We are committed to creating healthy, vibrant Ruston smiles. Our team loves making you the focus of every visit. Our emphasis on mixing innovation with compassion creates a unique experience that supports wellness for all ages. When you visit our modern office, you’ll discover a comfortable place for your family’s dental care. This is as good as dental care gets!
Call (253) 851-4025Chipped a tooth, lost a crown, or woke up with pain you can't ignore? Call our Gig Harbor office at (253) 851-4025. We are dedicated to helping our patients during an emergency and will accommodate you as soon as possible. If the office is closed when you call, you will receive specific instructions on how to obtain emergency advice or care.
Learn More About Ruston Emergency DentistryA focus on preventive dentistry helps you maintain the highest standard of oral health while limiting dental expenditures. A partnership between you and our team pays dividends, protecting your smile now and well into the future.
Everyone loves the smooth, glassy surface of freshly polished teeth. Our registered dental hygienists help you maintain optimal health, which goes far beyond polished enamel. With a regular preventive schedule, we can remove the bacterial deposits that lead to dental disease. But we can also monitor for silent problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease before they become major issues.
Learn More About Ruston Teeth CleaningGum disease continues to be the leading cause of tooth loss in adults today. A devastating condition when left untreated, periodontitis doesn't have to write your story. But a strategic approach with focused treatment and home care is essential to control this chronic bacterial infection. Plus, this disease can aggravate other serious medical conditions that may seem unrelated to your mouth.
Learn More About Ruston Periodontal TherapyEvery time you're in our chair, we review many aspects of your health. Subtle changes in the lining of your mouth call for a closer evaluation, regardless of whether you use tobacco or not. Early detection of oral cancer saves many lives every year, and we're trained to recognize a myriad of oral tissue abnormalities.
Learn More About Ruston Oral Cancer ScreeningDeep crevices run across the chewing surface of molars. Even though a toothbrush can skim across these surfaces, the narrow grooves trap bacteria beyond the bristles. Cavities may form without warning, destroying valuable tooth structure. Protecting the grooves with a bonded sealer might be worth exploring.
Learn More About Ruston Dental SealantsMany people feel anxious before and during dental procedures. It's okay to feel nervous or even fearful when anticipating an appointment. We understand that our patients aren't all the same, and we have great news: You can experience dental treatment in comfort with nitrous oxide commonly called laughing gas.
Nitrous oxide, an inhalation sedative, brings one of the safest and easiest sedation techniques to nearly any procedure. Patients from young to old may benefit from a dose obtained just by breathing in and out. Nitrous oxide wears off instantly so you don't need a companion to drive you home. The relaxation it provides helps many anxious patients get the care they need everyday.
Learn More About Ruston Nitrous OxideClearCorrect straightens teeth with a series of clear, removable aligners instead of brackets and wires. It is used for crowding, gaps, and teeth that have drifted since childhood braces. The aligners come out to eat and to brush. An exam and X-rays tell you whether aligners can do what your teeth need.
Learn More About Ruston Clear CorrectNot many years ago, losing a tooth left you with few options for replacement. While permanent teeth should provide a lifetime of function, it doesn't always end up that way. They may be lost from an accident, deep cavities, or gum disease. And since teeth start as a full set, even one missing tooth may disrupt the complex function of chewing, the first step in digestion. As teeth slowly lean and migrate into extra spaces, wear and cracking from excessive forces often create escalating problems.
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a small post set into the jawbone. Once bone grows around it, a connector and a custom crown go on top — so the new tooth stands on its own, without filing down the healthy teeth beside it.
Implant work is one of our areas of expertise, from the planning stage through to the crown that finishes the tooth.
Learn More About Ruston Dental ImplantsDental bridges have traditionally been a top choice for replacing missing teeth. With the widespread use of dental implants, more options are now available to bridge gaps in your smile. For some patients with time and anatomic limitations for which implants are not an option, dental bridges are still a valuable option for tooth replacement that are esthetic and natural in appearance.
Learn More About Ruston Porcelain BridgesSometimes a removable appliance is the best way to replace missing teeth. Whether a partial denture or a complete denture would restore your mouth to more optimal function and appearance, there's a design that will work for you. Dental implants frequently combine with dentures for unprecedented stability and confidence.
Learn More About Ruston Full/Partial DenturesWhile we focus on helping you maintain your teeth for a lifetime, sometimes certain teeth need to be removed. Wisdom teeth, extra teeth, or very crowded teeth present situations that may mean treatment involving removal. In some cases, severely decayed or cracked teeth, or those missing large amounts of supporting bone leave extraction as the only viable option.
Despite the best intentions, teeth sometimes need to be removed. Regardless of the situation, this minor surgical procedure can be brought together in a way that considers your short and long-term concerns. From anxiety control to planning for tooth replacement, we'll factor in every aspect of your case.
Learn More About Ruston Tooth ExtractionsSome problems in your mouth are solved surgically. A tooth that has to come out, a wisdom tooth with no room, bone or gum tissue that needs repair, a change in the lining of your mouth that needs a biopsy. Drs. Matt and Justine Priess handle this care in our Gig Harbor office, and tell you plainly when a case belongs with a specialist instead.
Learn More About Ruston Oral SurgeryWhile many patients are concerned about root canals, modern techniques often make this procedure as quick and simple as any other procedure. Infected teeth in danger of removal can be disinfected and filled with a sealer, leaving a safe solution for problematic situations.
