At Ames Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry we offer a variety of dental services to meet your needs. Come by and check out our beautiful facility and learn more about the following services: Periodontics, Preventative, Restorative, Cosmetic, Implant, and Neuromuscular Dentistry.

The bone and tissue are the foundation supporting the teeth. Don't let your "gums" be like "quick sand". Regular visits to monitor and maintain your gingiva, the foundation for your teeth, are crucial to your dental health. Not to mention, gum disease has now been linked to heart disease and your overall health.

Our ultimate goal is to provide preventative dentistry, resulting in a healthy smile for you. Preventative dentistry requires meticulous home care and regular office visits as prescribed by your dentist. During your office visit we will review your oral and systemic health; and evaluate for periodontal (gums), occlusal (bite), and carious (decay) diseases. We will provide professional advice about your oral care routines, parafunctional habits, and cutting edge dental services available, while providing comfort in a relaxing setting with a gentle touch.

Have you been hiding your smile from others? Everyday we change our patients' lives by providing cosmetic dental solutions. We can improve the size, shape, alignment, and color of your teeth with our advanced cosmetic techniques, including: Zoom in-office whitening; all porcelain veneers; porcelain implant crowns; and mercury-free white fillings.

We can restore natural teeth that have been decayed, traumatized or lost. We will provide and explain the pros and cons of treatment options to reconstruct your teeth to their proper form and function.

The next best thing to your natural teeth are dental implants. Implants are metallic cylinders which take the place of the root portion of the teeth. These cylinders are used to secure a replacement tooth crown. Another common use for implants is anchoring removable dentures to offer greater stability & chewing force.

The Temperomandibular Joint (a.k.a. TMJ) is a very complex and sensitive component to the head and neck region of the body. Because of this sensitivity, any misalignment or irregularity in the function of the TMJ can cause pain and discomfort. Because the muscles controlling the jaw are subconsciously "programmed" by the brain, most individuals have difficulty consciously reaching a truly relaxed state. To help your muscles reach that relaxed state, a device called the Myomonitor is used to deliver gentle electrical stimulation to your muscles. Once your muscles are relaxed, we can fit you for an occlusal guard, also known as an orthotic. It is a custom made appliance fabricated of plastic that can be worn over the teeth to maintain the neuromuscularly derived bite position. If you are suffering from one or more of the following we may be able to help.

• Headaches
• Jaw joint pain
• Jaw joint noise or clicking
• Limited mouth opening
• Ear congestion
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Difficulty swallowing
• Loose teeth

• Clenching or grinding
• Facial pain
• Sensitive teeth
• Chewing difficulties
• Neck pain
• Postural problems
• Tingling of the fingertips
• Nervousness or insomnia
• Hot/Cold sensitivity of teeth

Would you like information on bleaching, cosmetic solutions, dental emergency care, children's dental health, periodontal disease, resin fillings, crowns or implants? Surf our posted information sites to help you better understand dental care today. For more case-specific information, see your dental professional in person.

• A Balanced Diet
• Achieving Fresh Breath
• Comparison of Amalgam vs. Composite Restorations
• Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
• Bonding and Veneers
• Maintaining Your Oral Health
• Nighttime Grinding (Bruxism)
• Bulimia
• Cracked Tooth Syndrome
• Crowns & Bridges
• How to Have a More Relaxed Dental Visit
• Dental Emergencies
• Diabetes & Periodontal Disease
• Diagnosing Tooth Decay
• Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
• First Aid for Dental Emergencies
• Fluoride and Tooth Decay
• Gingivitis
• Dental Implants

• Infancy
• Malocclusion
• Mouthguards
• Nitrous Oxide
• Oral Cancer
• Periodontal Disease
• Periodontal Disease: Keeping Your Dental Health
• Personal Guarantee
• All-Porcelain vs. Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns
• Pregnancy & Dental Health
• Professional Tooth Whitening Systems
• Radiation Therapy and Oral Health
• Sealing Out Tooth Decay
• Sealants
• Sensitive Teeth
• Smokeless Tobacco
• Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ)
• Tongue Piercing
• Wisdom Teeth & Oral Surgery
• Your Child's First Dental Visit

• What to Expect After Scaling & Root Planing
• Amalgam (Silver) Restorations
• Composite (Tooth Colored) Filling
• Root Canal (Endodontic Treatment)
• Partials
• Tooth Extractions for Children

• Crown or Bridge Care Instructions
• Bonding and Veneers Care Instructions
• Instructions Following Oral Surgery
• Post Operative Instructions for the Periodontal Patient
• Root Canal Post Operative Instructions
• Temporary Restorations