Restorative Dentistry

Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can be embarrassing, alter the shape of your face and mouth, and may even interfere with eating and speech. When a tooth is lost, the teeth on either side of the empty space tend to shift into the newly created space. This distorts the position of these adjacent teeth. They can “twist” toward the space, sometimes become elongated, and often develop periodontal pockets because of the new position and difficulty in cleaning the misaligned tooth. Replacing missing teeth is very important for maintaining a correct bite and function. We will discuss with you in detail your options and help you decide on a solution that is beautiful, natural-looking and functional.

Dentures and Partials

Whether you need new dentures or want to replace worn dentures with the latest style, we can customize both complete and partial dentures.  We have lightweight, claspless partials that are more comfortable to wear.  We can make implant-supported dentures that snap into place, look natural and feel secure.

Complex Restoration

No restoration is too simple or too complex for our practice. Whether you need one tooth restored or a full-mouth restoration, we have the expertise and equipment to offer a full range of dental services.

Whether you would like veneers, which can alter the size, shape, color and sometimes even the position of your teeth, crowns, implants, implant bridges, or implant dentures, Dr. Rak will offer you all the best options for your smile. Dr. Rak took classes from the finest cosmetic dentists in the world and is confident that he can offer you a smile to smile about!

Oral Therapy

Neuromuscular Therapy

To simplify, neuromuscular dentistry places the jaw into its optimal position, which relieves the symptoms associated the TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). Neuromuscular dentistry works not only with the hard and soft tissues but also the muscles and nerves.

TMJ/TMD is a term that describes many symptoms that include: headaches, migraines, facial pain, broken or worn teeth, jaw pain, clicking or popping in the jaw and limited jaw movement. When these symptoms are either misdiagnosed or dismissed as having no physiological cause, many people suffer from additional symptoms, including pain in the face, head, shoulders or back, ringing in the ears, tingling or numbness in the arms or fingertips, as well as snoring, grinding teeth, and frequent ear infections. We can help relieve TMJ/TMD through advanced neuromuscular therapy.

TMJ Therapy

We will conduct a thorough examination to determine the best way to treat your TMJ. Once a diagnosis has been made, an appropriate individual treatment plan will be devised for you.

This customized plan, which does not make any permanent change to your bite, may include a combination of orthotic appliances, muscle/jaw stimulation, orthodontics, and occlusal restoration. If your symptoms are not relieved during this stage, the next stage is the permanent alteration of your teeth to adjust your bite accordingly. In addition to correcting painful TMJ disorder, you may also benefit from a beautiful new smile!

Periodontal Therapy

Because it is usually painless, periodontal disease can go undetected until the problems become critical. The initial symptoms are bleeding gums and bad breath.  If your feet were bleeding, would you ignore it?

Bleeding gums is an early sign that your gums are infected by bacteria.  If nothing is done, the bacteria and infection can spread and destroy the structures that support your teeth in your jaw.  Your teeth can become loose and need to be extracted.  
In current literature, periodontal disease has been linked to other serious health problems, such as atherosclerosis and heart disease, stroke, premature babies, diabetes, respiratory disease, certain cancers and possibly Alzheimer’s.

We perform periodontal therapy on patients diagnosed with early periodontal disease.  Calculus (or “tartar”) is removed by a procedure called scaling and root planning. Subsequently, periodic maintenance appointments are scheduled to monitor periodontal health.  We educate our patients about home dental care to enable them to achieve optimum periodontal health.

We can also offer new Oral DNA testing to identify the main bacterium that is causing the disease and directly treating it. This has proven to be quite effective.

After scaling and moving into routine maintenance you will notice healthier gums, and your appointments with the hygienist will be shorter and more comfortable!