Dr. Robert A. Milner received his Bachelors Degree from the University of California Irvine in 1985. In 1989 he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Wisconsin, graduating in the head of his class. After completing a 24-month associateship in Moreno Valley and San Diego, Dr. Milner established private practice in Mission Viejo in 1991. This multi-specialty office was developed to allow patients the best dental care in a single facility.

Dr. Milner strives to provide the latest, most functionally and cosmetically pleasing adult and child dentistry. In more complex or specialty cases, Dr. Milner combines his skill and experience with those of a team of distinguished specialists; namely oral and maxilla facial surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists, periodontists and pediatric dentists, many of whom are part of the office, in order to provide the best possible results.

Dr. Milner is a Califorina state licensed dentist in Mission Viejo. He is also a member of: the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, the American Academy of Oral Medicine, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He has also received numerous awards from several dental honor societies, namely Omicron Kappa Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Nu. Dr. Milner attends various dental study clubs and dental courses monthly to stay current with new dental procedures and techniques in order to provide his patients with the latest and most comprehensive dental treatment available.

Dr. Milners administrative and clinical staff are highly skilled, career-oriented paraprofessionals who have dedicated themselves to you and your individual needs. In addition, our clinical staff members are required to successfully complete written and clinical examinations administered by the State Board of Dental Examiners. As Registered Dental Assistants, they are permitted by the State of California, under supervision with specific limitations, to participate in care of each of our patients.

You are not alone if you feel anxious about a visit to the dentist. We understand and share your concerns and strive to make every dental visits comfortable at our Mission Viejo dental practice. If there is anything else we can do, let us know. In addition to topical and local anesthetic, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and oral sedation are available for those patients who may need a little more. We recommend patients bring stereo head-sets for those who dislike handpiece noises.

To protect our patients and ourselves, our staff wear masks, gloves, glasses, as well as hospital scrub uniforms. We strictly observe all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. All instruments are cleaned, disinfected and routinely sterilized as recommended by the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control. Whenever possible, disposable single use items are used to ensure your safety. Handpieces (drills) are sterilized with a state-of-the-art sterilization unit specifically designed for this purpose. All surfaces in the treatment rooms are cleaned and disinfected after each patient.

At our dental office sterilization is taken very seriously. The most advanced sterilization techniques in infection control are used to ensure a sterile environment. We follow strict regulations administered by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

All instruments in our office, including hand pieces, are heat, pressure, and chemically sterilized. Our sterilization system is tested weekly through a sterilization monitoring program. The operatory rooms are sprayed and wiped with a high-level disinfectant approved by the CDC and EPS, killing any and all bacteria and viruses. As an extra precautionary measure, plastic wraps are applied prior to each patient, further eliminating cross contamination. We understand and share your concern about infection control in the dental office. Our first priority is the health and safety of patients. You honor us with your trust and our goal is to be worth of it always.

At the trusted Mission Viejo dental practice of Dr. Robert Milner, we understand that anything less than a stellar smile can make you feel self-conscious or embarrassed. If you are dismayed by faded, chipped or crooked teeth, we can help you transform your smile into one that youre proud of. With our cosmetic dentistry treatments, our goal is to help you smile without hesitation.

At Dr. Milners dental practice, we understand every smile is unique and we carefully design each plan to meet the unique needs and goals of each patient. By personally guiding you through your treatment plan, we can help ensure that your cosmetic dentistry goals are accomplished.

During your initial evaluation, we will thoroughly examine your teeth for chips, stains, gaps and other aesthetic concerns. We will also take X-rays at the time to check your general dental health. Depending on your needs, we may recommend combining two or more cosmetic treatments to achieve a beautiful smile.

General dentistry services are essential to keeping your mouth clean and healthy, and detecting signs of dental problems in their early stages. In other words, they are services that you need for oral health reasons. Cosmetic dentistry services are optional treatments you elect to have done because you want to improve the appearance of your smile (not necessarily improve the health of your teeth and gums).

If you are unhappy with one or more aesthetic elements of your smile (i.e., tooth color, tooth size, spacing of the front teeth), you may be a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry treatment. If you have any pre-existing oral health problems, they must be addressed before proceeding with cosmetic treatment.

Certain cosmetic procedures may be appropriate for adolescents and teenagers depending on their age, whether their teeth have fully developed and their aesthetic goals. If you have a teen that is interested in cosmetic dentistry, it is best to consult with Dr. Milner about the most appropriate course of action.

