Dr. Ben Alexander offers a complete range of general, family and cosmetic dentistry at her practice in the Lakewood area of TX.
TMJ Treatments:
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) refers to pain associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticatory system. Common symptoms can include jaw pain in and around the joint, pain in the jaw and neck muscles, headaches, earaches or difficulty with chewing. At Lakewood Restorative Dentistry, we offer a range of services to alleviate pain and discomfort caused by TMD.
A deprogrammer is a custom made removable appliance that allows Dr. Alexander to find the correct jaw position to alleviate jaw pain and discomfort. This is a powerful tool to ensure that the jaw is in an ideal alignment for function and relief from TMJ symptoms.
A night guard or occlusal splint is a custom made removable appliance that is worn while sleeping to prevent jaw pain and tooth wear from tooth grinding. By fabricating the appliance at the most stable orthopedic jaw position, a bite guard can be extremely effective at alleviating TMJ pain due to grinding.
Photobiomodulation or PBM, is a non-invasive laser treatment that utilizes light energy of a certain wavelength, intensity and duration to treat TMJ pain. PBM works by helping to improve cell metabolism, tissue oxygenation and blood flow to reduce pain and inflammation caused by TMJ pain.
Invisalign treatment can alleviate TMJ pain by correcting malocclusions (bite problems) that can commonly contribute to such discomfort. By using clear aligners–which are almost invisible, teeth can be straightened and placed into the proper position in order to drastically reduce pain. Dr. Alexander is a certified Invisalign provider with over fourteen years of experience as well as having received additional training at the Kois Center to treat and manage TMJ dysfunction.
Cosmetic Dentistry:
Cosmetic Dentistry is an excellent way to improve the appearance of your teeth and improve self confidence. Whether it’s restoring the smile you used to have, or the one you have always wanted, Dr. Alexander offers many cosmetic dental treatments.
Dental bonding is a conservative way to restore teeth and improve the appearance of teeth suffering from minor imperfections like chipping, discoloration or spacing.
Veneers are made from feldspathic porcelain or an all ceramic material to give you the smile you have always wanted. Veneers are a conservative approach to improve the appearance of your smile and correct spacing, tooth wear, chipping, discoloration or tooth shape.
Crowns are made from an all ceramic material to match the natural appearance of your teeth. Crowns can be used to protect and restore badly broken down or compromised teeth to provide a long lasting, functional and beautiful smile.
Tooth Whitening is a great way to brighten your smile after years of staining. Any foods or beverages that can stain a white t-shirt can stain your teeth and whitening is a great way to rejuvenate your smile using a conservative treatment approach. Dr. Alexander utilizes several whitening methods.
Invisalign is a wonderful way to transform your smile by moving the teeth. Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment using clear aligners which are almost invisible. Not only can Invisalign treatment give you a beautiful smile, but it is also a great way to improve function and dental health by aligning the teeth in an ideal position for a lifetime of dental health.
Dr. Alexander also commonly uses Invisalign to move the teeth into proper position before commencing restorative dental work. By aligning the teeth into a more ideal position first, he is able to optimize the esthetic outcome by maximizing longevity of the restorations while minimizing tooth loss over time.
Restorative Dentistry:
Fillings are used to restore teeth that have been affected by cavities, wear or chipping. Dr. Alexander uses a tooth colored filling material called composite resin to restore health and function back to teeth.
Crowns are made from an all ceramic material to recreate the natural form, color and health of a damaged tooth. Crowns are commonly used to restore teeth suffering from cracks, fractures or when a filling is too large to adequately protect a tooth.
When a tooth is missing, a bridge can be a good replacement solution. By utilizing the teeth adjacent to the missing area, a bridge can be used to restore a single tooth or even multiple teeth. With the advent of dental implants, bridges have become less popular, but for some individuals, it can still be an excellent restorative option.
Implants are used when a tooth or multiple teeth are missing. We work with several excellent oral surgeons and periodontists who surgically place the dental implant, then after a healing period of three to six months, Dr. Alexander can restore the implant with the ideal restoration to recreate proper function and esthetics.
When the teeth or supporting gum tissues are severely damaged or diseased, complete dentures can be a good way to restore form, function and esthetics. Dentures can be made conventionally that rest on the natural bone and tissues, or they can be supported or retained by dental implants.
A removable partial partial denture (RPD) can be a good solution when multiple teeth are missing. Just like a denture, a RPD can be supported by the remaining natural teeth and tissues or they can be supported by a dental implant.
Treatment of tooth wear
Did you know that the normal amount of tooth wear resulting from day to day chewing is only around 10 microns a year? At that normal rate it would take around 100 years to lose 1mm of tooth structure, however, many individuals suffer from tooth wear in excess of what is considered normal for their age. Signs and symptoms of tooth wear could be chipped edges, teeth that have gotten shorter over time or even broken teeth, pain and discomfort. If you are noticing any of the warning signs it could be an indication there is an active tooth wear problem. Whether you are looking to restore worn teeth to their youthful appearance or protect what you have, Dr. Alexander can perform a comprehensive examination to tailor a treatment plan specific to your unique needs so you can enjoy a long lasting, healthy smile! We offer many treat solutions ranging from restoration of a few teeth to full mouth reconstruction.
