At Whitlow Dental Care, we believe that extraordinary customer service is not a collection of words but a set of consistent actions and behaviors. Everything that we do is passionately directed at the care for you, our patient, by always delivering on our promises. We want Whitlow Dental Care to be your number one choice for your dental care needs. We know that your trust and loyalty can only be earned by being accountable to deliver on the promises we make.
It is our mission to continually and efficiently provide the people of this community access to exceptional quality modern dentistry. It is our goal to continually meet and exceed customer expectations while maintaining the highest standards and make each patient feel as comfortable as possible.
Whitlow Dental Care has been here to support and care for the Central Valleys residents since 1935. Dr. O.L. Orme, Dr. Kurt Whitlows Grandfather, first opened our doors in 1935. Then Dr. Dean Whitlow started taking care of our patients in 1958. Dr. Evan Orme, Dr. Kurt Whitlows Uncle, began practicing in 1964 and now Dr. Kurt Whitlow has been serving the central Valley since 1987. Whitlow Dental Care is a third generation family business. We care for our patients just like family because they are our family.
Whitlow Dental Care is proud to carry on the tradition of providing high quality dentistry in a warm and friendly atmosphere started by Dr. Dean Whitlow decades ago. This is how our reputation has been built over the years, and we know youll love the personalized service and care you receive from your dedicated team at Whitlow Dental Care.
Whitlow Dental Care has been able to be successful for the last 82 years because of our patients and the quality of work that is being completed in our office. The many years in practice demonstrates the trust and confidence that our patients have in us.
Teeth whitening from a dentist is a great way to improve the appearance of your smile and remove stubborn stains. A common question that many patients ask relates to how long the results last, and this review offers insights into what you can expect when visiting a dentist for professional, in-office teeth whitening.Many cosmetic dentists
The All-on-4 procedure is a popular choice for those looking to undergo a hybrid method of tooth replacement. Implant-supported dentures combine dental implants and dentures into one restoration, which allows patients to smile confidently, speak comfortably and eat naturally. While the All-on-4 procedure is relatively popular, it is still rather new to dentistry, which is
Thinking about getting dental implants to take care of your missing tooth problem? Implants are commonly chosen by dental patients who are in need of tooth replacement services. While there are other replacement options available, these do not offer the unique benefits that implants do. One of these benefits is preventing jawbone loss, which is
Cavities are small holes that only affect a small portion of a tooth, right? They can be if you see the dentist as soon as you notice them. For the people who put off seeing the dentist until they run out of options, cavities can become so much more.A small hole in the tooth can
Whitlow Dental Care is a Fresno based family dentist practice that treats patients of all ages. We are committed to delivering the highest quality dental care and do so using advanced dental equipment. We are a cosmetic dentist that offers services like checkups, teeth cleaning, crowns, veneers and more.
Dr. Kurt Whitlow has been serving the patients of our community for the last 30 years. He utilizes his extensive training and expertise to treat even the most challenging dental situations. In addition he has instructed many other dentists inside and outside of his practice on the latest in dental implant techniques.
Dr. Kurt Whitlow attended California State University Fresno and received his bachelors degree in 1984. He then graduated from University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in 1987. He is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a member of the Fresno Madera Dental Society, the California Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Dr. Kurt Whitlow is also one of the only few hundred dentist in California to be board certified in I.V. Sedation.
Dr. Kurt Whitlow has been using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to enhance the lives of denture patients and those with debilitated teeth for over 30 years. Dr. Kurt Whitlow has done hundreds of full mouth and cosmetic dental rehabilitations. He has successfully placed thousands of dental implants. As well he has done hundreds of sedation cases for fearful patients and for those who want to have a lot of dental work done in one visit.
Dr. Kurt Whitlow was born and raised in Fresno and is a third-generation dentist. Through the Christian Medical and Dental Association, he has made several trips to the Dominican republic as well as locations here in the central valley to provide free dental care to people in need.
Dr. Kurt Whitlow has been married to his wife Janice for 35 years and has four adult children. Some of Dr. Kurt Whitlow's hobbies include snow and water skiing, hiking and the annual Bass Lake Triathlon. He is also a big fan of Giants Baseball.
