A graduate of the Ohio State University's program in dental hygiene and School of Dentistry, Dr. Kathy has worked in the oral health care field for over 40 years. From starting in dental hygiene during high school to establishing her own practice, she has continually and passionately cared for her patients' smiles. Additionally, Dr. Kathy received her mastership in dentistry from the Academy of General Dentists and a fellowship from the College of Dentistry International. Since 1989 Dr. Kathy has served the public in interest of their oral health as a member and leader of local dental societies, chairperson of Give Kids a Smile Day, and executive board member of the Ohio Academy of General Dentistry. In 2000 and with the assistance of others, Dr. Kathy created the Medina County Oral Health Care Coalition which was instrumental in opening a dental clinic to care for low-income individuals and families.

Dr. Maryann grew up in Parma, graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio with degrees in chemistry and history. Dr. Maryann attended the Ohio State University College of Dentistry graduating in 2000.

Dr. Jon grew up on a dairy farm outside a small town in northwest Ohio called Kalida. He graduated from Vanderbilt University, in Tennessee, then attended the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, also graduating in 2000.

Joanne is married to her husband Tim and has two wonderful children, Joel and LaNae. She currently lives in Wadsworth. When she is not at work she loves to spend time with her two children and values church. Some of her hobbies include gardening in her flowerbeds and traveling with family and friends. Joanne looks forward to meeting all the patients here at the office.

Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth.

The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The first part of the process is to install the implant itself, where a screw is placed into the jaw bone. An incision is made in the gum so that the implant can be inserted. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured.

The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns installed so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile.

After the implant has healed it is time to place an abutment on the implant. The abutment serves as the base for your new tooth. One this is placed an impression of the abutment is taken and is used to create your permanent restoration. Some offices have an onsite lab to create the crown, but others will have to send it to an outside lab. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look just like it used to, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.

Teeth extractions are a fairly common procedure. Teeth often cause problems as they are trying to protrude through the gums. When a tooth is impacted, it means the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may only emerge partially.

When a tooth only emerges partially a flap of skin, called an operculum, may form over the tooth. This can make the tooth hard to clean, and pieces of food may be caught under the skin. This makes it easy for an infection, called pericoronitis, to develop. It will usually go away on its own, but it causes swelling and pain in the area.

Impacted teeth can potentially cause problems, like infections, and need to be removed. Extractions can range from a single tooth, to removing four teeth at once. Based on the preference of the doctor and/or the patient, a local anesthetic could be used to numb the areas where the teeth will be extracted. Others will prefer to go under a general anesthetic so that they will be sedated during the procedure.

The gum tissue around the tooth is cut open to reveal the tooth. The tooth is loosened by gripping it tightly and wiggling it back and forth until it can be lifted out of the gums. Sometimes a tooth may be impacted so tightly that it cannot be simply lifted out of the gums. In cases like this the tooth will be broken up into pieces first before being removed. Depending on the incision and extraction site, sutures may be needed to close the area. Soluble sutures are the best option, which will dissolve on their own.

After the surgery you will need to rest. You need to be driven home by a friend or family member because of the anesthesia. You can expect for the extraction site to bleed for a little while after the surgery. Gauze will be applied at the completion of the surgery, and you will need to change it when it becomes soaked. If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours you should call your dentist. Rest when you return home, but do not lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. Prop your head up on a pillow when lying down. Your dentist will prescribe you pain medication, so if you become sore take as directed. You can also use an ice pack for the pain. Your dentist might also provide you with a cleaning solution to clean the extraction site.

When drinking, make sure you do not use a straw. The sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process. The same goes for smoking. If you have prolonged pain, bleeding, irritation, or don't feel that the extraction site is healing properly call your dentist for a follow up.