It depends on the recommended treatment plan. Some cosmetic dentistry procedures can be completed in a single visit; other procedures require several visits to complete. Talk with Dr. Milner to determine the procedures that are right for you and how many visits it will take to complete those treatments.

Sometimes insurance fully or partially covers certain cosmetic procedures; but most of the time, it does not cover cosmetic treatment at all. Without knowing the details of your individual plan, it is hard to predict whether you qualify for coverage. Consult your insurance provider to determine your coverage and eligibility.

If Dr. Milner determines that you do not have sufficient jawbone to insert a dental implant, he can transplant bone from another part of your body to bolster the jaw. This process is known as bone grafting.

Not all patients need bone grafting ahead of receiving a dental implant, but many do. That is because the longer a tooth is missing in the mouth, the longer the jawbone can atrophy. When the bone does not have a tooth to support, it can shrink and/or get weaker in that area. Since the bone must be dense enough to accept a titanium post, Dr. Milner performs bone grafting when significant atrophying has occurred.

With dental procedures, bone is usually taken from the back of the jaw, the hip or the tibia. You may prefer to use bone from an animal or cadaver rather than your own bone to avoid having surgery on two parts of the body. Both approaches are considered highly effective. Once the bone graft has been placed, it prompts the bone tissue in this area to grow and regenerate. It can take a few months for this process to be complete. Only once the grafting has healed and the jawbone is strong enough can the process of adding a dental implant begin.

Because dental implants are less likely to be successful for patients without adequate gums, if you have receding gums, Dr. Milner may suggest soft tissue grafting ahead of scheduling a dental implant procedure. This common surgery involves taking gum tissue from one part of the mouth and transplanting it to where the gums have receded.

Replacing gum tissue where the dental implant will go serves not only a functional purpose, but also an aesthetic one. If the gums are not high enough to cover the abutment that holds the prosthetic tooth, it is plainly obvious that the tooth is not real.

After tissue grafting, you should use a special mouthwash to keep your mouth clean and bacteria free during recovery since the area should not be flossed. Eat a diet of soft foods for at least a couple weeks. Once the tissue has fully healed, Dr. Milner can proceed with scheduling and performing dental implant surgery.

Dental implants are the closest you can get to a natural tooth. The titanium rod or post of the implant functions like a natural tooth root, and the crown placed on top of the rod or post resembles a healthy tooth.

Implants recreate the appearance of a complete, healthy smile. They enable comfortable biting, chewing and speaking. Implants also promote the health and strength of the jawbone. They are strong, durable and cannot decay.

For suitable candidates dental implants are a proven safe solution for replacing teeth, but every type of surgery carries with it some risk. Possible outcomes include infection at the implant site, potential injury to the surrounding structures such as teeth, or nerve damage. Dr. Milner is well-experienced with implant dentistry, but its important to outline the very unlikely risks associated with this procedure.

Dr. Milner can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or all of the teeth in the upper or lower jaws with dental implants. A single implant post can replace a single tooth. Two implant posts can support a dental bridge or partial denture to replace several teeth. Between two to four implants can support a full denture that replaces all of the top or bottom teeth.

It is very popular for denture wearers to have their dentures anchored to several implant posts. This enhances the stability of the dentures and prevents them from slipping or shifting around in the mouth or making clicking noises. Implant-supported dentures are only removable by a dentist.

The treatment timeline varies by patient, but on average it takes approximately three to six months to get an implant. The first step is an oral surgery procedure to install the implant post in the jawbone; then, it is left to heal. A few months later, the top of the post is mounted with a customized artificial tooth.

Another factor for dental implants is that not all insurance companies cover them. If your insurance plan doesnt cover implants, dont worry, our office provides financing options. Contact us today to learn about them.

Dr. Milner numbs your mouth with a local anesthetic during the surgery to keep you comfortable and relaxed during your procedure. He typically prescribes pain medication that you may take after receiving a dental implant. You should find that this is sufficient to help manage post-surgery discomfort. Eating soft foods or chewing on the other side of the mouth can also reduce the incidence of pain.

Dental implants should be treated the same as your normal teeth. You should brush and floss them regularly to keep them clean and secure in your mouth. If you do not practice proper oral hygiene, you increase your risk of losing further teeth, which may lead to further dental implants.