Dr. Yau is our associate dentist and has been with us since October 2020. She has a very calming personality and is exceptionally light handed. She received her Bachelor of Science from University of California, Davis. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Dental surgery from Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. She is a local native to Fresno and is happy to be serving her community. She is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and the Fresno Madera Dental Society.
Darci is our office manager and accounts coordinator. She makes sure our office runs smoothly and efficiently with patient care being the utmost importance. Darci can help you with any questions that you may have regarding your account. You can rest assure that all of your insurance concerns will be addressed and handled quickly and efficiently. Darci has been with the Whitlow Dental Care family since May 2010.
Alex is part of our front and back-office staff. She works both in the back office and in the front office so she can easily answer procedure questions you may have. Alex attended Reedley College and started her career as a Registered Dental Assistant. She is bilingual so she can assist any of our Spanish speaking patients. We were proud to welcome Alex to the Whitlow Dental Care family in October 2004.
Nicole received her training and Registered Dental Assistant license from Reedley College. She has been part of the Whitlow Dental Care team since July of 2013. Nicole is our implant coordinator. She makes sure that we have all of the necessary implant items needed for each procedure. Nicole helps make the patient feel comfortable and addresses any concerns they may have.
Vivian is our back-office supervisor. She started with the Whitlow Dental Care Team in September of 1978 as the assistant for Dr. Dean Whitlow. Vivian continued as Dr. Kurt Whitlow assistant once he took over the practice. She holds a Registered Dental Assistant license with Extended Functions.
Rose completed her training and received her license from Brightwood College. She has been part of our team since October 2020. She is soft spoken and very calming. You will usually find her assisting Dr. Yau.
Donna, our dental hygienist and soft tissue therapist, she attended Fresno City College and received her license. Donna has superior skills to help you maintain healthy gums and bone support. She enjoys the opportunity to help our patients become healthier and more educated about their oral health. She has been with the Whitlow Dental Care Family for over 20 years.
Gabriel is our Lab Technician and works in our on-site laboratory. He has been creating dental appliances for over 15 years. He strives to make your new smile look as natural as possible. Gabriel has been part of the Whitlow Dental Team since September 2020.
Dental implants can be an ideal solution to replacing damaged or missing teeth. They can restore not only the functionality of teeth but can provide a great new look as well. Dental implants are a standard cosmetic dental option offered at Whitlow Dental Care.
People tend to assume that the gap left behind after losing a permanent adult tooth can remain empty. The reality is that an exposed tooth socket faces the risk of infection, can cause teeth to shift out of alignment, and can cause other issues as well. With a dental implant, we can help patients avoid those oral health issues We have the tools and skills necessary to provide patients with a customized dental implant to meet their specific needs.
Dental implants can even help prevent facial structure from changing, providing the functionality needed to perform the same as before the original tooth was damaged. Supplementing them with a dental crown can also ensure that the dental implant looks perfectly natural along with your other teeth.
Once you are cleared for the procedure, the team at Whitlow Dental Care will take an impression of your mouth to create a new tooth in a dental lab. Each synthetic tooth will match the size and shape of the surrounding teeth, along with having a perfect color match. This way your smile will appear completely natural once we complete the procedure. Many patients are satisfied with the results since no one can tell the difference between which teeth are real and which ones are synthetic.
Teeth restored with implants will not get cavities. A replacement tooth, or crown, does not decay like a natural tooth. However, you still need to brush, floss and care for it and your surrounding natural teeth in the same manner as natural teeth. Regular professional cleanings and dental checkups are also essential.
The next step in the procedure is to implant a metal post under the gum line. This aspect of the procedure is what sets an implant apart from other forms of cosmetic dentistry. The metal post is secured to the jawbone in order to create a durable, synthetic root system that rivals the strength of natural roots; with one exception that the metal cannot face infection. Over the course of a couple of months, the metal post and jawbone will fuse together. This creates a level of durability that cannot be replicated in other types of procedures.
