Invisalign
Can you imagine straighter teeth, healthier gums and easier to clean teeth?
You can have the smile of your dreams without metal, wires, and rubber bands.
No one but you will know you’re having orthodontic treatment.
There are many benefits to invisalign treatment.
Aligners are invisible, removable and don’t interfere with brushing, flossing or speech.
There are no restrictions on what you eat because the aligners are removable.
There is no metal to irritate your mouth and no brackets to pop off.
Properly positioned teeth are easier to brush and floss than teeth that are crowded, crooked, or spaced too far apart.
Properly aligned teeth are less stressful on the supporting bone and jaw joints.
Dental Implants

Do you have missing teeth from your smile?
Do your missing teeth make it difficult for you to chew your food?
Replacing your missing teeth can be easier than you thought.
A common misconception of replacing a missing tooth with an implant is that it is difficult or painful. The fact is implants can be simple and painless. Implants provide a look and feel that is very close to your natural teeth.
Implants offer the best possible way to restore one or more missing teeth.
Replacement of missing teeth can help prevent many problems.
For example, bone loss and periodontal disease can develop when teeth move or tip to fill the space left by missing teeth. By placing an implant, the healthy teeth next to an empty space will not have to be destroyed to place a bridge.
Also, partials and dentures can be attached to implants to provide stability.
With implant supported partials or dentures you will be able to eat food that you haven’t been able to eat for a long time. Your removable appliances will not rock or become loose when you eat.

The implant provides a stable base for the crown to rest.

An implant post is screwed into the implant that supports the crown.

The final step is to cement the crown onto the implant post.
Crowns

Why do I need a crown on my tooth?
Crowns provide stability for teeth that are; broken, cracked, have excessive wear, large inadequate restorations, or have been destroyed by tooth decay.
When too much natural tooth structure is missing, it is impossible for filling material to stay in or to bond with that tooth.
A crown will be the same size and shape as your natural tooth. Crowns may be made out of porcelain (tooth color) or pore bonded to a precious metal such as gold alloy for strength.
Many people have allergic reactions to metals that contain nickle. That is why Dr. Tharp makes all of his crowns with precious metals.
Crowns can last many years depending on your oral hygiene habits.
Remember, the tooth under a crown is susceptible to decay if not kept plaque free; just like natural teeth.

