Arizona Smile Designers

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Arizona Smile Designers
350 S. Willard St.
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
P: (928) 634-8610
F: (928) 634-4683

The Magic of Captivating Smiles Can Be Yours!

Welcome to the Arizona Smile Designers, a leading dental care practice in Cottonwood, AZ. We understand the importance of good dental hygiene and oral care and are committed to providing you the best care in a fun, pleasant environment.

We provide an array of dental services to meet your needs all in one convenient location. Using the latest technology, our experienced staff works together as a team to give you exceptional quality treatment from the time you walk in for your initial visit.

We thank you for your interest in our services and the trust you have placed in us. Please contact us if you have any questions, and remember, kids are welcome too!

Invisalign
Invisalign is the clear way to straighten teeth without braces, using aligners. Aligners are removable and virtually invisible, which means you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing; and you can still eat and drink what you want. Also, you can brush and floss normally to maintain healthy gums and teeth; and there are no wires, metal or brackets to cause mouth abrasions.

Many of our patients had never considered traditional braces but are now happily and comfortably improving their smiles with Invisalign.

WHAT IS INVISALIGN?
•Invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.
•Series of clear, removable, custom-made Aligners.
•Uses no metal wires or brackets.
•Custom-made for comfort.
HOW DOES INVISALIGN WORK?
•Wear each set of Aligners for about two weeks.
•Remove only to eat, drink, brush and floss.
•Your teeth will move gradually each week.
•Visit us every 8-10 weeks.
•Total treatment time averages 6-15 months.
•Average number of Aligners is between 18 and 30.
Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth replacements that were first developed half a century ago by a Swedish scientist named Per-Ingvar Branemark. Implants arose from the patient’s need to secure loose-fitting dentures. Since the advent of the implant, engineering and enhancements to the implant have enabled dentists to expand the implant’s usefulness, including the replacement of missing or lost teeth. Today, implant techniques provide a wide range of tooth replacement solutions including:

•Single Tooth Replacement
•Anterior Replacement
•Posterior Replacement
•Full Upper Replacement
Types of Implants
There are three main types of implants:

•The root implant
•The plate form implant
•The subperiosteal implant
The root implant—by far, the most popular—is the most effective because it mirrors the size and shape of a patient’s natural tooth. This implant is often as strong as the patient’s original tooth. The implant or artificial root is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the healing process is completed and the jawbone is attached to the implant, the patient returns to the dental office where the implant is fitted with the new tooth. This process generally takes anywhere from three to eight months.

The plate form implant is ideal in situations where the jawbone is not wide enough to properly support a root implant. The plate form implant is long and thin, unlike the root implant, and anchors into thin jawbones. It is inserted the same way as a root implant. In certain cases, the plate form implant is immediately fitted with the restoration without waiting for the healing process to run its course.

The subperiosteal implant is used when the jawbone has receded to the point where it can no longer support a permanent implant.

Implant As a Treatment Option
If the missing tooth space has no surrounding teeth, the dentist may decide an implant is the most appropriate treatment choice or option.

The treatment plan for a bridge usually requires two trips to your dentist. Specifically, it involves:

•Numbing the surrounding teeth with a local anesthetic and cleaning plaque or decay.
•Reducing the teeth so that the crowns can be fitted.
•Making a mold or impression of the teeth in order to create a customized permanent impression (this generally takes 1-2 weeks).
•Fitting the patient with a temporary bridge until the permanent bridge is ready for placement.
•Removing the temporary bridge and replacing it with the permanent one.
•Adjusting the bridge for the proper bite and fit and permanently bonding it into the mouth.
Post Implant Care
Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jaw bones to gradually recede. Recession of the jawbone will weaken implants and eventually make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.

Air Abrasion
Many patients' fear of the dentist stems from the drill used to treat tooth decay. In our office, we use the gentle process known as air abrasion. This decay-removing process is virtually pain-free as the dentist can control the speed of the spray of air/powder mix as well as the intensity. There is generally no need for shots with this new technology. It's also free of the noise and vibration associated with the old drill.

When the decay is removed, the dentist places a white filling that is barely noticeable! The process allows us to treat the decay immediately and restore your tooth before more damage can be done. Air abrasion can also repair fractured teeth, old fillings, sealants or broken restorations.

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