21st Century Dental Care offers a full array of dental services to help you maintain healthy teeth. You can read more on this page about specific services.

Preventative Care
Regular Dental check-ups are important step in preventing periodontal diseases and catching small problems before they become large. The most simple and effective preventative care begins with regular dental cleanings and oral exams. We educate our patients so you understand the preventative measures you can take to ensure the best dental health possible. Check-ups should be done at least every six months.

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Periodontal Work
Periodontal disease is an infection in your mouth. The bacteria that cause this disease first cause the gum tissue to become inflamed and pull away from the teeth. As the problem becomes more serious, the bone that supports the teeth also becomes infected and begins to break down and dissolve. The teeth than become loose. Once the bone disappears, it is extremely hard, if not impossible to for new bone to be rebuilt. The damage is permanent and your teeth, the surrounding bone, and your general health will be compromised.

It has been diagnosed in the early stages that periodontal disease can be treated by proper cleaning. Scaling and root planning may be needed for more advanced cases. In the most severe cases periodontal surgery may be recommended.

Periodontal disease is a condition that must be treated quickly. If the infection is aggressively treated in its early stages, conservative periodontal treatment may be possible and effective. Successful periodontal treatment will also depend on your ability to perform excellent oral self-care brushing, flossing, and use of periodontal aids on a routine, daily basis. Without this, periodontal treatment will fail, and the disease will return.

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Cosmetic Dentistry

A. Porcelain Crowns
A dental crown is a restoration that covers or caps a tooth to restore normal size and shape. When tooth is not strong enough to support a veneer, a crown can be made for instant beauty. Dr. Friedman and the state of art laboratory that he works with makes porcelain crowns that are the most aesthetic, natural-looking teeth available-perfect in color, shape, and clarity. Porcelain crowns can hardly be distinguished from the natural teeth.

B. Fixed Bridges
Fixed bridges are tooth-colored material dental appliances that replace lost teeth. All ceramic bridges can hardly be distinguished from natural teeth. They are highly aesthetic and retain a natural color appearance under all light conditions. Fixed bridge can not be removed by the patient. They are cemented into place and are firmly attached to the prepared natural teeth that are next to the lost tooth.

C. Dental Veneers
Dental veneers, also known as lumineers are proven, durable restorations. Lumineers are thin porcelain shields that are bonded to the front of your teeth to create dramatic changes in your smile. Using ultra-thin porcelain lumineers, we can change the size, shape and color of your teeth. It means anyone can have a beautiful smile. Best of all lumineers are applied with a revolutionary procedure:

  • In most the cases no drilling, shots, or pain.
  • No removal of sensitive tooth structure.
  • Safe for sensitive patients.

D. Teeth Whitening
When teeth are in good condition but are darker than desired, Whitening is the answer. Discolored teeth, whether natural or stained can be quickly and easily restored to beauty. Discoloration may be result of genetics, medications, poor oral hygiene, aging, smoking, certain foods and beverages, or a combination of these factors.

Dr. Friedman uses Rembrandt In-Office Whitening System. Rembrandt is safe, fast, and convenient. Whitening Gel is carefully applied to the teeth and treated with Rembrandt light. This advance cosmetic procedure uses a combination of lighting and hydrogen peroxide-based gel to whiten teeth-by six to ten shades-in about an hour.

Rembrandt lighting gel does not require the use of a mouth tray. This is a one-visit procedure that Dr. Friedman performs. Rather than having to wear a mouth tray night after night, you will see results immediately.

After the procedure is performed daily brushing with Rembrandt Plus toothpaste is all you need to prevent loss of whitening.

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Fillings
In our office we do not use amalgam (silver fillings). Dr. Friedman only places composite resin fillings. A composite resin is a tooth-colored filling (plastic mixture filled with glass-silicon dioxide) used to restore decayed areas. They are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth (this procedure is called bonding).

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Root Canals
Root Canal is the process of removing infection from within an infected tooth. Swelling due to infection within the abscessed tooth creates incredible pressure which is felt as pain. Root Canals have the unfortunate reputation of being painful. However, Root Canal treatment does not cause pain, but eliminates the pain by eliminating source of infection (removing nerve from the root of the tooth). Root Canal treatment is an easier that expected way to save teeth, which otherwise would have to be extracted.

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Oral Surgery
When restoration procedures such as root canal therapy, crowns, or fillings are not enough to save a tooth, it may need to be pulled, or extracted. Tooth extraction procedures today are far less painful than ever before, thanks to powerful anesthetics and sedatives. In many cases, a patient who has tooth pulled experiences little or no discomfort, and only minor bleeding.

