteral Sedation – The patient is given a sedative pill before the
                                        procedure, helping to relax them, before and
                                        throughout the procedure. Nitrous gas might be used as
                                        well. A machine that monitors vital signs such as blood
                                        pressure, heart rate, and oxygen is used at all times.
                                        A responsible adult must drive you to and from your
                                        appointment. Cost is moderate.

          Deep Sedation – A Dental Anesthesiologist is scheduled to sedate
                                        and monitor your anesthesia while we perform the
                                        necessary dental treatment in our office. An IV is
                                        placed and medications are given into a vein. Again,
                                        your vital signs will be monitored with equipment and
                                        you must have a responsible driver accompany you.
                                        Cost is moderate – high.

     Dentures & Partials

Our office also performs a wide range of services for dentures and partial wearers. Dr. Bonin firmly believes in restoring all mouths to maximum oral health, function, comfort and esthetics, even for those patients missing multiples of teeth or missing all teeth together.

          • complete dentures
          • partial dentures (bilateral)
          • partial dentures (unilateral)
          • flippers
          • transitional partials (all acrylic)
          • Valplast – flexible resin, no metal partials

     Halitosis (Bad Breath)

Bad breath has many causes including sinus drainage, gum disease, tooth decay, poor oral hygiene, ill fitting or poorly maintained dentures, dry mouth (caused by some medications), gastro-intestinal disorders, and smoking. A thorough dental/medical examination and medical history is necessary to help locate the possible cause(s) of halitosis. There are several prescription-only products available though our office or your local pharmacy. Dr. Bonin can help you decide what treatment and medications will be best for your particular need.