Learn More About Ruston Root CanalsWhitening, porcelain veneers, composite fillings, gum contouring, porcelain crowns, ClearCorrect aligners, Botox — cosmetic dentistry is a set of options, not one procedure. Tell Drs. Matt and Justine Priess the one thing you’d change about your smile, and we’ll tell you which of these actually answers it, and in what order.
Learn More About Ruston Cosmetic DentistryVeneers provide an artist's touch to your smile. Custom-crafted, these ultra-thin porcelain creations work in magical ways. Regardless of your vision for your smile, chances are veneers offer an answer. When today's modern materials meet our passion for cosmetic excellence, you'll be amazed at what you see smiling back at you in the mirror.
Learn More About Ruston Porcelain VeneersBotox does two jobs here. In the masseter, it can ease the jaw soreness behind TMJ symptoms and night-time clenching, and take some force off teeth that are wearing down. In the frontalis, it can soften forehead lines.
Either way, it is placed in the office by the same practice that looks at your bite, your enamel and your jaw joint.
Learn More About Ruston Botox TreatmentCavities, chips, and fractures occur on any tooth surface throughout the mouth. Composite filling material provides a versatile solution to many common problems. Blended into a prepared area, the composite polishes to a smooth, undetectable surface. Composite fillings are a conservative and highly esthetic option.
Learn More About Ruston Composite FillingsCoffee, tea, red wine and thinning enamel all darken teeth, and they darken them in different ways. Professional whitening, in the chair or with a take-home kit, uses controlled-strength gel, and the plan can be adjusted if your teeth are sensitive. It lightens natural tooth structure only, so crowns, veneers and fillings keep the shade they were made in.
Learn More About Ruston Teeth WhiteningCracked a tooth or lost a large old filling? A crown covers what is left and puts the tooth back to work. We take a digital scan instead of a tray of impression goo, and your porcelain crown is designed and made the same day.
No temporary crown. No second appointment two weeks later. You leave with the finished tooth.
Learn More About Ruston Porcelain CrownsGum contouring reshapes the gum line — for a gummy smile, for gums that sit unevenly across the front teeth, or to expose more tooth before a crown or filling. It is usually done in one visit with the area numbed, and the gums are usually tender for a few days afterward.
Reshaping changes the shape of the gum. It does not treat gum disease — we check your gum health first.
Learn More About Ruston Gum ContouringAn onlay sits between a filling and a full crown. It rebuilds the chewing surface and any cusp that is cracked or worn, and leaves the healthy tooth structure around it alone. Your dentist bonds a custom porcelain onlay into the prepared area so the tooth can take everyday chewing again.
Learn More About Ruston Dental OnlaysOne of our goals is to provide the most conservative treatment possible in every situation. Oral appliances offer simple, non-invasive care for a variety of conditions. Regardless of the application, every appliance we prescribe is custom-crafted for you with excellent fit and function.
Teeth are the hardest substance in our bodies and can withstand a tremendous amount of force. But damage can occur to this highly mineralized surface, especially when grinding forces start to wear it away. A habit of nighttime clenching or grinding will harm teeth, muscles, and jaw joints over time. Protecting against abrasive forces is critical in these cases.
Learn More About Ruston Night GuardsOptimal dental health results from a healthy partnership between you and us. While we can provide critical support, your efforts every day make all the difference. And with the unlimited number of product resources available today, we can help you customize a protocol that works perfectly for your dental condition.
Learn More About Ruston Home CareAt North Harbor Dentistry we believe in leading healthy, active lives which may cause accidents that damage our teeth. To help prevent and protect your teeth, we can easily take an impression to make you a custom mouth guard designed for your active lifestyle. In fact, we take pride in supporting nearby sports teams at Peninsula High School by making them complimentary guards.
Learn More About Ruston Sports GuardsOur team loves helping kids grow into healthy adults. At either end of the age spectrum, the bases are covered. Drs. Matt & Justine Priess know that early experiences influence the value kid's place on their oral health as adults. And they choose to seek or avoid future care by how they're treated now. Rest assured, the bar sits high here.
The dentists who see you also see your kids. We are a general family practice, not a pediatric specialty office, and children are welcome at any age. Even babies can come in for a happy visit and get familiar with the office. There is a play area with touchscreen activities, and a warm towel when treatment is done.
Learn More About Ruston Children's DentistryParents know that teen years present unique challenges. When it comes to dental health, rapid changes influence adolescents moving into adulthood. Cavity activity can suddenly accelerate with more independence in food and drink habits. Concurrently, oral hygiene activity sometimes becomes inconsistent especially with braces. A good partnership with our team can set your teen up for a lifetime of benefits.
Learn More About Ruston Teen's DentistrySometimes dental problems follow otherwise healthy people through life. Understanding the causes behind dental disease can eliminate the frustration that builds as teeth deteriorate and gum tissue becomes inflamed. Creating a customized preventive routine can leave you looking forward to the good news at your dental visits.
Learn More About Ruston Adult's DentistryBraces offer benefits at many different stages of life. Identifying problems at an early age often allows ideal timing in orthodontic treatment, resulting in a perfect outcome. Monitoring growth and development at your child's regular preventive visits is just part of our commitment to your family's dental health.
Learn More About Ruston Ortho Screenings