Our Services

Our Dental Services

Our team is pleased to provide preventive, restorative and cosmetic care for every person in the family. From childhood through maturity, we’re there for every stage of your dental development.

Preventive Dentistry:

The purpose of preventive dentistry is to maintain health. Think of preventive care as equivalent to getting the oil changed in your car; everything lasts longer when it’s properly maintained. Regular cleanings, fluoride treatments, daily care and checkups ensure that your mouth and gum tissue are in top shape. This regular schedule of preventive maintenance will help you avoid painful consequences, simply because we’ll catch potential problems in the early stages and remedy them before they become real issues.

Restorative Dentistry:

Restorative dentistry is basic repair of the mouth. Every day we restore people – just like you – to health by replacing broken or leaking fillings, building crowns and bridges, creating dentures or partials and maintaining implants. Many of these treatments have the added benefit of being cosmetic in nature, in that our restorations are pleasing to the eye. We also make recommendations for and treat the varying stages of gum disease and place braces on children, teens and adults. Dr. LeDuke performs root canal therapy, wisdom tooth extraction and some of the more difficult oral surgeries in our Union City office. The outcome of our extended list of services? Your dental care is convenient and easy to obtain. If you don’t have to travel out of town or pay a specialist’s fees, it’s easier to remain committed to your health.

Cosmetic Dentistry:

Cosmetic dentistry is a huge interest for many of our patients, even in a tougher economy.

Modern techniques allow us to

Drastically lighten tooth color,

Reconstruct widely spaced or missing teeth, and

Completely reinvent your smile with porcelain veneers.

Many cosmetic treatment options are choices not covered by insurance. However, for those who have been dissatisfied with their smiles for years, this aspect of dentistry is incredibly exciting. No other type of care offers the same potential to dramatically transform your smile. Please see our “Smile Gallery” page for examples of cosmetic dentistry done in our office.

Another form of cosmetic dentistry is Orthodontic* care. Covered in part by insurance, orthodontic treatment uses varying appliances to move teeth into alignment. If you have crooked teeth, a noticeable under/over bite or trouble chewing, braces may be the best answer for you. Ask our team about the drastic improvements we can make to your smile…with braces.

*Orthodontic services are provided by a general dentist.

Bonding & White Filling

Teeth damaged by tooth decay or trauma can often be repaired by "bonding". This term refers to the process of adhering glass-reinforced resin material, called composite, to replace the tooth material lost. This is an excellent cosmetic option for those patients who do not want the look of silver in their mouth. Bonding can also be used to alter the color or shape of anterior teeth.

Procedure

The bonding procedure is usually completed in one visit. The first step is to remove the decayed or unsightly portion of the tooth. The tooth is then etched with a liquid or gel and a bonding agent is then applied. This will allow the composite resin to be placed in the prepared tooth. The resin is then trimmed and polished, leaving you with a beautifully sculpted, natural-looking restoration.

Replace Silver Metal Fillings

You can have your dark metal fillings replaced with tooth-colored restorations that can make it look as though you never had a cavity!

Visit our Smile Gallery to view examples of the use of bonding in restoring fractured teeth and various cosmetic enhancements.

Dentures

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and put back into your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, they may receive full or partial dentures. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures. There are two types of full dentures.

Conventional Full Dentures - This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. It could take a few months for the gum tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.
Immediate Full Dentures - Prior to having your teeth removed, Dr. LeDuke takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have a follow up visit to refit your dentures because the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. The dentures will need to be tightened after the jaw bone has healed.

Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed. This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don't have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative of not having teeth.

Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. You should brush them to remove plaque and food particles before removing your dentures. After they have been removed you should place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don't drop them. Also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from Dr. LeDuke if they feel uncomfortable or loose.

Conventional Full Dentures - This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. It could take a few months for the gum tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.
Immediate Full Dentures - Prior to having your teeth removed, Dr. LeDuke takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have a follow up visit to refit your dentures because the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. The dentures will need to be tightened after the jaw bone has healed.

Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed. This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

Dental Hygiene and Periodontal Health

Union City Our Services — Dental Hygiene in Union City, TN

While at our office, we make sure that you receive the highest level of service and ensure that our dental work is of the highest quality. To ensure that you maintain great oral health, this level of quality needs to extend into your personal oral hygiene routine. We can help you establish a dental hygiene routine that will keep your teeth healthy and white. If you have any questions about your current hygiene plan please ask us.

