Services

Dr. Kim is one of few general dentists who have been certified to offer the revolutionary Invisalign treatment. Invisalign allows patients to straighten teeth using a series of custom-made, nearly undetectable aligners. Patients with teeth that are overcrowded, spaces in between, or have shifted since wearing braces may find Invisalign an ideal solution to their orthodontic needs. Using the latest advances in 3-D computer technology, we will provide you with comfortable and accurately fitting aligners. Each set of aligners is worn for two weeks, moving your teeth -.25mm each week- until the desired results are attained. Invisalign offer three advantages over conventional metal braces. First, the aligners are virtually invisible, making it more ideal for adults and professionals. Second, they are removable,which allows you to eat whatever you want, and maintain good oral hygiene. Third, they are more comfortable and will move your teeth with minimal discomfort. The length of treatment depends on severity of your case; however,the average length
is about 12 months.

For patients who desire a dramatic new look or even a subtle change,Dr. Kim will focus on your needs and give you the smile you have always wanted. Smile makeovers are generally not that extreme for most patients. There is a wide range of treatment options available. Depending on the desired results, we will combine innovative techniques to create the perfect smile for you. Creating a natural and beautiful smile is truly a fine art, one which bridges aesthetics and functionality. At Dr. Kim’s practice, we believe that having an artistic eye and the creative ability is essential for the most successful outcome. And Dr. Kim has an artistic sensibility that is rare in the dental profession.

Also known as “Instant Orthodontics”, porcelain veneers are a “shell covering” placed over the teeth to enhance or correct their appearance. They can close a space between teeth, restore fractured teeth, repair worn teeth, change the size, conceal badly stained teeth, and straighten misaligned teeth. Porcelain veneers will give the beautiful smile you have always wanted in as few as two visits.

As part of our continuing effort to bring only the most effective technologies to our patients, we are pleased to offer the Zoom whitening system. Considered to be the most powerful and effective teeth whitening system, Zoom whitening will brighten your teeth by up to nine shades in about an hour, as seen on ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeovers”. Over the years, we have brightened over hundreds of smiles through this efficient, gentle, and safe teeth whitening system. The entire procedure requires only about an hour and can be completed in a single visit.

Crowns are used to cover fractured teeth or teeth with over-sized fillings.; Advanced use of materials allows combining beauty and strength of a natural tooth without compromise. There are various materials of crowns you can choose from, and all will lend strength and longevity to damaged teeth. Bridges are a fixed or non-removable prosthesis constructed to replace one or more missing teeth. The teeth on either side of the space anchor the bridge. We are now able to construct beautiful full porcelain bridges and porcelain over metal bridges to produce beautiful aesthetic results.

Dental implants are a state-of-the-art new technology that allows your missing teeth to be replaced with biocompatible titanium posts and lifelike porcelain crowns. Once placed and restored, implants function and look exactly like natural teeth, features that our patients greatly appreciate.

We’ve found that many of our patients come to us with questions about how dental implants are placed, why dental implants are different from other tooth-replacement options, and whether they themselves are good candidates for implants.

Hopefully, the information provided here will help to answer some of your questions. Of course, if you’d like more information, you are always welcome to call our Irvine dental office!

What Are Dental Implants?

The actual “implant” part of a dental implant is a small post crafted from titanium, a biocompatible metal, that is placed surgically in the jawbone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the implant, a process known as restoring the implant. This crown is specially designed to blend in flawlessly with your other teeth, which means that nobody will ever know your secret unless you tell them.

Are Dental Implants Better Than Other Replacement Options?

Traditionally, bridges, partials, and dentures were the only options available for replacing missing teeth. While these options were effective and could give patients a complete smile, they don’t offer the permanence and stability of dental implants. The implant itself is actually anchored to either your jawbone or a framework that attaches to the bone. Eventually, the implant becomes a part of your bone structure, a process known as osseointegration.

If you are missing multiple teeth and are concerned about the cost of dental implants, we can also discuss using implants to anchor a bridge or denture in place, an option that combines the lower cost of bridges and dentures with the permanency of implants.

Are Dental Implants Better Than Other Replacement Options?

Traditionally, bridges, partials, and dentures were the only options available for replacing missing teeth. While these options were effective and could give patients a complete smile, they don’t offer the permanence and stability of dental implants. The implant itself is actually anchored to either your jawbone or a framework that attaches to the bone. Eventually, the implant becomes a part of your bone structure, a process known as osseointegration.

If you are missing multiple teeth and are concerned about the cost of dental implants, we can also discuss using implants to anchor a bridge or denture in place, an option that combines the lower cost of bridges and dentures with the permanency of implants.

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

The best way to determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants is to call our office and schedule an evaluation appointment with Dr. Robertson. Your evaluation will include a complete examination, digital x-rays, and possibly a consultation with our on-site periodontist.

One of the most important considerations when it comes to determining whether dental implants are the right option is the quantity and quality of your jawbone. When you are missing teeth, your jawbone is no longer stimulated to maintain itself and will eventually begin to reabsorb. If this process has been taking place for some time, you may not have the bone structure necessary to support dental implants.

Fortunately, this situation does not rule out dental implants as an option. Today’s technology gives us the opportunity to actually replace bone when necessary through the use of bone grafts. Not only will a bone graft give us a strong place to anchor a dental implant, it will also help to restore the shape of your face and your appearance, transforming the “sunken” appearance that is so common in people who have been missing teeth for a long time.

Dental implants typically have a high success rate, and our patients have been thrilled with their results.

How Do I Get Dental Implants?

You can expect the complete procedure to take some time and to require a number of appointments. Once you are ready to start the process, Dr. Robertson will place the implant anchor into your jawbone. Following this procedure, we’ll allow the time necessary for the site to heal, which could be several weeks to a few months.

Once the site is healed, we’ll restore the implant with a custom-made, natural-looking artificial tooth, fixed securely to the anchor.

Are you ready for a permanent solution to your missing teeth? Call us today to schedule your evaluation.

Root canal treatment is needed when the nerve is diseased or injured and can’t repair itself, it dies. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity. Both of these problems can let bacteria enter the pulp, and cause an infection inside the tooth. Diseased pulp is removed and cleaned with series of files, and filled to prevent future infection. Dr. Kim uses innovative rotary files, which allows less treatment time, and more predictable results. Root canal treatment is generally followed by a crown due to weakened tooth structure.

Mercury-free, tooth-colored fillings are now the accepted alternative to traditional amalgam silver fillings. Dr. Kim supervises the creation of your fillings to ensure that they perfectly match the color of your existing teeth.; No longer do patients have to endure the unsightly look of metal when they smile. As a further benefit, tooth-colored fillings are potentially safer than their traditional counterparts, as many believe that the mercury present in silver fillings may be toxic.

Oral sedation dentistry allows trained dentist to create a safe and comfortable dental experience for patients receiving dental treatment. The technique is easy and requires no needles. best of all, most patients do not remember the visit; it is as if they slept through the treatment.

Did you know that a digital x-ray system can reduce radiation exposure by 90%? You will be glad to know that our practice uses an advanced digital x-ray system for your safety and wellbeing. Also, an x-ray image can be viewed on a computer screen in 2 seconds, eliminating unnecessary waiting time. This is one of many measures we take to ensure your comfort and convenience.

Thanks to recent advances in cosmetic dentistry, it is possible to remove your existing metal restorations and replace them with all-porcelain restorations. It is more bio-compatible and conservative, saving more healthy tooth structure. All-porcelain crowns are so natural looking, you will not be able to tell them apart from your natural teeth and they are as strong as metal crowns, if not stronger.