Fixed Bridges
A fixed bridge is a permanent unit used to replace one or possibly two missing teeth.
When making a bridge the teeth on each side of the missing tooth are prepared for crowns.
A false tooth is attached to each of these new crowns to make a single unit to bridge the gap.
If a missing tooth is not replaced with either a bridge or implant, eventually, the adjacent and opposing teeth will drift into the open space.
If this should happen, even more teeth could be lost due to bone resorption.
This may create an environment for periodontal “gum” disease.
Periodontal disease may also be a cause for tooth loss and bad breath symptoms.
Root Canal (Infected Tooth)
The need to treat an infected tooth can be caused by; decay, trauma, dental procedures, and periodontal disease. If you don’t have your tooth treated in time, infection could cause swelling in your face and neck, fever, or blood poisoning. This can be extremely serious and even deadly. Root canal treatment removes the damaged tissue and infection from the tooth and relieves any pain you might feel. Root canal treatment along with a crown to protect the tooth is a cost-effective and healthy way to treat an infected tooth and is usually less expensive than removal and placement of a bridge or an implant. Electing to have the tooth removed would begin the inevitable process of additional tooth loss and the domino effect. If you do decide to have a tooth removed the placement of a bridge or an implant is necessary to support the remaining teeth and supporting bone structures. Seeing Dr. Tharp as soon as possible if you feel any throbbing or suspect infection is extremely important for your health.
Many root treated teeth last for a lifetime. With current technology, our patients who have had a root canal treatment usually describe it as quite painless and are extremely pleased that any discomfort and worry are over with. Saving your natural teeth, whenever possible, is always the very best option.
Dentures and Removable Partials (Not All Dentures Are Created Equally)
All dentures are not made using the same materials or techniques. Quality dentures instill complete confidence and provide comfort that will recreate the character of your smile. An important step in keeping a healthy smile and mouth is to replace missing teeth.
When teeth are missing the remaining teeth may change position and drift into the surrounding space.
Teeth that are out of position can damage tissue in the mouth. It may be difficult to clean crooked teeth thoroughly. As a result, you may run the risk of tooth decay and periodontal, gum, disease which can lead to the loss of additional teeth.
Removable partial dentures fill in the space created by missing teeth; fills out your smile and helps you to properly chew your food which can be very difficult when you are missing teeth. Partial and full dentures may improve your speech and prevent your face from sagging or having a sunken look by providing support for lips and cheeks.
Dentures can give you a great smile with a natural appearance.
Full dentures are usually made out of an acrylic resin material with plastic teeth.
Partial dentures are made with a metal base covered by acrylic resin, also the case with plastic teeth.
Full and partial dentures are custom fitted to your mouth. If you properly maintain your dentures they will appear natural and provide a very pleasant smile.
In addition, dentures help to strengthen the muscles controlling your expression.
Dentures relieve pronunciation problems caused by missing teeth and aid in chewing your food.
Even though dentures last a long time, they may need to be replaced because of natural changes in your mouth to achieve a better fit.
Dr. Tharp has participated in removable prosthetics; (dentures and partials) and continuing education courses given by Dr. Joseph Massad.
Dr. Massad; http://www.drjoemassad.com is regarded as a leader of removable prosthetics. He practices in Tulsa, OK as a general practitioner.
Dr. Massad conducts extensive national and international continuing education programs for dental professionals.
Oral Surgery (Wisdom Teeth)
Occasionally, it may be necessary to have a tooth removed.
Dr. Tharp uses a technique for tooth removal that is non traumatic.
His patients experience little or no swelling and minimal discomfort.
This technique is welcome by people who need to have their third molars, wisdom teeth, removed.
Most often wisdom teeth need to be removed because the jaws are not large enough to accommodate the new teeth.
As a result, third molars may become impacted, grow sideways, or erupt only part way through the gum tissues.
Wisdom tooth removal is recommended when people are in their late teens to early twenties because the jaw bone is somewhat softer making removal easier.
Dr. Tharp recommends removal of third molars when there is a chance that they can damage adjacent teeth or when a cyst forms destroying surrounding structures.
The most common reason people have their wisdom teeth removed is because their mouth is too small for the new teeth to erupt into their proper position.
X-rays allow Dr. Tharp to determine if this procedure is necessary.
TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
If you think that you may be suffering from TMJ/TMD ask yourself these questions;
Do I have pain in my neck, shoulders, face, ears, behind my eyes, in my temple area, or have frequent headaches?
Do I suffer from a chronic sinus condition?
Has my jaw ever locked open?
Do my ears feel muffled, clogged or do I experience ringing in the ears?
Do my jaw joints pop, click or do I have pain when I chew?
Do I have difficulty swallowing?
Do my facial muscles feel stiff when I wake up?
Do I clench or grind my teeth?
Are my front teeth chipping or worn flat on the edges?
Have my teeth shifted from their original space?
Do I have difficulty opening my mouth wide?
Have I ever experienced trauma to my head or neck such as whiplash?
Do I have numbness in my fingers?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from TMD/TMJ.
TMD/TMJ can be caused from malocclusion, which describes the particular way in which your teeth currently meet.
Trauma, clenching or grinding teeth, excessive gum chewing, nail biting, systemic diseases and developmental abnormalities may cause TMD/TJD.
TMD/TJD disorders are caused from an imbalance in the working relationship of the jaw and the muscles that move the jaw.
Jaw imbalance results in; muscle fatigue, spasms, joint dysfunction, and changes in teeth position and shape.
TMD/TJD can also be very painful and cause headaches. It can be treated.
Discuss these symptoms with Dr.Tharp if you have any concerns about TMD/TMJ.
Tooth Color Fillings (Composite Resin)
Tooth color fillings, (composite resin), are mercury free fillings used for restoring decayed teeth and are a major cosmetic improvement over silver fillings.
Unlike preparing a tooth for a silver filling, not as much tooth structure has to be removed to make an adequate preparation to receive the composite resin filling material. Composite fillings bond to the tooth to create a strong and single cohesive unit.
Composite fillings have many benefits over silver fillings.
Silver fillings have a higher incident of cracking teeth.
It has been shown in studies that silver fillings expand and contract more than composite resin fillings.
These changes may contribute to fatigue of the tooth and resulting in tooth fractures.
If a tooth becomes fractured, it usually needs a crown.
Tooth color fillings recreate natural looking teeth. They give the appearance of not having any fillings in your mouth.
Tooth color filings of composite resin provide a whiter and brighter smile.
They give a more youthful appearance.