Patients with extracted teeth sometimes need to take an antibiotic, and at the very least, take precautions following the procedure to ensure that infection doesn't occur. Smoking, vigorous brushing and rinsing, and drinking liquids through straws are discouraged during the post-operative period because they hinder healing and may cause the wound to open.

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Dentures
When a mouth has significant problems such as extensive decay or gum disease dentures can restore the smile. Creating a beautiful and well-fitting dentures required tremendous artistic and technical skills.

Complete dentures are for these people who have lost most or all of their teeth. Partial dentures are suitable for those who have some natural teeth remaining. Dentures improve chewing ability and speech. Dentures also provide support for facial muscles to enhance the facial appearance and smile. Dr. Friedman offers complete and partial dentures and provides denture repairs.

Dentures are no longer the only way to restore a mouth that has little or no restorable teeth. Dental Implants are great alternative to removable dentures. Implants can be used to support permanent crowns or bridges, eliminating the need for a removable denture. The cost tends to be greater, nut the dental implants with permanent crowns or bridges will more closely resemble the "feel" of real teeth.

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Implants
Before dental implants, we were limited in how we were able to replace missing teeth. Options included fixed bridges, which often required the reduction of adjacent teeth to replace a missing tooth, or removable dentures. Implant dentistry allows us to replace individual teeth, without altering adjacent natural teeth. Dental implants help retain jawbone and anchor dentures, bridges and crowns firmly in place!

A dental implant is a small "anchor." It is inserted into the jawbone to take the place of your missing tooth root. A prosthetic replacement tooth is then secured to the top of the implant. Dental implants offer a more permanent solution for replacing lost teeth.


A removable denture can be attached to the lower jaw with four implants.


Prosthetic teeth are firmly secured to the upper jaw with dental implants.


A prosthetic tooth (crown) is attached to the upper jaw by a single implant.

A dental implant is like an artificial tooth root that takes over the function of a real root. When a natural root is lost, it can be replaced with a dental implant. The implants are usually made of titanium. They are very durable and are well accepted by the human body. Dental implants are becoming a popular alternative to traditional, removable bridges and dentures. After dental implants are placed and the jaw bone has healed, permanent teeth can be built on top of them (for example, a crown or bridge).

There are several benefits of dental implant:

  • More healthful and beautiful: When teeth are missing, the surrounding bone begins to shrink. This unhealthy bone loss can make your jaw line recede. Implant dentistry can help prevent deterioration of the jawbone caused by loss of teeth, so your face retains its natural shape.

  • More Comfortable: Because dental implants are securely anchored, there is no slipping or movement as there is with dentures. This eliminates some of the key worries of dentures, including poor fit, gum irritation, and pain from exposed nerves.

  • More Confident: With dental implants, you'll never need to cover your mouth when laughing, smiling, or speaking. You can eat your favorite foods without pain or fear of embarrassment. You will look better, feel better, and live more confidently.
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Invisalign
Invisalign is the clear alternative to braces. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-molded to fit you. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile you'll be proud of. Dr. Friedman will create your individual treatment plan using Invisalign's clear, custom-molded aligners to solve a range of issues, including: overly crowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, overbites, underbites, crossbites.

During the course of the treatment you will:

  • Remove your aligners to eat, brush and floss
  • Change aligners every two weeks
  • Your teeth move little by little
  • Regular progress checks with Dr. Friedman
  • Results often in 6 months to 1 year

The convenience and ease of use of the Invisalign system have made it the choice of over half a million people. In fact, Invisalign has been effective in giving hundreds of thousands of people amazing new smiles.

  • Most people won't notice you're in treatment
  • Won't disrupt your lifestyle

No metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth, and best of all, most people won't notice you're in treatment. Invisalign®, the clear alternative to braces, has been chosen by over 490,000 people who want amazing smiles.

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TMJ Treatments
People who grind their teeth can sometimes develop a serious problem with their jaw, which left untreated, can adversely affect the teeth, gums and bone structures of the mouth. One of the most common jaw disorders is related to a problem with the temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull, and allows your upper and lower jaw to open and close and facilitates chewing and speaking.

People with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) often have a clicking or popping sound when opening and closing their mouths. Such disorders are often accompanied by frequent headaches, neck aches, and in some cases, tooth sensitivity.

Some treatments for TMD include muscle relaxants, aspirin, biofeedback, or wearing a small plastic appliance in the mouth during sleep. This appliance is called Nocioceptive Trigeminal Inhibition (NTI). NTI device is made by Dr. Friedman right in our office.

Minor cases of TMD involve discomfort or pain in the jaw muscles. More serious conditions involve improperly aligned joints or dislocated jaws. The most extreme form of TMD involves an arthritic condition of the jaw joint. Traumatic injuries also can cause jaw dislocation. In these cases, jaw surgery, may be required to correct the condition.

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