Kenneth R. Finn DMD

Products And Services

• General Dentistry

  Dental Exam The secret to a bright, healthy smile is actually no secret at all: brush, floss and get a professional dental exam at least once every six months. Professional dental exams are all about prevention – preventing existing problems from getting worse and preventing dental problems from developing in the future. Regular dental exams make it possible to identify and treat a problem in its earliest stage – which is not only good for your oral health but also good for your budget! There's nothing to fear with a dental exam. Your teeth will be visually examined for signs of plaque, tartar and tooth decay. Your gums will also be examined for puffiness or discoloration, which are signs of gum disease. A full set of dental X-rays may also be taken during your dental exam, to enable your dentist to see below the surfaces of your teeth. Dental exams typically end with a dental cleaning, to remove surface stains and buildup. Dental X-Ray Simsbury general dentist | dental x-rays | Ken R. Finn DMD Dental X-rays have come a long way. Todays dental X-rays are safer, faster, more comfortable and more informative than the X-rays of years past. Digital X-rays, one of the latest and most advanced dental technologies, produce high-quality images of your teeth that can be viewed instantly by you and your dentist on a LCD monitor. Digital X-rays reduce radiation by up to 90% and provide exceptional diagnostic information to ensure that potential problems are caught in their earliest stages. Intraoral photography is another alternative to traditional dental X-rays. With intraoral photography, problems such as cavities, fractures and discolorations in the teeth are captured through clear and sharp photographic images that are taken with a 35mm or digital camera. Pediatric Dentistry Simsbury general dentist | pediatric dentistry | Ken R. Finn DMD Preventive dentistry is especially important for children. Instilling excellent oral hygiene practices and a good diet at an early age will better prepare your child for a lifetime of dental health. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It is important that your child's newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning. Your child should visit the dentist every 6 months for regular dental cleanings and checkups. We recommend fluoride treatments twice a year along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest. Tooth sealants are also recommended because they "seal" the deep grooves in your child's teeth, preventing decay from forming in these hard-to-reach areas. Sealants last for several years, but will be monitored at your regular checkups. Teeth Cleaning No matter how often you brush and floss, plaque and tartar deposits can still build up on your teeth. A professional teeth cleaning is the single most effective way to remove these deposits and prevent them from causing more serious problems in the future. While a traditional teeth cleaning involves manually scraping away these deposits with special dental tools, advances in dental technologies now give you more options for teeth cleanings. Simsbury general dentist | teeth cleaning | Ken R. Finn DMD A power teeth cleaning, also known as an ultrasonic cleaning, is a popular alternative to traditional teeth cleanings. An ultrasonic scaler (rather than a manual probe) is used to remove deposits, kill harmful microbes and eliminate bacteria around the teeth and gums through high-frequency sound waves. Many patients find teeth cleanings by an ultrasonic scaler more comfortable than traditional teeth cleanings because they are quicker, quieter and pain-free. Gum disease therapy may be recommended if excessive plaque and tartar deposits have developed below the gum line. Gum disease therapy, also known as scaling and root planing, involves a two-part process: first, the stubborn deposits are removed, and then the root surfaces are smoothed. Scaling and root planing help arrest periodontal disease and restores gum tissues to a healthy state. Oral Cancer Screening Oral cancer affects nearly 35,000 Americans every year. The keys to surviving oral cancer are early detection and early treatment. This starts with a regular oral cancer screening – at least once every six months. An oral cancer screening takes just minutes, is pain-free and can be performed during regular dental exams. If you are male, a regular oral cancer screening is especially critical: Oral cancer is more than twice as common in men as it is in women. Other people at high risk of oral cancer include people over the age of 60, tobacco smokers and heavy drinkers.

