Our Services

Enjoy Anxiety-free Appointments

Are you anxious of going to the dentist? At Robert L. Wheless, DDS, we do our best to care for all patients, including those with dental anxiety. We suggest sedation dentistry as a solution to your anxiety. Our team makes it easy to reach a beautiful new smile in just a few sedation sessions.

Sedation dentistry is the most common way to address a patient's dental anxiety. Sedation is an easy, fast, and pain-free experience. No needles and no drills are required! And best of all, you won't even remember your time in the dental chair. You will be conscious for patient safety and communication, but after you wake up, you will not remember any of the procedures performed.

There are several forms of sedation dentistry, such as nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Often dentists combine several sedation methods for the best patient experience possible. This often means combining local anesthetic in the mouth with laughing gas. Mixing two forms of sedation dentistry is completely safe and can help patients recover faster. 

Almost any dental procedure can be done under sedation! It's an anxiety-free, pain-free choice.

Enjoy Straighter Teeth and Clear Braces

With Invisalign®, patients can enjoy a straighter smile without the maintenance and pain of braces. Invisalign® is a nearly invisible, plastic, computer-designed mouthguard that the patient wears every day. The mouthguard pushes your teeth towards their ideal alignment, all without any wires or metal! 

The treatment time for Invisalign® varies from patient to patient. Most patients will see results in 9-15 months. Throughout the treatment process, patients must swap out their old aligners for newer ones. Expect to change your aligners about 18-30 times. 

If you want to straighten your teeth but don't want to go through the hassle of getting braces, then contact us! Our dental clinic is certified to provide Invisalign® techniques.

Exams, X-rays, Home Care, Cleanings, and More

When you visit Robert L. Wheless, DDS for the first time, we'll provide a thorough dental examination so our hygienist can measure the state of your oral health. If we see problems, then we'll formulate a preventative plan together. Our regular checkups include:

Cleaning and polishing: Our hygienist will remove the hardened tartar on your teeth and clean up any plaque we find. By doing this, we're helping fight back against oral infections. Once we clean off tartar and plaque, we'll polish your teeth to remove stains.

Gum evaluation and treatment: After the cleaning, we'll examine your gums and jawbone for any diseases.

Oral cancer screening: We take a look at your lips, tongue, throat, neck, and gums for any possible signs of oral cancer.

X-rays: We'll conduct a complete set of oral x-rays to give our dentist a better look at the structure of your mouth. This helps us assess everything from bone loss and developmental problems to abscesses and more. 

Investigation of existing work: If you've already had dental work like crowns, bridges, or fillings, then we can check for damage. If needed, we can schedule you for replacement dental work.

Whitening

It's natural for your teeth to lose their shine over time. The effects of smoking, coffee, and normal wear and tear all add up. But we provide accessible, affordable whitening services that get your beautiful smile back. Most patients can see their teeth get two shades whiter when they visit us!

The preferred way to whiten teeth is by using a home whitening kit. When using a home whitening kit, the first step is to create a custom impression of your teeth so your mouth trays can fit you best. The next step is to add whitening solution into the tray and wear the tray for as long as you need to. In just a few sessions, you'll see a clear, beautiful smile again.

Crowns

Crowns help strengthen your teeth while improving your smile. A crown is a small porcelain cap that sits on top of your tooth, restoring its strength and appearance. Dentists often recommend crowns to fix fractures, support bridges, or fix a weak filling.

Installing a crown often involves two appointments—one to make an impression of your teeth and another to place the crown. During your first appointment, we'll place a mold on your tooth so we can get the best fit possible. Then we numb the mouth to remove any tooth decay. We'll also shape the tooth to best fit your new crown. Lastly, we provide a temporary crown while your permanent one is being made.

When your new crown is finished, we'll call you back into the office to place it. Then we'll make adjustments for a perfect fit. Patients may experience some sensitivity after the crown has been placed, but that will subside over time.

