Panorex at Lehigh Valley Smiles

At Lehigh Valley Smiles, we use panoramic digital radiography to provide high-quality care to our patients in Easton PA and the surrounding areas. Panorex is an X-ray machine that is capable of capturing more of the mouth structure than a traditional, dental X-ray and can, therefore, identify many issues.

To take the X-ray you will sit in a chair with your chin on a small ledge. Once positioned, the machine will rotate 360 degrees around your head, capturing X-rays of your teeth, head, sinuses and bone, which allows Dr. Alan Dilsaver to see any potential problems and ensure that everything is functioning properly. The Panorex can also view specific types of structural problems, including infections or asymmetry.

In addition to clearer and more comprehensive images, the Panorex and other digital X-rays also produce up to 90 percent less radiation that traditional dental X-rays. This is because the digital sensor is much more sensitive to radiation than film so less is needed to form an accurate image. While traditional X-rays are considered safe by professionals, those who receive X-rays frequently or who are concerned about radiation will feel more comfortable with digital radiography.

To schedule an appointment with our office, call (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.com. 

Root Canals from Dr. Alan Dilsaver

If the root of your tooth becomes infected, it is important to first try and save the tooth rather than extracting it and replacing it with an artificial restoration. This is because restorations, such as implants or bridges, are both expensive and not as beneficial to your oral health as having your own root supporting your tooth.  To avoid extracting a tooth, Dr. Alan Dilsaver performs root canal procedures, which can effectively save your tooth and relieve your pain in Easton, PA.

Root canals can be performed with new 3D technology and rotary instruments that provide improved quality and efficiency and less pain. During the procedure, Dr. Dilsaver will remove the infection by first applying a local anesthetic to the area and then creating an opening in the canal. With his rotary instruments, he is able to remove the infected tissue and clean the area before filling the canal with a sealant to protect from further infection. Teeth that have root canals performed on them also usually require a crown to protect it from fractures, as well as improve the appearance and strength of the tooth. Once the procedure is complete and any soreness subsides, you will be able to eat without pain and sensitivity.

If you’re in pain, you can stop you’re suffering by scheduling an appointment with Lehigh Valley Smiles. Call (610) 252-7414. For more information, please visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.

Dental Implants in Easton, PA

If you’ve lost one tooth or multiple teeth due to extensive decay, gum disease or facial trauma, we can provide you with the solution you need to restore your oral health in Easton, PA. Since teeth can shift out of place after a tooth has been removed, and since teeth that shift are more susceptible to disease and decay, Lehigh Valley Dental offers dental implants to both restore the beauty of your smile and improve your oral health. While bridges or dentures can also be used to replace missing teeth, these options either require work to healthy teeth or are not permanent fixtures in the mouth. Dental implants, on the other hand, look and feel natural.

The first step of the implant process is to implant a titanium screw in the jawbone. This screw serves as your replacement tooth root and keeps your jaw from deteriorating or changing shape. Once the screw is in place, your jaw is left to heal around the implant in a process called osseointegration—a process that can take three to six months to complete. During this healing, you will receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

When the implant has healed, Dr. Alan Dilsaver will install the abutment, which acts as the foundation upon which your permanent crown is placed. An impression is then taken of the area, and the permanent crown is custom made and adhered to the abutment to give you a new smile that looks and functions like your natural teeth.

With our help, you can achieve an attractive and complete smile with dental implants. Schedule a consultation by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information, please visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.

Invisalign in Easton, PA

At Lehigh Valley Smiles, we offer Invisalign aligners so that you can straighten your teeth without committing to a mouth full of metal. Using a series of thin, clear, plastic aligners, Dr. Alan Dilsaver can guide your teeth into a smile you will be proud to show off in Easton, PA.   

While regular braces are still best for the most serious cases of teeth straightening, Invisalign is great for cases of mild to moderate spacing or crowding. For these cases, Invisalign provides teeth correction that bypasses the discomfort, soreness and restrictive diet that those who have traditional braces must face.