Rembrandt One-Hour Smile Whitening
In one hour, Dr. Tharp can whiten teeth up to ten shades by using the most advanced type of power light bleaching.
The Rembrandt One-Hour Smile Whitening Procedure ensures patients they are getting the most revolutionary technique for the best possible smile.
We are committed to providing a fast and comfortable in-office bleaching procedure. Rembrandt One-Hour Whitening Procedure helps to fight bleaching relapses.
This means that you will not ordinarily need a return visit, despite stain producing activities such as a daily latte or red wine with your dinner.
The Rembrandt One-Hour Smile Whitening Procedure is clinically proven to provide fast and uniform whitening results.
Dr. Tharp bleaches all of your teeth at once. Problem and discolored individual teeth may also be whitened on and individual basis as needed.
In addition, the Rembrandt One-Hour Whitening Procedure contains a desensitizing agent that helps eliminate the sensitivity that people may have experienced during a previous method of professional tooth whitening.
Many of Dr. Tharp’s patients want a celebrity looking smile that exudes youth, health, beauty and confidence.
Digital Radiography (X-rays)
Digital radiography is the latest advancement in dental imaging.
Digital imaging incorporates computer technology in the capture, display and enhancement of digital x-rays.
Digital x-rays are much more sensitive than conventional film and require significantly lower radiation exposure, up to 90% less than conventional x-rays.
The results of digital radiology provide better diagnostic ability with sharper and more detailed images than film.
Dr. Tharp can project your x-rays onto a monitor. The on screen display will look like an x-ray but much larger.
Dr. Tharp can zoom in on your x-ray, sharpen the image and make other enhancements.
These enhanced images make it clearer for Dr. Tharp to see and understand your oral situation.
A decision on your treatment can be mutually agreed upon when you see what the dentist sees.
Intraoral Camera
Until recently, x-rays and a hand mirror were ways that dentist’s had to show you everything going on in your mouth.
The intra-oral camera is a tiny video camera device that enlarges your teeth many times. These enlarged images are then displayed onto a monitor.
You may then see any and all dental problems you might have.
Broken down fillings, decay, cracked teeth, plaque, calculus accumulation, and excessive wear can all be viewed on screen.
You participate in your own treatment by seeing what we see.
This gives you a clear visual understanding of your own dental situation.
Being better informed enables you to make decisions about your treatment.
Understanding your needs and your own dental situation, a plan of treatment can be agreed upon with Dr. Tharp.
Insurance
Dental insurance plans help defray the costs of dental treatment just like medical insurance does. Keep in mind that dental insurance plans vary widely regarding reimbursement levels.
Insurance plans pay a set percentage of dental fees. Insurance companies call these fees customary. Most often, they do not reflect the fees that the dentist charges. Unfortunately, regulatory agencies do not require insurance companies to disclose exactly how they determine their levels of reimbursement.
In addition, if there is more than one way to provide treatment, then dental insurance companies select the least expensive alternative treatment. This means that while a crown may obviously be the best treatment for you, the insurance company would rather place a very large filling. As most of us have experienced, the least expensive treatment is not always the right choice.
Would you rather have a tooth restored once or twice or even three times?
It is your decision.
We are very happy to fill out and to file all of the necessary forms for you. We do everything possible to help you to receive the full benefits that your particular insurance coverage provides.
However, we can make no absolute guarantee of any estimated coverage from your own dental insurance company.
Remember that your insurance policy is an agreement between you and your insurance company. We DO NOT accept assignment of benefits. Therefore, you are responsible for payment of any dental services.
In short, dental insurance varies widely. It is not always clear how your benefits will apply to you. We promise to do everything possible to help you to submit your insurance claims.

Payment Options (Care Credit)
How would you like to have your dentistry complete and make no interest payments for up to 12 months?
Dr. Tharp offers his patients the opportunity to place their balance onto Care Credit and make equal payments for up to 12 months, interest free.
Care Credit allows you to start treatment immediately and to save your cash or credit cards for other expenses.
If you pay at least the minimum monthly payment each month when due and pay the balance in full, there is no interest charged onto your account.
There are also twenty four, thirty six, and forty eight month extended payment plans.
These plans are at a 11.9% annual percentage rate for treatment fees of $1,000 or more.
You may complete an application in our office or apply online for an immediate decision. If you apply in our office, we will obtain a decision from Care Credit in minutes.
You may find additional information about Care Credit at http://www.carecredit.com .
Other payment options include; cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover
Cavity Detection
Our office uses a new technology that detects hidden decay where it can be eliminated in the early stages. The care that you or your family receive in our office always includes state of the art equipment that can benefit you many ways.
Among the newest technologies is a small laser instrument called the DIAGNOdent.
This instrument scans your teeth with harmless laser light; searching for hidden decay.
Locating hidden decay before it destroys tooth structures, from the inside out, is a big problem in dentistry.
Fluoride supplements in; dental materials, toothpaste, and drinking water have made tooth surfaces harder and more resistant to decay.
Because of this, diagnosing cavities is even more difficult because the disease process can start through microscopic defects and then can spread into the softer tooth structure beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, the outside surface of the tooth appears to be healthy.
X-rays can be unreliable in detecting sub surface decay when the decay is in the early stages.
DIAGNOdent provides instant feedback on the health of a tooth.
A pen-like probe will glide over all tooth surfaces, checking the health of the teeth.
A number scale and an alarm will signal if there are any signs of hidden decay.
This new technology is very safe and pain free.
DIAGNOdent defends against future teeth repairs.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide gas helps you to relax and lessens any apprehensions and fears that you may have. You will experience a sense of being relaxed; unconcerned, happy and have a feeling of disconnection with the office procedures.
You will still be able to communicate while inhaling the gas.
Nitrous oxide is used in addition to anesthetic. The tooth area that Dr. Tharp is working on will still need to be numbed.
A few minutes after the gas is turned off all of the effects subside and your senses return to their original state.