Your comprehensive dental care includes dental exams and cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, oral cancer screenings, screenings and treatment for gum disease, and digital x-rays. 

Routine dental care includes fillings for cavities, restorations for damaged teeth, crowns, and dentures and partial dentures. 

Bone grafting is often required in order to place dental implants.  This can be done at the time of a tooth extraction in preparation for a future implant, prior to implant placement or at the time of implant placement.  This will depend on your individual presentation.  Not all dental implants require bone grafting.  When placing implant in the upper jaw, bone grafting into the maxillary sinus can be required.  This can be accomplished at the time of implant placement or as a separate procedure.  Bone grafting can be completed with local anesthesia or with sedation. 

Braces are a common method to straighten teeth. Braces use brackets and wires and apply a pull force to shift teeth into the ideal position. They can also be used to correct bite issues. 

One or two teeth are replaced by having a tooth made of metal anchored on either side by crowns on the adjacent teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth or third molars often require extraction.  At times impacted teeth other than third molars like canines can be brought into the dental arch with the help of orthodontic treatment.  This requires a surgical procedure to expose the impacted tooth and apply an orthodontic bracket for the orthodontist to use to bring the tooth into the dental arch.  This can be completed under local anesthesia or with sedation.

Dental plastic surgery procedures are performed to prevent or correct anatomical, developmental, traumatic, or plaque disease‐induced defects of the gingiva, alveolar mucosa, and bone.

A crown is a type of dental restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the health of a tooth. They are typically bonded to the tooth using dental cement. Crowns can be made from many materials, and they typically improve the strength or appearance of teeth. The procedure and materials can be relatively expensive, but this method of tooth restoration has excellent longevity.

Dental implants are titanium screws that can be placed in the jaws to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth.  They can also be used to support dentures that are removable or dentures that are fixed to the implants.  The procedure can be completed under local anesthesia or with sedation.

Dentures, also known as false teeth, are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth. Dentures are supported by surrounding bone and gums in the mouth. Conventional dentures are removable; however, there are many different denture designs that can work with dental implants.  Be sure to thoughtfully consider if complete dentures are right for you.

A complete fixed denture uses ten dental implants, including 4 on the lower jaw and 6 on the upper jaw, to anchor dentures in place. The dentures are screwed permanently to the dental implants and can only be removed by a dentist (if required for maintenance).  Be sure to thoughtfully consider if complete dentures are for you.

Full mouth reconstruction rebuilds or replaces all the teeth in a patient’s mouth. Patients that have many missing teeth, large fillings that are failing or decaying, cracked or broken teeth, or badly worn teeth may be candidates for full mouth reconstruction. Patients may also have genetic conditions, such as ectodermal dysplasia, ameliogenesis, or dentinogenesis imperfecta, that require full mouth reconstruction.

The treatments can include crowns, bridges, veneers, dental implants, and or dentures that will essentially provide not only a smile makeover, but improves chewing too. For some patients, orthodontists, periodontists, and endodontists (all under one roof at the College of Dentistry) may be involved in the treatment to ensure the best possible outcome.

A bacterial infection can destroy attachment fibers and supporting bones that hold teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss.

The denture is made prior to extraction and is fitted right after teeth are extracted. This procedure is more expensive and will need replacement at the patient's expense, usually within one year.

Using dental implants as anchors for dentures keeps dentures from slipping or moving and improves patient satisfaction. The dentures snap on the implants, but can still be detached for cleaning. Typically, the lower jaw needs only two implants to improve the function of the dentures, while the upper jaw usually takes 4-6 implants to secure it.

Clear Aligner Therapy (CAT) works similar to braces but differs by using clear plastic and “attachments.” An attachment is a tiny tooth-colored plastic filling temporarily glued to some of the teeth to help the Aligner move the teeth more effectively. Clear aligners use a push force to gently guide the teeth into a straight position. 

Orthodontic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery, is used to correct conditions in the jaw. This can fix issues with airway, growth, or dental bite problems. 

Our orthodontic faculty and residents provide award-winning care for patients with clefts and other craniofacial anomalies. This same outstanding treatment is provided in both our Graduate (resident) and Faculty Practice orthodontic clinics and is provided in affiliation with the University of Iowa Cleft and Craniofacial team: Cleft Palate | University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital (uichildrens.org) and can work with most medical and dental insurances that cover braces.

We recommend that you make an initial consultation with the Cleft team at: Request an Appointment | University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital (uichildrens.org). The team will make the appropriate medical and dental referrals depending on your treatment needs If you wish to make an appointment in the Graduate or Faculty Practice orthodontic clinics please contact us at (319) 335-7287.

A denture is relined with acrylic to accommodate the new shape of the gums following extraction or subsequent shrinkage of the gums.

Some teeth are missing and the denture fits onto two or more remaining teeth.

Root canals can allow you to keep your teeth in good health and function. Under local anesthesia a flap is made in the gingival area. Some of the bone around the tooth is removed and the root exposed. The tip of the root is removed, and the root canal is sealed at that point. The root end area is cleaned and inspected. Radiographs (x-rays) will be taken. The gingival area is sutured back around the tooth for healing.

Sedation is sometimes used to help patients feel more comfortable during treatment, but the use of sedation is limited to cases where there is good evidentiary reasons for the practice.

When a tooth is damaged to a point where restoration or fixing with traditional dental procedures is not possible you may be referred for a tooth extraction.  This procedure involves the removal of a single tooth or multiple teeth.  It can be completed under local anesthesia or with sedation.  Your doctor will discuss the best option for you.

Many people have questions when it comes to tooth extraction.  Our frequently asked questions section may be able to help.

Many options are available for replacement of extracted teeth.  These include:

• Bridge
• Dental Implants
• Dentures
• Fixed Complete Denture
• Immediate Denture
• Implant Dentures
• Processed Reline
• Removable Partial Denture

Veneers are thin coverings placed on teeth and a way to improve the cosmetic look of teeth. 

This procedure involves the removal of the wisdom teeth or third molars.  Not all third molars require removal, but many do.  These teeth may be erupted or impacted.  The procedure is completed under local anesthesia or with sedation.  Your doctor will discuss the best option for you.