Your teeth are not the only important part of your mouth. Your gums are essential to oral hygiene as well. We can provide periodontal cleanings and treatment, or refer you to one of our recommended specialists. Please let us know if you have any questions.

TMJ

Pain when opening or closing mouth
Trouble chewing

Jaw becoming stuck open or shut
Headaches or ear pain

Clicking or popping sounds when opening your mouth
Teeth Grinding

Many of these symptoms can often be associated with other health problems, so only a medical professional can tell you if it is due to TMD. Teeth grinding is an especially problematic symptom because it can lead to further problems. Prolonged teeth grinding, or bruxism, can cause enamel to wear off teeth and expose dentin. This material is softer than enamel and more susceptible to decay. Sensitivity to hot and cold food or drink may also develop from excessive teeth grinding.

If you suspect you may have TMD come in for a consultation. We can help diagnose you and provide relief for your symptoms. Pain relievers and hot/cold compresses are short term methods to provide relief for pain symptoms. A night guard can be used to help prevent or lessen the effects of teeth grinding at night. This can lead to a more permanent solution. In very severe cases of TMD surgery may be required, but behavioral treatments to change the way you use your jaw muscles are usually enough to provide relief.

Night Guards

Dental — Dental Night Guard in Union City, TN

Many people are afflicted with bruxism, or teeth grinding. Some people may do this consciously during the day, but it is a larger problem at night while you are asleep. Grinding your teeth can damage enamel, wear down teeth, cause jaw pain, or make your back teeth sensitive. The noise from teeth grinding can also disturb your spouse’s sleep.

If you grind your teeth you should consider a night guard. The night guard, which is very similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards are custom fitted for comfort and to allow for proper breathing. Dr. LeDuke will take an impression of your teeth and have the night guard created by a dental lab. Night guards are very durable and can be used for years.

If you suspect you might be grinding your teeth at night set up an appointment with us today.

If you grind your teeth you should consider a night guard. The night guard, which is very similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards are custom fitted for comfort and to allow for proper breathing. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and have the night guard created by a dental lab. Night guards are very durable and can be used for years.

If you suspect you might be grinding your teeth at night set up an appointment with us today.

Be sure to ask about the "Trigeminal Nociceptive Inhibitory Effect"

Mini Implants

The problem with dentures, particularly the lower denture, is that they tend to scoot side-to-side during function. This is due to the fact that the most lower jaws don’t have the height or width to create stability for the lower appliance. It’s not the fault of the denture or the dentist; it’s just the anatomy of the lower arch. Upper dentures tend to cause less trouble for wearers because there is so much more stabilizing bone in the upper arch.

However, mini implants are a wonderful option available to denture wearers.

Mini dental implants are one-piece titanium fixtures used to stabilize lower full dentures. They are placed in the bone in a simple procedure performed under local anesthesia. The heads of the mini implant extend through the gums and look like little trailer hitches along the crest of the ridge.

The patient’s lower denture is outfitted with metal receivers for these round trailer hitches. The denture snaps into place on the lower arch instead of floating on the lower ridge. The result is much easier and more comfortable eating.

If you are a denture wearer who would like to have more stable teeth, come in and let us tell you more about mini dental implants.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth.

The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The first part of the process is to install the implant itself, where a screw is placed into the jaw bone. An incision is made in the gum so that the implant can be inserted. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured.

The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns installed so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile.

After the implant has healed it is time to place an abutment on the implant. The abutment serves as the base for your new tooth. Once this is placed an impression of the abutment is taken and is used to create your permanent restoration. Some offices have an onsite lab to create the crown, but others will have to send it to an outside lab. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look just like it used to, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.

Orthodontic Therapy

Dr. LeDuke is not an Orthodontic Specialist. He is a General Dentist who has studied Orthodontics for many years and has applied this knowledge in his general practice. For the last twenty-five years Dr. LeDuke has provided orthodontic treatment for hundreds of patients within his practice.

From complete orthodontic therapy with full braces to invisible orthodontic aligners to minor cosmetic tooth movement, Dr. LeDuke has treated children and adults of all ages

Here are some beautiful smiles created through orthodontic therapy at Smiles by LeDuke