Children and adults need periodic dental check-ups to be sure that their teeth and gums stay healthy.

At St. Luke’s Medical Center, the Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery delivers exceptional oral health care through highly qualified dental professionals. We provide a wide range of dentistry services, from teeth cleaning and preventive care to fillings, dentures and other work to restore teeth.

Services
The Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery have dental specialists in the fields of Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics and Oral Surgery. In addition to the specialists, there are General Dentists capable of performing all phases of dental treatment.

Pediatric Dentistry: Pediatric Dentistry is an age-defined specialty which provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care needs. It encompasses disciplines such as behavior guidance, care of the medically and developmentally compromised and disabled patient, supervision of orofacial growth and development, caries prevention, sedation, pharmacologic management and hospital dentistry.

Orthodontics: Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is the dental specialty that includes the diagnosis, prevention, interception and correction of malocclusion, as well as neuromuscular and skeletal abnormalities of the developing or mature orofacial structures. This involves monitoring dental growth and development to identify functional and aesthetic problems caused by variations in the skeletal relationships of the upper and lower jaws, together with overcrowding or unwanted spacing of the teeth (malocclusion). Treatment often involves fixed braces to the teeth to rearrange the dental alignment and thus improve chewing function and the aesthetic appearance of the teeth.

Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes. Case management may include aesthetic dentistry, crowns and bridges, partial or complete dentures and final restoration for dental implants.

Periodontics: Periodontics is that specialty of dentistry which encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth and dental implants. It includes the maintenance of the health, function and aesthetics of the gingival, periodontal ligament, cementum, alveolar bone and sites for tooth replacements. Tissue regeneration, management of periodontic-endodontic lesions, periodontal surgery and providing dental implants are integral components of comprehensive and periodontal therapy.

Endodontics: Endodontics is the branch of dentistry which is concerned with the morphology, physiology and pathology of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues. Its study and practice encompasses the basic and clinical sciences including biology of the normal pulp, the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions primarily through root canal therapy and endodontic surgery. This specialty closely works with other specialists in the fields of prosthodontics and periodontics.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. This specialty includes the clinical management of traumatic facial injuries and the surgical treatment of diseases of the upper and lower jaws. Examples include tumors in and around the mouth, cysts and infections associated with the teeth and surgical removal of wisdom teeth.

Commitment
Here at St. Luke’s, patients receive oral care as part of their comprehensive health care. The dentist is an important member of the medical team. The Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery is committed to providing professional services to those who seek quality dental work. Our expert services and modern facilities are provided with the primary goal of preventing and controlling dental disease and creating awareness that good oral health is indeed a significant part of wellbeing.