Veneers

Porcelain veneers can help you reach your dream smile without the hassle of whitening. Natural teeth often suffer from stains or chips. But veneers can correct these blemishes. Veneers are small, thin sheets of porcelain that attach to the front of your tooth and improve its size, shape, and color.

We start our process of installing veneers by buffing and shaping your existing teeth. Then we'll take an impression to create custom-fitting veneers and choose the proper color. Next, we use a bonding adhesive to bond the veneer to your teeth. The entire process does not require any anesthetic unless the patient is sensitive.

Veneers are durable, but like all dental installations, they should be taken care of. Chewing can often shift the veneers, so make sure to practice ongoing dental care.

White Fillings

Fillings are a common choice for patients who want to repair teeth that have fractured or decayed. Our fillings are made from a composite of quartz resin, which gives your teeth a whiter, more natural look.

When we install filings, we first remove the decayed portion of your tooth. Then we'll fill the now-empty space with composite and shape it to match your other teeth. Afterward, you may experience some temperature sensitivity, which should fade in time.

Fillings are usually done in one appointment, and patients are typically under anesthesia.

Are you seeing blood when you floss or brush? The culprit is likely periodontal disease. This disease affects a large portion of the population and occurs when bacterial pockets or spaces in the gum tissue form. Normal brushing cannot reach these pockets, and without proper care, the pockets will continue to get deeper and deeper. To treat periodontal disease, reach out to us today! 

Diagnosis

Periodontal disease begins with gingivitis. Signs of gingivitis include bleeding when brushing, inflammation, and tenderness. To diagnose gingivitis, we insert a probe between the teeth and the gums to measure the depth of the bacterial pockets.

Treatment

Without proper treatment, gingivitis and periodontal disease further destroy teeth, gums, and bone. Depending on bad your condition is, we recommend a deep cleaning and scaling procedure with local numbing. After we remove the pockets of bacteria underneath the gum line, your tissue will heal on its own.

Maintenance

After our treatment, we'll schedule follow-up appointments to keep an eye on your healing progress. If your gums don't improve over time, then a visit to a periodontist specialist may be in order. Medicated rinses, consistent flossing, and using an electric toothbrush are some of the home treatments we suggest as well.

Implants, Root Canals, Caps, Dentures

Preventative oral health is the first step to good dental health, but when the damage has already been done, we can still help. Our clinic offers several procedures that restore your teeth to their natural healthy appearance. We provide options that help relieve pain, repair damage, improve your bite, and get you back to smiling happily!

Implants

Dental implants replace lost teeth, relieve pain, restore chewing ability, and improve facial tissue health. In addition, implants are a natural-looking, durable choice that last for years to come.

Adding implants is a time-intensive process that can take months. First, we'll place artificial roots and teeth directly into your jawbone. After placement, the implants must heal for several months and form into the bone. During that time, we'll bring you in for several fittings and adjustments to give you a more comfortable fit.

After several months pass, you'll be good to go! Once you're at home, we highly encourage that you follow proper implant maintenance to get the most usage out of your implants.

Root Canals

Experiencing severe pain or sensitivity in your teeth is never a good sign. If this is happening, then you may need a root canal due to intense tooth decay. During a root canal, we'll remove your affected tissue and reshape your tooth's nerve canal. Finally, we fill the tooth with a special material and seal it to prevent future infection.

Bridges

Bridges are another option to replace missing teeth. These permanent fixtures are made of porcelain and metal and sit over your existing teeth. Bridges fix many of the same problems that implants do, such as relieving pain and protecting facial tissue. We can discuss if bridges or implants are a better option for you.

Dentures

Dentures are a removable option that replaces missing teeth and keeps your smile looking fresh. At our dental office, we provide both full and partial dentures.

The process of adding dentures varies from patient to patient. Sometimes we must remove your existing teeth before we can create your dentures. After you receive your dentures, we'll ask that you come back in for several appointments for adjustments. Once your dentures fit perfectly, it's time to enjoy that brand-new smile!