Tammy Kussman, DDS

Products And Services

• Sedation Dentistry

  Are dental fears keeping you from having a healthy mouth? Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Has it been a long time since your last dental appointment due to dental fear? Do you have sensitive teeth and gums? Are you immune to traditional methods of numbing techniques? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then conscious sedation is for you. What To Expect From Sedation Dentistry One hour before your appointment, you will take a pill. You will need a driver to escort you to and from the dental office. You should be drowsy upon arrival. You’ll be sedated just enough to be unaware of the treatment, as if you were asleep. We can perform a wide range of dental procedures in a single visit. Treatment Completion Upon completion of your dental treatment under conscious sedation, you will feel relaxed with little or no memory of the procedure. Who Benefits from Conscious Sedation Dentistry? Anyone who has fear and anxiety about dental treatment of any kind. Anyone who has put off dental care for years because of dental anxieties. Anyone who wants to have all their dental care completed in one or two visits. Anyone who wants to be treated in a relaxed, caring and comfortable environment.

  Link: Sedation Dentistry

• Cerec Single Visit Crowns

  Introducing CEREC Same Day Crowns – With the exciting new Cerec, crowns are done in a single appointment, start to finish. Cerec technology is a computer-aided design (CAD) technology that allows patients to have their crown or caps shaped and fabricated in a single visit. No more waiting weeks for lab work. No more second appointments and additional shots! Easy on your schedule and incredibly convenient and fast!

  Video: Cerec Single Visit Crowns

  Link: Cerec Single Visit Crowns

• Clear Correct Removable Orthodontics

  Looking for an alternative to braces? ClearCorrect is the clear and simple choice. No wires. No brackets. Just clear, convenient comfort-every reason to smile. With ClearCorrect, we can straighten your teeth using a series of clear, custom, removable aligners. Each aligner moves your teeth just a little bit at a time until you eventually get straight teeth. We will evaluate your teeth and talk about any problems or goals you have for your smile. Once we establish ClearCorrect is the right treatment option for you, we will take impressions, photos, and x-rays of your teeth that ClearCorrect uses in manufacturing your custom aligners. Your Custom Treatment Plan We will send your records such as your impressions, photos, and x-rays to ClearCorrect with a prescription for your custom aligners. ClearCorrect uses your records to create exact 3D models of your teeth. Then working with us every step of the way, and following the precise instructions provided on your prescription, ClearCorrect maps out a complete treatment plan of gradual adjustment that takes your teeth from where they are currently to where we want them to end up. Once completed, we will be able to preview the projected results of your treatment in your “treatment set-up,” a computer representation of your teeth before and after treatment. Your Aligners are Computer-Crafted When everyone, including you, is satisfied with the projected results shown in your treatment set-up, the manufacturing process begins. Using the latest digital mapping and molding technology, ClearCorrect creates your custom aligners with computer precision. ClearCorrect then sends your aligners to us for delivery to you. Progress Wearing Your Aligners You’ll wear your aligners all the time, except while eating and drinking or during daily tooth care, such as brushing and flossing. Your ClearCorrect aligners are so clear they are barely noticeable so they won’t have an impact on your day to day life. Aligner by aligner, you’ll be able to see the difference as your teeth slowly adjust and align to your target smile. You’ll visit us periodically for checkups to see how you’re progressing until you eventually have the straight smile you’ve always wanted. The Choice Is Clear! With the results and convenience ClearCorrect offers and the advantages it has over other treatment options, it’s an easy decision. With ClearCorrect you can get the obvious benefits and confidence you’ll enjoy with straight teeth so you too can show off your smile.

  Link: Clear Correct Removable Orthodontics

• Cleanings & Prevention

  A preventive (recare) program is a joint cooperative effort between you and our team to preserve your natural teeth, gums, and bones of the oral area by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions. Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in our dental office by the efforts of Dr. Kussman and the dental hygienists as they promote, restore, and maintain your oral health. Regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays are all part of an effective prevention program. Other great preventive treatments include sealants and fluoride. Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, and beautiful smile. Nitrous oxide, or commonly referred to as laughing gas, is available during your visit. Nitrous oxide works very rapidly – relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes. There’s no “hangover” effect – the gas is eliminated from the body within 3 to 5 minutes after the gas supply is stopped. You can safely drive home and will not need an escort.

  Link: Cleanings & Prevention

• Cosmetic & Restorative

  There are many reasons why adult teeth may need restorative treatment. The most common reason is decay, followed by fractured teeth, and old restorations needing replacement. If we recommend that a tooth with a cavity be treated and more than a few weeks pass after the initial diagnosis, the cavity will almost always get bigger and can cause pain. Once this happens, it will likely require more extensive and expensive treatment. The tooth may even have to be removed and replaced with a false (or artificial) tooth. If you have a cavity and it needs a restoration, there are different kinds of materials that may be used to restore the functionality of the tooth. Please remember that a tooth may need treatment before it causes pain. If a tooth causes pain, it may be able to be saved, but the treatment time and cost typically increase due to the complexity of the necessary procedures. Cavities and Restoration Choices As part of any visit to our office, we check all of your restorations such as crowns, fillings, bridges, veneers, etc. for any sign of decay or old age and we may recommend x-rays so that we can see inside and between your teeth. If we spot any cavities, we will recommend different options for restoring the tooth to full function. If the cavity is in the very early stages, we may decide to keep an eye on it and recommend a home fluoride rinse to help the tooth fight the cavity and possibly prevent the need for a restoration.

  Link: Cosmetic & Restorative

• Oral Surgery

  Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of congenital or acquired diseases, dysfunction, defects or injuries of the mouth, jaws, face, neck and associated regions. When Teeth Are Lost When a tooth must be extracted due to trauma, bone loss or other reasons, implants can be placed into the bone if you are determined to be a good candidate for implants. Please see our tooth fractures page to see the different types of fractures that occur with teeth. Impactions The wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the most frequently impacted teeth because of a lack of space in the jaw. In most cases, wisdom teeth that do not erupt into proper alignment should be extracted. Please see our wisdom teeth page to see the different types of impactions that can occur. Jaw Alignment Oral surgery can correct cases where the jaw bones are underdeveloped or overdeveloped. Cases, where the upper jaw grows too much or too little and/or the lower jaw growing too much or too little, can be surgically corrected. TMJ – Temporomandibular Joint Otherwise known as the TMJ, this joint in front of the ear where the lower jaw pivots is a common problem area. Problems with this joint can cause a headache and pain that never goes away. Lesser cases can be corrected with medication, therapy, and splints. However, a more serious case would require reconstruction of the joint. Biopsy When there is a suspicious growth or appearance to the tissue in the mouth, a biopsy will be performed to determine the origin of the lesion. Facial Trauma Oral surgery can help in cases of facial trauma that results from accidents or facial genetic malformation of the jaw and face.

  Link: Oral Surgery