Comprehensive Conservative Care
The healthiest thing we can do is the least amount of dental work possible
This approach is what Dr. Lambert calls Comprehensive Conservative Care. It is comprehensive because all of our treatment includes a detailed look at what is needed to maintain your oral health, and it is minimal because we only do what is absolutely necessary to achieve your personal goals. The goal of all treatment is to bring the patient to an optimal state of oral health and functionality that can be maintained for life.
Dr. Lambert knows that a true smile, one that lasts a lifetime, is based on a foundation of healthy bone, gums and teeth. For this reason, he always establishes a patient's initial dental health prior to performing any cosmetic or reconstructive work. Over his many years in practice, Dr. Lambert has found that the following process leads to the best long-term results while avoiding painful and ill-timed emergencies. While not all patients require all stages, the basic process remains the same.
Stage 1: Healthy Teeth, Bone, and Gums
This stage may involve extractions of hopeless teeth, gum treatment, or root canals to ensure that teeth, bone, and gums are healthy. This step is both preventative and corrective, and it prepares a solid foundation for any dental care that follows.
Cleanings & Checkups · Emergency Dentistry
Stage 2: Removal of Decay
At this point, Dr. Lambert removes any decay present in the teeth and restores the integrity of current fillings. He also restores these teeth to normal shape and function.
Tooth-Colored Fillings · Inlays & Onlays
Stage 3: Bite Correction or Balancing
Some patients require correction of their bite in order to treat problems such as grinding, wear on the teeth, or strain on the jaw or temporomandibular joint (TMJ disorder). A balanced or adjusted bite will help to ensure the long term durability and stability of both restorative as well as cosmetic treatment.
Stage 4: Restorative Dentistry
Once a patient has healthy bone and gums, is free of decay, and has a correctly functioning bite, Dr. Lambert performs prosthetic treatment for long term bite support. This is the crown and bridge stage, when fixed prostheses are placed and any previously placed dental implants are finalized with crowns or caps or dentures.
Restorative Dentistry · Dental Implants
Stage 5: Cosmetic Dentistry
Finally, Dr. Lambert performs any cosmetic dentistry procedures the patient has requested, confident that his veneers, whitening and other cosmetic procedures are placed on a strong, healthy foundation and that the results can be maintained for life. Depending on the nature and extent of the cosmetic treatment, some procedures may be completed earlier in the sequence.
HELPFUL DENTAL ADVICE FROM OUR BETHLEHEM TEAM
Longer answers to the questions patients ask in the chair, from tooth nerve pain to what dental implants actually cost.
