General Practice Services
Dr. Thibodaux and his staff are pleased to be able to offer dental services to every age group and every member of your family. Prevention and education are important in our practice, and we take seriously your need to understand how to take charge of and protect your own oral health. Dr. Thibodaux and his staff are always available to answer questions about your dental needs and the services we can provide for your ideal treatment. We offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of your entire family.
Comprehensive Examination:
The comprehensive examination is a process in which Dr. Thibodaux takes necessary records to provide a thorough diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan. This examination will include:
Oral Cancer Screening: If you are a tobacco or smokeless tobacco user, you are in primary danger of developing oral cancer. More than 8,000 deaths were attributed to oral cancer in the past year. We are committed to the prevention of oral cancer through the early identification of pre-cancerous conditions, and provide oral cancer screenings at each preventive care appointment.
Periodontal Examination: Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Dr. Thibodaux will examine your gum tissues to insure that gum disease is detected in its early stages. Because bone loss is a significant consideration in determining the outcome of cosmetic treatment, we take the health of your gum and bone tissues very seriously.
Occlusal Examination: The forces of your bite can sometimes affect the positioning of your jaw and teeth. Through minor polishing of the enamel surfaces or smoothing fillings of the teeth, Dr. Thibodaux can help redistribute and redirect the biting forces. Adjustments to chewing surfaces can often eliminate headaches that occur as a result of irregular biting patterns.
Carries Exam: During this visual examination, Dr. Thibodaux locates areas of decay on chewing surfaces and between the teeth. Dr. Thibodaux uses both a clinical exam and x-ray findings to determine the most conservative treatment plan for your oral needs.
Temporo-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction Examination: TMD is a condition that afflicts thousands of people. Frequent indicators of TMJ include popping and clicking of the jaw, limited jaw function, pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, and pain and pressure in the face and ears. We provide conservative therapies that can eliminate this painful and frustrating problem.
Restorative Procedures:
White/Composite Fillings: Made of tooth-colored material, composite fillings restore the teeth's natural beauty. Composite fillings can be matched very closely to your natural tooth color and are virtually indistinguishable from non-restored teeth. Composite fillings are excellent options for front teeth, but may be suggested for selected sites on molars (back teeth) as well. The composites we use have proven to be extremely durable and stain resistant.
Onlays: When you do not need a full crown, onlays may be the solution. The onlay procedure is a restoration in which composite, porcelain, or gold is applied to a tooth surface to provide support as a conservative treatment option. Our patients who have had onlays have given us positive comments about their appearance.
Amalgam Fillings: Silver fillings are frequently recommended for bicuspids and molars. Silver filling material is known for its strength and durability. Our choice of filling material for each patient is individual, and will depend on the location and position of the tooth needing treatment.
Veneers: Usually customized from porcelain, veneers are thin, semi-translucent facings bonded to the fronts of teeth. Veneers are durable, stain-resistant, and natural looking. They conceal broken, chipped, discolored, crooked, and mis-shapen teeth, and provide you with the winning smile you have always wanted.
Crown: A crown is a restoration that covers a tooth in order to strengthen it as well as restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown may be placed to support a large filling when there is little remaining tooth structure, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, or restore fractured teeth. A tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy will require a crown following treatment to provide strength and support to the tooth. We only use materials for crowns that will provide the longest lasting benefits to our patients.
Bridge: A fixed bridge, usually made of gold (or porcelain-faced gold), is used to replace missing teeth. A bridge helps to create a normal bite, prevent stress on the dental arch, prevent the drifting and tilt of adjacent teeth, inhibit decay in difficult areas, and slow the onset of periodontal diseases. Bridges are composed of abutments (the sound teeth on either side acting as supports) and the span (a framework attached to the abutments with artificial teeth attached to that framework). Our patients appreciate the expertise and training that Dr. Thibodaux has in this field as well as success with his patients.
Full and Partial Dentures:
Partial Dentures: Partial dentures are indicated if some-what serviceable teeth are present for support in conjunction with the gums and jawbone. A partial denture, though removable, provides form and function replacement for missing teeth.
Full Denture: Full dentures are used if there are not any teeth left for support. The full denture covers more of the jaw than a partial denture and is partly held in place by a natural vacuum in the mouth.
Cosmetic Procedures:
Bonding: Bonding is a process in which tooth-colored material is applied to tooth surfaces, sculpted into shape, hardened, and polished to match surrounding teeth. With this procedure Dr. Thibodaux can close gaps, repair chipped or fractured teeth, and disguise discolored teeth. Bonding usually requires one office visit and no anesthesia. Bonding is the choice of treatment for patients who have minor front tooth imperfections.
Tooth Whitening: Tooth-whitening procedures offer patients with stained, discolored, or dull teeth an opportunity to have a whiter, brighter smile. Whitening significantly reduces external surface stains affected by food and beverage. We provide an at-home whitening system, which is comfortable and affordable, in conjunction with in-office appointments to monitor progress. We make impressions of your mouth to prepare your custom-fitted trays, and specifically select a whitening program for you. The process is then for you to complete in the comfort of your own home. We also offer and in-office teeth bleaching that includes the take home trays for you to touch up your results over time.
Occlusal Treatment:
Occlusal Adjustment: Proper functioning of the jaws and teeth is often hindered by malocclusion (a bad bite). Adjustments to the bite can be made so that your teeth fit together properly for chewing and swallowing. Minor polishing of the enamel surfaces or fillings of the teeth can help redistribute and redirect the biting forces.
Occlusal Guards: An over-bite or an under-bite can sometimes be corrected with an occlusal guard, which realigns your teeth and bite.