With a computer program that generates a series of aligners with small changes in each, Invisalign will allow you to straighten your teeth without anyone even knowing. Virtually invisible, the aligners are made of thin, comfortable plastic and are completely removable. Therefore, your teeth will not experience the same discoloration and plaque buildup that can normally occur with brackets and wire. In addition, you will be able to eat all the foods you like, such as popcorn, chips, pretzels, nuts, apples, carrots and corn.

If you think Invisalign might be the best option for achieving the smile you’ve been dreaming of, schedule an appointment at with Dr. Dilsaver by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information about the orthodontic treatment or the dentist’s other services, please visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.

Extractions in Easton, PA

If decay has reached too deeply into one of your teeth or if an infection has damaged too much of the supporting bone or tissue, you will need a tooth extraction, and at Lehigh Valley Smiles, Dr. Alan Dilsaver can perform one to help you restore your oral health in Easton, PA.  

Before the procedure is performed, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the extraction site. If it is a simple extraction, the tooth will be loosened with an elevator and then extracted with forceps. Dr. Dilsaver may choose to smooth and contour the underlying bone afterward, and once he is finished, he will suture the gums.

After the extraction, it is critical to keep the area clean to prevent infection. A dry, sterile gauze will be placed over the gums to limit bleeding. You must make sure to keep it in place for 30 to 45 minutes while the blood clots. During the 24 hours after the procedure, you should not smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously or clean the teeth immediately adjacent to the extraction site. Strenuous activity, hot liquids and straw drinking should also be avoided. A certain amount of pain and discomfort accompanies an extraction, so a painkiller may be prescribed.

If you are suffering pain from decay, infection or impaction, the dentist can determine if a tooth extraction is required to save your smile. Schedule an appointment at our practice in by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.

Dr. Alan Dilsaver Restores Patients Smiles with Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are two procedures that use the tooth structure as a base for restoration. Often called partial crowns, both inlays and onlays strengthen the tooth while restoring its shape and working to prevent further damage or decay. At our office in Easton, PA, we use these procedures to repair teeth when decay is too extensive to support a filling but not extensive enough to use a crown.

When there is no damage to the cusps of a tooth, Dr. Alan Dilsaver uses an inlay for restoration, bonding it right on top of the tooth structure. Made of porcelain, inlays are both strong and natural-looking, providing an attractive solution for repairing your tooth. Dr. Dilsaver uses onlays when damage is a little more extensive and repairs to the cusp of the tooth are required.

Inlays and onlays can be created at a lab out of porcelain, gold or composite resin. Fabrication normally takes between two to three weeks, and during that time, you will be provided with temporary restorations while you wait. Once they are ready, they are cemented in place.

To ensure that your teeth get the best dental care available, schedule an appointment with Lehigh Valley Smiles by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.

Dentures at Lehigh Valley Smiles

Many of our patients in Easton, PA choose dentures to replace their missing teeth. Cost-effective and removable dentures are an attractive option for many patients at Lehigh Valley Smiles, and they are available as both full and partial devices. 

Full dentures can be placed in two ways: conventionally or immediately. Conventional full dentures are used after all of a patient’s teeth have been removed, but only once the gum tissue has healed for a few months. During that healing time, the patient would have no teeth in place. Immediate full dentures, however, are more popular since patients do not have to be toothless for any period of time. For this type, Dr. Alan Dilsaver takes measurements of your mouth prior to removing the teeth. The teeth are removed at the next appointment, and the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. With this method, a follow-up visit is required so that the dentures can be refitted and tightened since the jawbone changes shape slightly as it heals with no teeth.

Partial dentures are an option for those who do not need all their teeth removed. This type is very similar to bridges, except they are removable instead of permanent.

Whichever dentures our patients choose, the device takes some time getting used to, but as you practice, eating and speaking will get easier. Even though they are not real teeth, dentures should still be cared for as if they were. To ensure your dentures last, be sure to brush them before removal and place them in room temperature water or cleaning solution overnight.

To find out if dentures are the right choice for you, schedule an appointment at Lehigh Valley Smiles by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.