Emergency Treatment
Dental emergencies are never convenient and can happen when we least expect it. Whether you are in pain or are having a dental inconvenience, at Lakewood Restorative Dentistry we will make sure to get you in and seen in a prompt manner.
Tooth Whitening
Do you want a beautiful smile? Whitening your teeth is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your smile and boost your self-confidence. With tooth whitening you can counteract years of exposure to coffee, tea, red wine and sodas with a very conservative and non-invasive treatment. Dr. Alexander offers several whitening options including custom made trays that you wear at home as well as in office treatments.
Preventative Treatments
At Lakewood Restorative Dentistry, we believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment. Dr. Alexander and his team utilize state of the art technologies including digital x-rays and 3D intral-oral scanning to develop a care plan to keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime.
We are also proud to offer a cutting edge dental cleaning experience called Airstream Biofilm Clearance (ABC). Airstream Biofilm Clearance targets the layer of bacteria that forms on the teeth called plaque, also known as biofilm. Plaque is made up of layers of bacteria totaling in the billions and is responsible for contributing to cavities, gum inflammation and gum diseases. The oral biofilm has also been linked with systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, cognitive decline related to Alzheimer’s disease and pregnancy complications. With Airstream Biofilm Clearance, the plaque and biofilm layer is targeted using a gentle and non-invasive technique that is faster and more comfortable than traditional dental cleanings. There is less scraping and discomfort and scientific studies show it is superior in reducing the microbial load and inflammatory cytokines related to the oral biofilm. This treatment can be done to address plaque and biofilm above the gumline, but also below the gumline in individuals with gum disease.
Oral cancer screenings and Fluoride treatments along with personalized oral hygiene products for at home use are also offered at Lakewood Restorative Dentistry.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a great way to straighten the teeth without the unsightly appearance of traditional metal braces. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners to progressively move the teeth into ideal position. The benefits of Invisalign treatment include improved tooth health by eliminating crowding which can lead to cavities and gum disease, less chipping, fracturing and wear of teeth by improving the occlusion (bite), reduction in pain and discomfort caused by TMJ problems and improved esthetics and self confidence that come with a harmonious, beautiful smile.
We offer payment options including 12 month 0% financing for Invisalign treatments with an initial down payment.
Implants
When a tooth or multiple teeth are missing, dental implants are a great way to replace the tooth and restore proper form and function. Dental implants are made of a medical grade titanium that are threaded into the jaw bone. Dr. Alexander works with several exceptional specialists who surgically place the implant and after a healing period of 3-6 months, the implant is ready to be restored. At Lakewood Restorative Dentistry, we provide single tooth implant restorations, implant bridges to replace multiple teeth and implant dentures.
Veneers
A veneer is an excellent way to improve the appearance of your smile if you are looking to correct spacing, chipping, discoloration or drastically change the size or shape of the teeth. Veneers can be done in a conservative manner to preserve as much tooth structure as possible so you can maintain a beautiful, healthy smile for years to come. Dr. Alexander has received advanced training at the Kois Center in Seattle Washington to be able to deliver predictable and stunning results for his patients.
Laser Dentistry
At Lakewood Restorative Dentistry, we use non-invasive laser treatment that utilizes light energy of a certain wavelength, intensity and duration to treat a variety of ailments. Laser therapy is typically fast and pain free making it a valuable tool.
Herpetic lesions (cold sores) can be treated with laser therapy to destroy the active virus within the sore to provide pain relief, expedite healing and even reduce recurrence of future cold sores.
Aphthous ulcers, commonly known as canker sores, can also be treated with laser therapy to reduce pain and speed up healing by increasing blood flow and cellular activity.
Dr. Alexander also uses laser therapy to treat TMJ pain using a technique called Photobiomodulation (PBM). PBM works by helping to improve cell metabolism, tissue oxygenation and blood flow to reduce pain and inflammation caused by TMJ pain.
Sedation Dentistry
Dr. Alexander is trained and certified in administering Nitrous Oxide (commonly known as “laughing gas”) and enteral conscious sedation. With Nitrous Oxide sedation, an inhalational gas is used to reduce anxiety associated with dental procedures. Nitrous oxide takes effect quickly and leaves the system quickly making it a great option for most mild dental anxieties.
Enteral conscious sedation is achieved with a pill from the Benzodiazepine drug family to produce a deeper level of sedation than Nitrous Oxide alone. With enteral conscious sedation you are still awake and alert, but it tends to last longer and can be a better option for individuals with more severe dental anxieties and fears.