When you lose a tooth, it affects not just the appearance, but the function of your smile. It can be difficult to eat or speak naturally, extra stress is put on your remaining teeth, you’re at greater risk for developing gum disease, your remaining teeth can shift out of position causing bite problems, ...
Getting your braces off is definitely a cause for celebration. You can finally enjoy your new smile after all that work and effort! But getting your braces off isn’t the end of treatment. Once your braces come off, you will enter the retention period of treatment.
During the retention period, you will ...
Inlays and onlays are indirect restorations used to repair molars and premolars damaged by decay or trauma. Inlays and onlays fit more securely and last longer than fillings, strengthen compromised teeth, and preserve more natural tooth structure than crowns.
An inlay is used to restore the center of ...
If you have recently dealt with an injury or disease that affected your oral health, there are options available to recover the smile you once had. You may even be able to achieve a better smile than the one you had. Dental implants make it possible to renew your smile if you have lost some teeth. There ...
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay begins with the Streptococcus mutans bacteria. These bacteria join with food particles and fluids in the mouth to create plaque, a constantly forming biofilm which sticks to the surface of tooth enamel.
The bacteria in plaque convert the sugars in our foods into lactic ...
Every tooth has two sections: a crown, the visible part of the tooth above the gum line, and one or more roots, which anchor the teeth within the jaw. Each tooth has three basic layers: an outer layer of hard enamel (which protects the crown) or cementum (which covers the root), a middle layer of softer ...
The bacteria in plaque produce acids that erode tooth enamel, eventually creating a hole, or cavity, in the tooth surface. Left untreated, this decay can spread to the interior of the tooth, and might lead to the need for a crown, a root canal, or even extraction. When caught early, your dentist can ...
A dental veneer is a thin, durable porcelain shell that is custom-fabricated to cover the front of a tooth. Veneers can restore the appearance of teeth with chips, cracks, and stains, can close small gaps between the teeth, and can reshape misshapen or slightly misaligned teeth.
Veneers are a popular ...
Take a few minutes to watch our educational videos and learn more about different dental treatments and procedures. Video topics include general & cosmetic dentistry, Implants, oral health and hygiene, orthodontics and preventative dentistry. ...
Using lasers, dentists can detect tooth decay that is not yet visible and would otherwise be undiagnosed using traditional methods.
Laser cavity detection is based on the fact that healthy tooth structure reflects light, or “fluoresces,” differently than does decayed tooth structure. Teeth with decay ...
"A warm and welcoming dental practice with a top notch team. I live in another city now and genuinely miss visiting Madrona Family Dental because of my fantastic conversations with Kristen!"
- Kelly Stevens
"As someone who has always hated going to the dentist, I can say Dr. Tarr and his hygienists are the best out there. I hated getting my teeth cleaned because it was always painful, but the dental hygienists at the office are so good I am never in pain and it’s over before I know it."
-Meagan W.
"I have some very specific needs for dentistry that have caused me tremendous issues in the past, but Dr Tarr and his amazing staff are by far the best dental experience I've ever had in every way."
- Anonymous
"Dr. Loren Tarr and his entire staff are the most courteous and professional team, front office and back, I have ever encountered. The dental care provided by Dr. Tarr and his hygienists is second to none. My teeth and gums are healthier than before I started coming here (thanks to their encouragement to WaterPik). There was a mistake made by a lab once when I was getting a decades-old crown replaced; Dr. Tarr made sure to set everything right. (And the crown is amazing! It feels like a real tooth.) Madrona Family Dental gets my highest recommendation."