Afterward, we will secure the new synthetic tooth to the metal post at the surface of the gums. The new tooth is attached so securely, that patients can eat their favorite foods, maintain an active lifestyle, play sports, and more, without fear of their tooth becoming loose or falling out. Patients can enjoy the benefits that come from never having to worry about their tooth again.
The team at Whitlow Dental Care provide dental implants in a way that is comfortable and functional. We take the time to make sure that every aspect of the procedure is completed correctly the first time.
Once implants have been installed, they are extremely easy to care for. We hear patients throughout Fresno ask questions that range from 'Do implants come out' to 'How do I brush my teeth'. Fortunately, the answers are not as complex as some people might believe. Since we install dental implants by creating a synthetic root system, they are durable and secure. The dental implants will not fall out or become loose. This means you can go play basketball, run in a 10k marathon, and wrestle with your kids without worrying about your tooth coming out.
In order to care for your implants, we advise patients to brush and floss their teeth throughout the day like normal. Additionally, it is important to schedule dental exams and cleanings with Dr. Whitlow at least twice a year. The team at Whitlow Dental Care will help to clean your teeth and ensure that they stay healthy. While dental implants cannot become infected themselves, the teeth around them can. If, in the future, you suffer from a severe case of gum disease or a dental abscess, the infection can spread into your jawbone. This puts your implants in jeopardy because in order to stay secure, the jawbone must be in good health. If it becomes infected, your dental implants and all of your teeth will be in jeopardy.
A. Generally, this is not a good idea. We find that it is generally much better not to attach implants to teeth. We frequently attach implants to each other, which can improve strength and works well. So in a case like this, although it may be more expensive in the short term to place two implants instead of one, the long-term success is likely to be much better with the two implants.
Q. I lost my upper back teeth on one side and have gone for years without doing anything about it. My sinuses always seem to bother me more on that side than on the side that I have back teeth. Could these problems be related to one another?
A. In a large majority of people who are missing their upper back teeth for a long period of time, is the increasing downward growth of the maxillary sinus. At birth, it is the size of a pea and progressively grows as the skull matures. This growth is at the expense of the surrounding bone. If you are considering replacing those upper back teeth with fixed teeth that stay in all the time, it may be necessary to perform a sinus elevation procedure to allow room for placement of dental implants into this area to support those teeth. This involves placement of bone and/or bone substitutes into an area which was previously occupied by the lower part of the maxillary sinus. Most importantly, this procedure increases the available bone use to place implants and restore the missing back teeth.
A. In most cases, with the new options available today in the field of dental implants, some form of treatment is possible. We encourage people to get help as soon as possible if they are already having some problems with their current situation. These problems include excessive use of denture adhesives, chewing only soft food, unable to taste some foods, constant mouth sores, unhappy with the appearance of one's teeth and bite position (in some cases the nose and chin getting closer together). The sooner we correct the problems with dental implants, the more choices one has available for treatment. If you have any or all of the above symptoms, implants can very well be the answer for you.
A. It is not necessary to have an implant for every tooth that is being replaced. The number of implants necessary to provide support depends on the type of implants used and the type of teeth (removable vs. non- removable) that will be attached to the implants. A thorough oral exam and panoramic x-ray is all that is necessary in most cases, to determine which implant can be used and how many must be used. Sometimes additional X-rays or CT scans are used in more complicated cases.
Q. I consulted a dentist several years ago about using implants to replace my lower denture and he told me that I did not have adequate bone available to place enough in-the-bone implants without danger of fracturing my now fragile jawbone. Are there any alternatives?
A. Because of the advances in the field of implantology, there are now more choices and techniques. It is rare for a person to not be able to receive an implant or a combination of implants. Today we have available many types of implants designed to accommodate multiple problems.
A. Teeth that have root canals can fracture more easily than other teeth because they are weaker and somewhat dehydrated. They can sometimes be as brittle as glass. In the past, the best available treatment was to remove the tooth and file down the adjacent teeth to make a bridge - caps on the adjacent teeth with an attached 'dummy' tooth between. Sometimes this still is the only way. However, in many cases an implant can replace the fractured tooth and we will not need to grind down a tooth to at all.