Guide 01 of 07
Find the treatment that fits the problem
Pick the thing you actually notice. We will show you where it usually leads, what the visit looks like and who to call.
Start with what you notice
Two questions. No email address, no login, no result that ends in a hard sell.
Your result
Pick a line above
As soon as you choose something, this panel fills in with the treatment that usually answers it, what the appointment involves, and the page that explains it properly.
Not sure which line fits? Call (412) 555-0133 and describe it in your own words. That works too.
Usually starts with
Emergency exam, then a filling, crown or root canal
A tooth that aches without a trigger is usually telling you the nerve is inflamed or infected. An exam with a single x-ray tells us whether the tooth needs a filling, a crown, or root canal treatment to keep it.
- 1Focused exam and one periapical x-ray
- 2Cold and bite tests on the suspect tooth
- 3Written options and costs before anything starts
Usually starts with
Comprehensive exam and hygiene visit
Short, sharp sensitivity that settles quickly is usually worn enamel, a receding gum margin or early decay rather than nerve damage. It is the cheapest problem to fix while it is still small.
- 1Full exam, gum measurements and bitewing x-rays
- 2Desensitising treatment where the gum has receded
- 3A plan that starts with the smallest fix that works
Usually starts with
Urgent exam, then bonding, onlay or crown
How much tooth is left decides the repair. Small chips bond in one visit. A cracked cusp or a broken back tooth usually needs a crown to hold the rest of the tooth together.
- 1Photographs and an x-ray of the broken tooth
- 2A smooth-down the same day so nothing cuts your tongue
- 3Repair booked before the crack spreads
Usually starts with
Implant, bridge or implant-supported denture consult
Replacing a tooth is a choice between an implant, a bridge and a removable option. Bone volume, the neighbouring teeth and your budget decide which one we recommend.
- 13D CBCT scan to measure the bone
- 2Side-by-side options with visit counts and timelines
- 3A written plan you can take away and think about
Usually starts with
Periodontal assessment and hygiene therapy
Bleeding is inflammation, and inflammation is reversible early. We measure every pocket, chart where bone has been lost and treat it before teeth start to loosen.
- 1Six-point pocket charting on every tooth
- 2Cleaning above and below the gum line
- 3A three or four month recall if the pockets are deep
Usually starts with
Clear aligner consult with a 3D plan
Crowded teeth trap plaque where a brush cannot reach, so straightening is a hygiene decision as much as a cosmetic one. A scan shows the planned movement before you commit.
- 1Intraoral scan, no impression putty
- 2A 3D preview of the finished position
- 3Tray count, wear time and total cost in writing
Usually starts with
Whitening assessment after a cleaning
Surface staining lifts with a hygiene visit. Deeper colour responds to whitening. Colour that sits in one tooth only is usually an old restoration or a past injury, and whitening will not touch it.
- 1Shade recorded before anything starts
- 2Cleaning first, so the result is even
- 3In-office or custom take-home trays, your choice
Usually starts with
New patient exam, no lecture
We start where you are. The first visit is about finding out what is happening, fixing anything urgent, and then building a plan in an order and at a pace you can afford.
- 1Ninety minutes: exam, x-rays and a cleaning
- 2Treatment ranked by urgency, not by price
- 3Nothing booked on the day unless you want it booked
Usually starts with
TMJ and sleep appliance assessment
Jaw joint pain, tooth wear and snoring often travel together. We examine the joint and the muscles, look at the wear pattern on your teeth and discuss an appliance made for your specific problem.
- 1Joint, muscle and bite examination
- 2Wear pattern mapped against your night-time habits
- 3Custom appliance options, with a care and cleaning routine
Usually starts with
Gentle paediatric exam, sized for the child
First visits are short, friendly and mostly about counting teeth and meeting the room. Parents stay with the child, and nothing happens without explaining it first.
- 1Ride in the chair, count the teeth, mirror only if it is welcome
- 2Brushing coached on the child's own teeth
- 3Sealants and fluoride discussed when the back teeth arrive
Because you said "it hurts right now"
Call the emergency line and we will talk it through today. We hold same-day chairs every weekday morning and afternoon for exactly this.
Read the emergency guideBecause you said "in the next week or two"
Request an appointment and the front desk confirms within one business day. Tuesday and Thursday run until 7 pm if daytime does not work.
Request an appointmentBecause you said "i am planning ahead"
Good. Check your plan year and any waiting periods first, then book while your annual maximum still has room in it.
Check your insurance planA finder is a routing tool, not a diagnosis. This is general information, not dental advice: the treatment you actually need depends on an examination, x-rays and your medical history.
What happens after you pick
Every route on this page ends in the same place: an examination. The finder only decides which chair, which doctor and how much time we set aside for you.
- 1
We set the right length of visit
A toothache gets a short focused slot today. A full smile plan gets an hour with a doctor and a treatment coordinator.
- 2
We check your benefits first
Before you arrive we verify what your plan covers this year, so the estimate you get is the estimate you pay.
- 3
You leave with it in writing
Options, visit counts, costs and what happens if you wait. No decision is made in the chair under pressure.
Northstar care guides
The rest of the series
Seven guides, written by our doctors and kept free of sales talk. Each one stands on its own.
- EgGuide 02Dental emergency guideWhat to do in the first ten minutes, by symptom, and today's same-day chairs.Open
- FvGuide 03First visit, minute by minuteNinety minutes on the clock, and the three forms that come before them.Open
- CmGuide 04Comfort menuEverything an anxious patient can ask for, written down so nobody has to explain twice.Open
- IcGuide 05Insurance checkerRead your plan in five fields, then call your insurer with our script.Open
- FaGuide 06Family care by ageWhat the mouth needs at every stage, from the first tooth to a set of dentures.Open
- OcGuide 07Daily oral careThe habits that change outcomes, ranked, plus the ones that barely matter.Open
Still not sure what you need?
Book a consult and we will look properly. Exam, x-rays where they are needed and a written plan before anything begins.
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