  Link: General Dentistry

• Cosmetic Dentistry

  Teeth Whitening Today's teeth whitening treatments are so easy, convenient and affordable that they've become a regular part of everyone's beauty routine. If you haven't tried one yet, you'll be happy to know that you have plenty of choices. For the most dramatic results, consider KöR whitening. It employs a combination of at-home and in-office treatments that can whiten teeth up to 10 shades. If you're the do-it-yourself type, an at-home teeth whitening kit might be right for you. These professional grade teeth whitening kits produce excellent results over a longer period of time. They can be purchased from your dentist or over-the-counter, but for best results, it's recommended that you always consult with a dentist before trying any over-the-counter teeth whitening system. Porcelain Veneers Years ago, smile makeovers involved multiple dental treatments over a period of several months. That's no longer the case, thanks to porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are ultra thin shells made of translucent porcelain that can be bonded to your teeth for cosmetic purposes. Extremely versatile and durable, porcelain veneers are an excellent option whether you want a total smile makeover or need to cover a chipped tooth, mask a cracked tooth, or close gaps between your teeth. They require little to no prepping and can produce dramatic enhancement of your smile. Cosmetic Dental Bonding Cosmetic dental bonding is a versatile and affordable way to improve the appearance of chipped teeth, stained teeth and gapped teeth. As one of the most conservative cosmetic dentistry treatments around, cosmetic dental bonding requires little to no prepping and preserves most of the natural tooth structure. And it's fast, too! Dental bonding usually takes just one visit to complete. Smile Makeover Tired of masking your smile because you don't like the way your teeth look? A smile makeover can be a big boost to your confidence and self-esteem. With a total smile makeover, chipped teeth, cracked teeth, gapped teeth, crooked teeth, stained teeth and gapped teeth can be completely transformed into the smile of your dreams. This is done through a combination of restorative and cosmetic dental treatments, including white fillings, cosmetic dental bonding, porcelain veneers, cosmetic dental crowns, dental braces, dental bridges and dental implants.

  Link: Cosmetic Dentistry

• Invisalign® Clear Braces

  In the past, the idea of correcting the structure and placement of teeth meant uncomfortable metal brackets and wires. It didn’t help that because of the placement of those brackets and wires, many people had a lot of difficulty keeping their teeth and gum clean and healthy during treatment. Modern dentistry definitely came a long way when Invisalign orthodontics became available. While conventional braces still have a place, there are many reasons to consider Invisalign for your dental needs. Invisalign orthodontics is custom made for every patient. That means the fit is as close to perfect as possible and more comfortable overall than traditional braces. The custom fit also means easier oral hygiene practices and greater comfort during the entire treatment process. The benefits don’t stop there. Invisalign is made from a virtually invisible plastic material. Dr. Finn's patients appreciate the opportunity to correct their smile without people even noticing the process. A more attractive look isn’t the only thing the clear, plastic material used for Invisalign offers. Since the aligners are made perfectly for the patient’s teeth and stage of treatment, they are removable, leaving the patient the freedom to eat and drink whatever he or she wants without the common concerns associated with conventional treatments. Additionally, patients also have the freedom to brush and floss their teeth without the hindrance of brackets and wires. If it’s time to consider the right treatment plan to correct your smile and make it perfect, Invisalign cuts down on time spent in the dental chair by advancing to the next set of aligners about every 2-3 weeks, offers a before unknown freedom while correcting crooked teeth, overbite, or overcrowding. Dr. Finn and his team are well equipped and ready to help you start down the road to your perfect smile.

  Link: Invisalign® Clear Braces

• Dental Emergencies

  In case milk is not available, the tooth can be placed in the victim’s own saliva in a cup. Reminder: DO NOT SCRUB OFF THE TOOTH!! Severely Bitten Tongue or Lip If a tongue or lip is cut and bleeding from a bite or accident, use a cold compress to reduce swelling and contact our office. Broken or Fractured Teeth For a fractured or broken tooth, it’s best to rinse the mouth with warm water and apply a cold pack or compress. Ibuprofen may be used to help keep down swelling. And contact the office. Toothaches Simple toothaches can often be relieved by rinsing the mouth to clear it of debris and other matter. Sometimes, a toothache can be caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between the tooth and another tooth. Do not place an aspirin between your tooth and gum to relieve pain, because the dissolving aspirin can actually harm your gum tissue. If the pain is not relieved easily, call our office…please do not wait until the weekend when the pain gets much worse! Contact our office to get into the schedule as soon as possible. Loosened Baby Tooth If a child’s baby tooth has been loosened by an injury or a permanent tooth growing in, try getting the child to gently bite down on an apple; in some cases the tooth will easily separate from the gum. Again contact the office if you still need help.

  Link: Dental Emergencies