We’ll reserve about an hour for your first visit, which will include a comprehensive exam and treatment planning, if necessary. Your doctor will review your medical history, perform an oral cancer screening, probe and chart your periodontal health, and take any appropriate X-rays. This will give us a good idea of where you stand and what steps we can take to optimize your oral health. Your dentist will discuss any treatment recommendations, and then we’ll schedule follow-up visits and perhaps your next hygiene visit. We encourage patients to ask questions and take an active role in their healthcare.
Perhaps the most important aspect of any dental treatment plan is keeping up with regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings. During these six month appointments, we examine your smile carefully for the early warning signs of many common oral health conditions. In most cases, we’re able to stop the progress of oral health concerns before they become serious issues. With earlier diagnosis and preventive care, we partner with patients to keep their smile healthy for life.
Fluoride Treatment
And we do more than simply provide treatment for dental problems as they arise. We’re also focused on prevention to help our patients minimize the need for dental work as much as possible. That might include sealants, fluoride treatments, nightguards, and oral hygiene tips.
Dental Sealants
Many people have deep pits and grooves in their teeth where bacteria and food particles can hide and cause decay. Children with poor brushing habits may also develop decay on hard-to-reach molars. For situations like these, dental sealants offer a means of protecting molar and premolar chewing surfaces from decay. Recognized by the American Dental Association as a key means of cavity prevention, dental sealants are simply a thin plastic film that can be applied to teeth.
If you're embarrassed about your smile because of decay or dark fillings in your teeth, you may be a good candidate for composite resins. A silicon dioxide-filled, tooth-colored plastic mixture, composite resins can restore teeth to an attractive, healthy state. Composite resins represent several advantages over traditional silver or amalgam fillings.
Resin Composite
Because composite resins are not made of metal, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color to match your natural teeth. This means only you and your dentist will know you have fillings. Another pro is that the tooth/composite bond actually supports the remaining tooth structure, deterring breakage and insulating against temperature changes. Medium and small composites can last seven to ten years – that’s as long as traditional amalgams. Best of all, composite resins allow us to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact than amalgams. We believe in conservative dentistry – the more natural tooth structure you keep, the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future.
Veneers
A veneer is a thin shell that is bonded to the front-facing surface of a tooth to improve its shape, size, color, and proportion. At Central Dental Associates, we believe in conservative dental care, so we offer minimal preparation veneers. This means we will remove as little tooth structure as possible to ensure a natural look and good fit.
Crowns
Has part of your tooth broken off? Do you have a large area of decay that a filling won’t cover? No need to fret, your tooth can be saved with a custom dental crown! At Central Dental Associates, we stay on the forefront of modern dentistry, offering lifelike crowns that look and feel completely natural.
Bridges
A bridge is a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) that attaches on one or both sides to teeth prepared with dental crowns. A fixed bridge is joined onto the neighboring abutment teeth (crowned teeth) and consists of three basic units: the false tooth or teeth (called a pontic) and two abutment crowns. The style of bridge we suggest will depend upon the strength and health of the abutment teeth, as well as the location of the gap in relation to the rest of your dentition.
Dental Bonding
A brighter, straighter, more beautiful smile doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of time in our office, though we would love to see you. With cosmetic bonding, we can completely transform your smile in just one visit. Cosmetic bonding uses the same tooth-colored composite resin that we use for fillings. Instead of replacing a decayed or damaged part of your tooth, we can use the custom shaded composite resin to cover staining, fill in gaps between your teeth, or correct other cosmetic flaws. In just one appointment, you’ll have a flawless smile.
Restorative Dentistry
Visit our contemporary practice and learn why Central Dental Associates has been Norwood’s premier choice for family and restorative dentistry since 1965. We’re located in Norwood, MA at Chestnut Green, convenient to patients from Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, Dedham, and surrounding areas. Call today!
Root canals have a notoriously bad rap. Patients who think they might need one will avoid the dentist like the plague. However, the purpose of a root canal is actually to relieve pain – not cause it. In fact, most patients report that their discomfort subsides significantly following root canal treatment. Here’s what you need to know about root canals...
Are you missing one or more teeth? You know from experience just how much tooth loss can affect your quality of life. Not only does it impact your appearance, but the way you bite, chew, and speak as well. Fortunately, our team of highly skilled dentists at Central Dental Associates can help you enjoy a full smile once again with dentures in Norwood. If you’re interested in learning more about this method of tooth replacement, simply keep reading or contact our office to schedule a consultation.
Dr. Faris graduated magna cum laude from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine with a D.M.D. degree and a Certificate in Periodontology. In addition, Dr. Faris earned a Doctor of Medical Sciences (D.M.Sc.) in Oral Biology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Faris specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, as well as in dental implants and bone and tissue regeneration. Dr. Faris has received numerous awards in recognition of her academic, clinical, and research accomplishments.
Our general dentists are trained to perform many oral surgeries, including extractions. In most cases, you can receive the majority of your dental care in our Norwood, MA office, where you feel comfortable, cared for, and familiar. Oral surgeries performed in our office include...
Tooth Extractions
Whether your teen needs a wisdom tooth extraction, you need to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant supported restoration, or a member of the family needs soft tissue removal or reshaping, our team of experts is here to help. Our team is able to provide high quality services even for those advanced surgical procedures typically referred out to specialists.
Bone Grafting
The best way to know if dental implants are right for you is to visit our office for a consultation. One of our experts will carefully examine your smile before developing a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. Typically, patients who are candidates for dental implants will be missing at least one tooth but also have enough jawbone volume for the procedure. However, even those with weaker jawbones can receive bone grafting, which is one of the reasons why the initial consultation is so important.
Dr. Taylor is passionate about staying up-to-date on new technologies and advances in the field of dentistry. She has taken many continuing education courses including courses related to veneers, Invisalign, digital scanning, and oral pathology. Dr. Taylor is a member of the American Dental Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society. She believes her passion for dentistry and her gentle, compassionate demeanor are what bring her patients back.
Braces
Before you purchase any mouthguard, talk to your dentist. Special mouthguards or mouth protectors are recommended for patients with braces, removable bridges or dentures, a protruding jaw, or a cleft palate.
Strip, trays, pastes, pens… there’s no lack of options when it comes to whitening your teeth. But how do you know which is safe, effective, and right for the types of stains you have? Easy! Visit our office for an evaluation. You should always visit your dentist prior to beginning a whitening program. Only a professional can determine whether whitening is the right solution for you.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Remember when cosmetic dentistry was only for fabulous Hollywood movie stars? Unless you landed a lead role in the next big blockbuster, perfecting your smile simply wasn’t an option. Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way since then. Now, anyone can have a bright, beautiful smile, and you don’t have to sell your house to achieve it. You might not even have to miss work!
General Dentistry
Dr. Taylor is a graduate of Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina where she received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. She then completed a one year residency training program for general dentists at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Dr. Taylor enjoys all aspects of general dentistry, but her favorite aspect of dentistry is the joy she receives from getting to know her patients on a personal level.