What's New?!
E4D CAD CAM Dentistry
Crowns, Inlays, Onlays and Veneers in ONE VISIT!
Complete Laser Dentistry
Benifiel Dentistry is proud to offer our
patients multiple alternatives for restoring their teeth. Our newest
additions - two state of art lasers - offers another method of removing tooth
decay, usually without the need for local anesthetics. We have also
invested in a soft tissue laser which allows us to do many soft tissue
procedures with less post operative pain and faster healing for the patient.
New: Laser Cavity Detection
Modern dental science now brings us a way to diagnose decay in the pits and fissures of teeth more accurately than ever before. In the past we have relied on the dental explorer to diagnose decay. When the explorer would "stick" in the tooth, we diagnosed this as a decayed area. Unfortunately, by the time this happens, the decay had already progressed. The new Diagnodent uses a laser at 655 nm to fluoresce decay and provide a digital reading showing the degree of the decay. Healthy tooth structure does not fluoresce. This new technology enables us to diagnose and treat decay in its infancy keeping restoration size to a minimum. It also allows us to place preventative sealants in teeth displaying decay beginning in the outer enamel
. 
Your New Dental Home!
We are pleased to announce that we have moved our practice to our new building which opened on December 31, 2001. We have always been able to bring you the latest and greatest that dentistry has to offer. Now we are able to bring it to you in a state of the art facility. Dr. Michael Unthank from Nebraska, who is the nation's top dental office designer along with local architect Joseph Dzierla, designed our new facility. It is located on University Drive, which is just around the corner from our old office.
The new office brings easier access with more available parking than our present location. Added treatment areas allow us to treat emergency patients immediately. The office incorporates more of a closed design than our present office allowing patients more privacy.
We have always strived to provide the very best for our patients. We hope you will enjoy your new dental home. Thank you for your continued support of our practice.
New! One Hour Whitening
We are proud to introduce the new ZOOM WHITENING system by Discus Dental. The ZOOM system can whiten your teeth 3 - 9 shades lighter in just one hour treatment. Call today for an appointment to ZOOM!!! Click here for special offer!
Dr. Benifiel awarded Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry
Dr. Benifiel is one of a select group of dentists nationwide to receive the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) prestigious Fellowship award during the Academy's annual meeting held on July 22, 2000, in Toronto.
As a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Benifiel has been recognized by the Academy's members as a leader who is committed to life long learning and excellence in patient care. The Fellowship award symbolizes the professional responsibility of general dentists to remain current in their profession. To achieve this award, Dr. Benifiel completed a comprehensive written exam and a minimum of 500 hours of quality continuing dental education.
The AGD is an international organization of 36,000 general dentists from the United States, its territories and Canada. Committed to providing quality care and patient education to the public, AGD members are required to take at least 75 hours of continuing dental education every three years.
New Help For Grinding and Clenching
Many patients suffer from a condition called bruxism, more commonly referred to as night grinding. This along with a condition known as clenching causes extreme loading of the muscles of mastication, especially the temporalis muscle. This abnormal loading can result in jaw pain, tempero-mandibular joint disorders, headaches, neckaches, and sore, sensitive teeth. Grinding and clenching also lead to tooth wear resulting in a change in the bite and over time, a collapsed facial profile.
In the past, a full occlusal guard was made to protect the teeth during the night. However, the occlusal guards would not eliminate the forces of clenching and in fact the clenching force would even increase.
A new device is available from dentistry that is designed to inhibit the grinding and clenching forces. This new device is called the Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Device or NTI appliance for short. The NTI suppresses the clenching reflex by preventing the posterior teeth from contacting each other. There is no surface to bite down on or bite into. The temporalis muscles are kept from contracting with their usual intensity. The clenching reflex is suppressed and almost eliminated. The device is a simple, small appliance, which fits over the two front teeth. It has a small ramp or "discluding element". When the lower incisors contact this ramp, it activates the trigeminal nociceptive reflex to suppress jaw elevator muscle contraction. In simple terms, when you bite down on it, it causes your jaw to relax.
Try this simple test: Clench your teeth tightly together. You can actually feel the sides of your face bulge out. That’s the temporalis muscle. Now place a pencil between your front teeth and try to clench again. You notice right away that there is less force on the muscle. That’s how the appliance works.
There is also a daytime appliance available for those who clench uncontrollably during the day.
In just one office visit, we can create a custom-made NTI appliance. If you suffer from grinding or clenching, ask us about the NTI appliance!