Award

PRACTICE FEATURES

  • Mercury Free Practice
  • 21 years of practice
  • General Practice Residency (UWV) which allows expanded in-office procedures such as:
    • Dental implants
    • Extraction of wisdom teeth
    • Gum replacement
    • Root canal therapy
    • Crowns & bridgework
  • Family Practice - patients of all ages are welcome
  • Zoom bleaching
  • License to do conscious sedation for patients with anxiety and added patient comfort
  • Evening & Saturday hours
  • Practice recently named one of the top dental practices in America by Consumer’s Research Council
Services

PRACTICE SERVICES

Brice D. Arndt, D.D.S. offers a full array of dental services to help you maintain healthy teeth. You can read more on this page about specific services. Please feel free to contact our office at 717-761-1352 for more information about any of the following procedures, or any dental questions.
Implants

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Before development of dental implants, dentures were the only alternative to replacing a missing tooth or teeth. Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures. Implants are so well-designed, they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Implants are usually made of a synthetic yet biocompatible material like metal or ceramic.

Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. Diabetics and people with chronic bruxism (teeth clenching) are generally not favorable candidates. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene. In general, good candidates who have dental implants can expect high success rates with the procedure.

Surgery is necessary to prepare the area for an implant and place the implant in the mouth. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to take hold and for bone tissue to build up and anchor the device. In some cases, metal posts are inserted into the implant during a follow-up procedure to connect the tooth.

Like any restoration, implants require diligent oral hygiene and proper care to ensure they last a long time.

    Types of implants:
  • Single tooth replacement
  • Full upper replacements: The upper set of teeth is replaced with implants.
  • Anterior replacement: Implants are used to replace the front teeth (also called incisors and cuspids).
  • Full lower replacement: The lower set of teeth is replaced with implants. Full lower replacement usually only uses six implants (near the front), which are used to anchor a denture. This obviates the need for denture adhesive.
  • Posterior replacement: Implants are used to replace the bicuspids and molars (the back teeth).
    Steps for these procedures include:
  • Missing tooth roots are replaced with implants, which are covered under the gum line.
  • A healing period of four to six months allows implants to take.
  • The implants are uncovered and abutments attached.
  • Replacement teeth are affixed to the implants and abutments.

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VENEERS

In just one to three dental visits, a veneer can reverse years of stains caused by foods, caffeine and tobacco use. Special thin laminates, called veneers, can also be used to correct discolored, worn down, cracked and chipped teeth. Veneers can also be used to close unsightly gaps between teeth. Veneers are made of porcelain or composite. Although both types are bonded, the porcelain tends to last longer with less staining and wear.

An impression of the tooth must be made and a veneer molded by a lab technician. Because veneers require a small amount of enamel to be removed, they are long lasting and non-reversible. On a few types, no reduction to minimimal reduction is adequate. These are frequently called Lumineers.

The process involves buffing the tooth, removing an extremely thin layer of the tooth to allow for the thickness of the veneer, an impression of the tooth, and final bonding of the veneer to the tooth with special cement. A special light is used to complete the process.

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Dentures

DENTURES & PARTIALS

Our office provides a number of options for patients requiring partials, dentures and implant retained dentures. We will work with you to provide the best materials and technologies to ensure that these appliances fit comfortably, appear natural and help your teeth stay healthy. To learn more about these procedures, please click here

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Root Canal

ROOT CANAL THERAPY

The goal of this procedure is to save a tooth that may otherwise need to be extracted. This endodontic procedure is performed to save a tooth that is infected or has damaged pulp. To learn more about this procedure, please click here

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TOOTH COLORED FILLINGS

A composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic mixture filled with silicon dioxide. These fillings mechanically and chemically bond to the teeth.

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CROWNS & BRIDGES

Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth. They are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth. Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve a cosmetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.

Procedure:
A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. A cast is made of the existing tooth and an impression is made. The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. In some cases, a temporary crown is applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented in place.

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For more in-depth information about crowns and bridges, please click here

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LIGHT & HEAVY SEDATION DENTISTRY

For patients with different levels of dental anxiety, our office offers several levels of sedation for your comfort. With over 20 years of experience, we offer "twilight sleep" to general sedation. Our goal is to provide comfort for you during your dental procedures. For medically compromised patients, hospital and out-patient privileges are available. For more information on sedation, please click here

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DEEP BLEACHING / ZOOM TECHNIQUE

Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth.

The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco.

Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.

One type of stain-caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis-actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don't help. Another type of stain-one that can be more easily attached by brushing, flossing and rinsing-is caused by external factors such as foods.

More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains.

Some commercially available "whitening toothpastes" can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's enamel.

Bleaching agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products also are not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case).

Professional bleaching performed by our office is considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years and longer with monthly take home touch-up kits. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely.

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EXTRACTION OF WISDOM TEETH

Most people start getting their third molars (also called wisdom teeth) when they reach their late teens or early twenties. In many cases, the jaws are not large enough to accommodate these teeth and they remain under the gum (impacted).

What is an impacted tooth?
When a tooth develops, it travels to its appropriate position in the dental arch. If the path to eruption though the gum is prevented due to the size of the jaw, the tooth will become partially or totally blocked (impacted).

How serious is an impacted tooth?
Serious problems can develop from partially blocked teeth such as infection, and possible crowding of and damage to adjacent teeth. More serious complications can develop when the sac that surrounds the impacted tooth fills with fluid and enlarges to form a cyst, causing an enlargement that hollows out the jaw and results in permanent damage to the adjacent teeth jawbone and nerves. Left untreated, a tumor may develop from the walls of these cysts and a more complicated surgical procedure would be required for removal.

Must the tooth come out if it hasn’t caused any problems yet?
No one can tell you when your impacted molar will cause trouble, but trouble will probably arise. When it does, the circumstances can be much more painful and the teeth can be more complicated to treat.

When should I have my impacted teeth removed?
The key to timely attention to third molars is regular x-rays of the mouth. With the help of these pictures, Dr. Arndt can frequently predict if the wisdom teeth are going to cause trouble, either in the near future or later in life. If so, chances are Dr. Arndt will recommend their removal rather than wait for trouble to occur.

Removal is easier in younger patients. Roots are not yet fully developed and the bone is less dense. In older patients, removal before complications develop is key to shorter recovery and healing time and minimizing discomfort after surgery.

What happens after surgery?
Generally after surgery the patient experiences some swelling and discomfort. However, with personalized post-operative instructions and medications, Dr. Arndt and his staff can reduce the possible discomfort following surgery.

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SMILE ENHANCEMENT & GUM RECONTOURING

There are many cosmetic options available to our patients who are concerned about dental imperfections they would like to correct. New materials have greatly improved the quality of cosmetic restorations. Our office can assist you with gum recontouring, bonding, uneven teeth and many other treatments to ensure you have a confident and healthy smile. To learn more about cosmetic dentistry, please click here

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FAMILY PRACTICE

We welcome patients of all ages - from two to two hundred! We recommend a first dental visit at age two to three years old. Our professional staff works with these young patients to make their first dental visit very enjoyable.

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