Cosmetic and Family Dentist

From routine dental cleanings and fillings to bruxism devices, West Cactus Dental is equipped to handle all your dental needs. To help you understand your options, we've included descriptions of some of our leading services on this page.

Initial Oral Examination

Unless you are experiencing an emergency situation in your mouth, your first visit to our office will be a comprehensive oral examination. Expect to spend 60 to 90 minutes in our office for this important fact gathering and interview process. After completing your medical history and other important registrationn forms, you will given a short tour of our state-of-the-art dental office. If necessary, a complete set of x-rays will be taken so Dr. Johnson can diagnose any diseases hidden in your bone, gums, or teeth. An oral cancer exam, periodontal (gum disease) screening, and tooth-by-tooth examination will complete the basic examination. Depending upon the diseases found, intraoral photographs and diagnostic models (impressions of your teeth) may be necessary to properly examine your mouth. Upon completion of the data gathering portion, you and Dr. Johnson will have the opportunity to design a unique plan to address the diseases found. At that point, your plan will be printed out for your records and appointments made based upon your treatment decisions. Please note, you will not be getting your teeth cleaned at this appointment.

Lasers

The 21st Century is here! We have a soft tissue laser to help you. How do we use it? We use the laser to help treat gum disease, neutrilize cold sores and mouth ulcers, and remove tissue without bleeding. You see advertising on TV weekly about treatment of gum disease with a laser. We do that! Most exciting though, is taking a painful cold sore or aphthous ulcer and making them painless in just a few minutes! No shots, no pain, and a better quality of life in mere minutes. Call today for a same day appointment!

Old and Unsightly Fillings

One major change has been the widespread use of white fillings rather than silver fillings, even on back teeth. While no single filling material is perfect, white filling materials have been improving for over 25 years and can meet most patients' needs. When you receive treatment at West Cactus Dental, you will have the choice of filling material to be used in your mouth.

Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium structures that are placed in the area of a missing tooth previously occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures. Dr. Johnson does not place the actual implants, but will work closely with carefully picked Oral Surgeons and then restore the implants to restore your natural chewing function. Read More...

Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Veneers are an excellent choice to create a beautiful smile in less than one month! Read More...

Crowns, Caps, & Bridges
Crowns and caps are different names for exactly the same thing. Crowns are used to restore broken or root canaled teeth over your own root, or placed on top of implants in order to replace a missing tooth. Dr. Johnson will advise that a crown be placed when a tooth can no longer be filled without risking the health of the tooth due to fracture. Most dental offices will use a metal and porcelain crown, which can lead to an unsightly gray or blue line near the gumline. Dr. Johnson prefers to use Procera™ crowns which contain no dark metal inside the crown. This will help make the crown appear more life-like and will never have the dark line problem many crowns have. Ask him to show you the difference when you visit the office--you won't believe your eyes!

Bridges are 3 or more crowns connected together in order to replace a missing tooth (or teeth). The bridge is attached to the healthy teeth in the area. Implants and bridges solve the same problem, so please make sure you discuss the best option for your mouth with Dr. Johnson.

Crowns and bridges have a typical lifespan of about 10 years. Some will last much longer, and some will wear out sooner depending upon your habits and maintenance routine. If you follow our office's advice on how often to get your teeth cleaned, we will guarantee our crowns and bridges for 5 years. Read More...

Teeth Whitening
Whitening procedures (also known as bleaching) have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. Internal staining (from tetracycline and health issues) can be very difficult to completely remove using tooth whitening gels. However, modern gels have gotten much better and should be tried before giving up and removing healthy tooth structure to place crowns or veneers. On the other hand, external stains (from colas, tobacco, tea, coffee, and blueberries for example) are relatively easy to remove and require very little maintenance. It usually takes less than 2 weeks to restore a stained smile into a gleaming white one! Our take home trays and gels are a better value than the "in office" light treatments being offered for $500 or more in the area. Call today to find out how you can get started. Read More...

Invisalign®
Invisalign's® invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you're wearing them. Invisalign is great for adults and teenagers, but cannot be used for children. If you would like to know more, feel free to ask for a no-cost consultation with Dr. Johnson to see if you are a candidate to straighten out your smile using the modern wonder of Invisalign. Read More...

Root Canal Therapy

Just the word Root Canal is enough to get most people's heart rate to jump 10 points. However, with modern medication and a gentle touch, very few root canals live up to the painful expectations patients have heard about for years. Using modern techniques, most root canals can be completed in one visit with no more than a few ibuprofen taken over the next 24 hours. The only alternative to root canal treatment is the removal of the entire tooth. Either procedure will remove the infected nerve from your mouth. However, a root canal won't lead to a missing tooth that needs to be replaced later. After a root canal is completed, your tooth will usually need a crown in order to protect the tooth from splitting or cracking. Read More...

Dental Emergencies
West Cactus Dental is available to treat your emergency pain during our normal office hours. Please call for an appointment and we will attempt to see you that same day, time permitting. Weekend emergency calls to the doctor must be from an established patient in order to get a response.

Do YOU Have Bad Breath? (click to open MSN article on Bad Breath in new window)

If you suffer from bad breath, our office might be able to help. Many conditions can cause bad breath, but the most common is periodontal disease. Only a dentist can treat periodontal disease. If that isn't the cause of your halitosis (bad breath), then we can help you figure out what might be causing it and direct you to the right medical doctor.