Services

Today’s Smile Dental in Columbia, MD was founded in 2006 by Dr. Stanley Parks. As a family dentist, Dr. Parks and his team provide patients of every age with the tools, treatment, and knowledge they need to achieve their best oral health. Whether you are a returning or new patient you can count on us to get to know you and your needs, and then create a personalized treatment plan.

To ensure you and your loved ones feel welcome and relaxed in our care, we will involve you in every decision and help you establish your goals for your oral health. As part of our commitment to modern, affordable care, we utilize state-of-the-art technology including digital radiographs, digital patient charts, and dental insurance processing.

We will work with you to develop a comprehensive oral hygiene maintenance plan. This includes scheduling routine dental cleanings with our office. During these visits, our hygienist will remove any tartar or plaque buildup on your teeth. Then we finish by flossing and polishing your teeth. These visits help your smile and mouth remain healthy and allow us to monitor any changes in your oral health. In addition, we may recommend you receive fluoride treatments and x-rays during a cleaning.

For patients who have teeth which have been badly damaged by decay or trauma, a dental crown is a reliable restoration option. Crowns are also utilized after root canals. The crown covers or fully encases the remaining tooth structure and restores its strength, size, and shape. To provide you with a natural-looking restoration, the crown can be matched to the natural color of your surrounding teeth.

Dental bridges are utilized for patients who are missing one or more teeth due to tooth decay, gum disease, or injury. The bridge is used to replace the missing teeth by literally bridging the gap between remaining teeth. It is permanently bonded to surrounding teeth for support. Your dental bridge can be made from a range of materials including porcelain, alloys, gold, or a combination of these materials. In order for the bridge to be successful, you need to maintain good oral health.

Tooth-colored or composite fillings are used to seal off spaces in a tooth after a cavity has been removed. This prevents bacteria from entering the tooth and causing more decay. This also helps restore function, stability, and strength to the tooth. Composite materials provide you with a more conservative, natural-looking restoration option than silver/amalgam fillings.

Also known as endodontic therapy, a root canal is necessary when a cavity reaches the pulp of a tooth, causing an infection. If your tooth has experiencing severe trauma, a root canal may also be necessary. During this treatment, the diseased pulp is cleaned out and the interior of your tooth is disinfected. We then seal the canals of the tooth, which helps prevent future infections. At the end of the treatment, your tooth is restored with a crown or filling.

If you have lost a tooth or teeth due to injury or decay, it is important to close any gaps in your mouth. This prevents your remaining teeth from shifting, which can destabilize your bite and cause discomfort. A dental implant is a great restoration option. When properly maintained, an implant can last a lifetime. The implant consists of titanium rods which are surgically placed into the bone beneath the gums. These rods fuse to the jawbone and provide a stable foundation for a replacement bridge, crown, or dentures.

It takes three to six months to allow the metal posts to fuse with the bone. After the replacement teeth are placed, they will look, feel, and function like natural teeth. You must have sufficient bone structure in order to be a candidate for dental implant surgery.

If you have insufficient bone structure for dental implants, this procedure may be used to restore an area of the jaw. The graft may consist of your natural bone, processed, or synthetic bone materials. The resulting graft is used to provide implant rods with a solid foundation in your jaw. It can take several months for the transplanted bone to grow enough to successfully support the implant hardware. We will work with you to determine which grafting option will best fit your oral health needs.

A dental extraction may help restore your oral health if you have a tooth that is damaged beyond repair. Our practice provides both simple and surgical tooth extractions. Our team will discuss the available treatment options, as well as replacement options, with you. It is important to replace the extracted tooth to preserve your oral health and prevent problems with the surrounding teeth. To ensure you receive consistent, comfortable care, we perform extractions right in our office.

It is important to keep your gums in good health because they provide the foundation for your teeth. Gum problems can cause greater issues for your oral health and overall health. During your routine visits, we will examine your gums and clean pockets along the gum line. This is a preventive measure against gum disease and gingivitis. If you have any signs of developing gum disease, we will discuss the available treatment options and help you restore your oral health.

As you age, fine lines and wrinkles are bound to form around your forehead and mouth. To help improve your appearance, our practice provides both Botox and Juvederm dermal fillers. Both of these products do not require incisions or stitches and can give you a smoother, younger appearance in just one visit.

Botox is used to improve the appearance of crow’s feet, lines between eyebrows, and moderate to severe frown lines. It does not require incisions or stitches, just simple injections. In addition, you will not need any downtime to recover after your treatment. In just one appointment, your skin will look smoother and younger.

Dermal fillers offer another option for patients interested in improving the contours of their face. If you have noticed parentheses (smile) lines, corner lines, or vertical lip lines, you may benefit from dermal fillers. Dermal fillers are injected into the skin around your mouth and nose. It is a non-surgical treatment and often only requires just one visit to our office.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can present itself with symptoms such as snoring and daytime sleepiness. Luckily, there are treatments and devices available that can make it easier to manage OSA. There are dental devices along with CPAP that can improve your quality of sleep! A sleep study should be performed to accurately diagnose.

Mandibular Advancement Devices which look like athletic mouthguards can be fitted uniquely to you. This device keeps the soft tissues in the back of the mouth and throat from blocking the airway during sleep, allowing for more restful sleep.

Tongue-Retaining Mouthpieces can also be used to prevent the tongue from falling back and blocking the airway.