Dr. J. Alec Helms Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Helms offers most types of procedures, virtually eliminating the need for a referral. No matter what type of treatment you need, he will provide a comprehensive plan that works best for you.

We also offer cosmetic procedures such as veneers and whitening treatments. Whether you want to correct a small flaw or you’re looking for a more dramatic change, we can create a cosmetic treatment plan that meets your dental needs.

Do you have a cracked, split, or missing tooth? We have extensive experience in dental crowns and bridges, which help restore your dental health and keep your teeth functional and attractive. 

Dental Crowns

It usually takes a couple of appointments to create a custom crown. However, we can do crowns in the office on the same day if you need them as soon as possible.

To start, Dr. Helms will prepare your tooth and create a temporary crown. Then, one of our dental labs will create a custom crown that matches your natural teeth. Once the crown is complete, we will schedule an appointment to set the permanent crown and make necessary adjustments.

Dental Bridges

If you lose a tooth due to severe damage or periodontal (gum) disease, Dr. Alec Helms may recommend a bridge as a replacement therapy. This will prevent the surrounding teeth from creating more damage due to tilting and shifting.

Dr. Helms is skilled at both simple and surgical extractions and has done hundreds of dental extractions. His gentle approach combined with his experience means that you will be well taken care of for your procedure.

What We Offer

• Simple Dental Extractions – Removal of Fully Erupted Tooth Due To:Severe Decay
  • Periodontal (Gum) Disease
  • Trauma
  • Fractured Teeth
  • Orthodontic Treatment
  • Malformed Teeth
  • Teeth Growing in the Wrong Place
  • Overcrowding

• Wisdom Teeth Extractions
  
• Surgical Dental Extractions – Removal of Impacted Tooth (Involves Incisions)
  

Missing teeth can affect your appearance and diet. We can make complete or partial dentures that not only look great, but are also comfortable and functional. If your current dentures no longer fit well, we can create a replacement for you as well. 

What We Offer

• Partial Dentures (Made of a Resin/Plastic or Metal Framework With Artificial Teeth)
  
• Complete Dentures (Made of a Resin Base With Artificial Teeth)
  
• Replacement Dentures
  

These Can Be Taken Out for Cleaning

We partner with some of the best oral surgeons around to provide you with long-lasting dental implants. These artificial teeth replace natural teeth lost due to periodontal disease or trauma.

Made of titanium, dental implants are surgically inserted into your bone. They look natural and offer flexibility and freedom to support an active lifestyle. Implants also provide a stable chewing surface for eating and improve your ability to speak normally.

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth that replaces a natural tooth lost due to periodontal disease or trauma. Made of titanium, it is surgically implanted into your bone by an oral surgeon and offers flexibility and freedom to support an active lifestyle. It looks natural, provides a stable chewing surface for eating, and improves your ability to speak normally.

Once the implant has been placed, your jaw bone will be given time to harden and grow around it. When healing is complete, an artificial tooth (crown) can be placed on top of the implant to provide aesthetic and functional tooth replacement.

Steps Necessary for Dental Implants

1. Schedule an exam and implant evaluation. Dr. Alec Helms will determine if your dental health is good enough and if you have sufficient bone to support an implant. If you’re a good candidate, he will refer you to one of our trusted oral surgeons for implant placement.
   
2. After your implant is placed, you will be given time to heal. Dr. Helms will stay in touch with your oral surgeon to monitor your progress.
   
3. Once you’re completely healed, Dr. Helms will take a custom shade of your tooth and work with a highly skilled dental lab to create a crown. This will be permanently placed on your implant.
   

To diagnose decay early and prevent teeth damage, we perform dental hygiene appointments, regular exams, and dental X-rays. Early diagnosis makes treatment easier and less expensive.

To diagnose decay early, we perform preventative treatments such as dental hygiene appointments, regular exams, and dental X-rays. Early diagnosis makes treatment easier and less expensive.

Dental Bonding

In cosmetic dental bonding, we improve the existing structure of your tooth using the same materials in dental fillings. We match it to your teeth and provide you with your own custom shade. Dental bonding corrects minor cosmetic flaws such as:

Porcelain veneers are thin, durable, shell-like porcelain layers that fit over your teeth. They are made to match your teeth and complement your face and smile. Veneers address different aesthetic dental flaws including:

Custom Treatment Planning and Procedure

We’ll begin with a consultation, which allows us to determine your needs and aesthetic goals. After this, we prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel before permanently bonding the veneers to your teeth.

Dr. Helms offers both in-office and take-home professional dental whitening systems. Through a consultation, we can help you determine which treatment is right for you.

Dental cleanings can range from a regular dental prophylaxis to a catch-up cleaning. We also offer more extensive hygiene appointments to treat gum disease. Regular cleanings typically involve removal of superficial plaque followed by a dental polish.

To achieve and maintain optimum health, Dr. Helms recommends that you have a dental cleaning every six months. If you have an active periodontal infection or you’re prone to dental plaque buildup, he may recommend more frequent treatments. Each hygiene appointment includes oral cancer screening.

Our more extensive cleanings, including periodontal treatments and root planing and scaling, involve removing tartar from the surface of your teeth and sometimes from below the gumline. Using specially designed instruments, our hygienist will gently and thoroughly sterilize the area below the gumline.

Trust Dr. Helms to develop a treatment plan that will restore your health and keep the infection under control. Your treatment may include more extensive cleanings to sterilize the area below the gumline. For those with advanced periodontal disease, deep cleaning or root planing and scaling is administered.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Doctors have also linked gum disease to serious systemic conditions such as:

How Often Do I Need a Cleaning?

We recommend that you have a dental cleaning every six months. If you have an active periodontal infection or you’re prone to dental plaque buildup, Dr. Alec Helms may recommend more frequent treatment.

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, you probably have gingivitis, one of the early stages of periodontal disease. Bleeding is not normal and is a condition that needs to be addressed. We provide effective treatment for periodontal disease. We can also teach you effective home care techniques to complement your regular hygiene appointments.

Avoiding dental cleanings and poor home care are common reasons for the development of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic infection in your gums and bone tissue. It is the number one cause of tooth and bone loss. Its symptoms include:

In addition to the repercussions of periodontal disease on your dental health, doctors have also linked gum disease to serious systemic conditions such as:

Damaged or infected teeth are treated through a root canal. We begin the procedure by making sure you are completely numb and comfortable. A small hole is then made in the tooth to provide access to the root. Once this is made, Dr. Helms will gently and thoroughly clean and sanitize the canal.

Dr. Helms may place additional medication inside the tooth to help with healing before sealing the tooth. He may also recommend a prescription to keep the infection under control.

Benefits of a Root Canal

When the infection or damage is so severe, a root canal is our only option other than extraction. The main benefits of this procedure are to save your tooth and stop the pain caused by the infection or damage.