Dr. Yoo's dental office offers a full array of dental services to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums. We believe that an informed patient is the best patient. Your dental and overall health is important to us and we strive to provide exceptional dental care. Please continue reading to learn more about our specific services.

BIOCOMPATIBLE/MERCURY FREE DENTISTRY

The use of biocompatible materials and the development of appropriate protocols to ensure whole-body patient health is the foundation of our practice. To determine material compatiblity, we recommend a simple blood test called the Clifford Material Reactivity Test, which allows our office to determine, from an extensive list of materials, those materials which can be used with the least degree of risk.
We DO NOT use amalgam, mercury fillings in our practice. Mercury is the most toxic, non-radioactive element on the earth. Due to its poisonous nature, as stated, we DO NOT use mercury filling materials as they can adversely affect the immune, urinary, cardiac, respiratory and digestive systems. Under laboratory conditions, mercury has produced brain cell deterioraton identical to that seen in victims of Alzheimer's disease. To learn more about mercury toxicity, please click here to visit the Dental Amalgam Mercury Fillings (DAMS) website and www.toxicteeth.org.

When we remove mercury fillings, we follow strict protocol to prevent additional mercury exposure, such as:

• Utilizing an efficient suction system in the mouth with a special tip to contain amalgam particles and mercury vapor.
• Operating a vacuum system at maximum efficiency.
• Apply copious amounts of water to the filling during removal.
• Remove the amalgam in large segments to minimize the generation of mercury vapor and amalgam particles.
• Provide the patient and dental staff with a mercury-free source of air.

We DO use a variety of materials including porcelain, resin and high-noble gold, depending on the treatment and patient compatability. 

FUNCTIONAL ORTHODONTICS

Orthodontic dentistry is a dental specialization that deals with problems of tooth alignment and bite problems. In traditional dentistry, the goal is to straighten teeth to create a visibly attractive smile.
Dr. Yoo feels that this view of orthodontic dentistry is not enough and that approach can lead to further dental and health related problems. Rather than just limiting orthodontic treatment to teeth straightening, Dr. Yoo's approach is a practice known as Functional Orthodontics. Functional Orthodontics is usually accomplished in two phases: The first phase is to ensure the muscles and nerves are in a stable and healthy position utilizing a variety of techniques and then Phase II includes teeth moved to a position where all structures are in harmony.

NON-SURGICAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY

Did you know that over 75% of American adults over the age of 35 have periodontal (gum) disease? Periodontal diseases are caused by specific bacterial infections. Of the 500+ oral microbes known, most are harmless, with only a handful associated with periodontal disease. As noted in Dr. David Kennedy's book, "How To Save Your Teeth" ( which can be purchased through the Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation (PPNF) ) "many kinds of bacteria live in the mouth. They collect on the teeth, gums and tongue. Bacteria form a sticky film called plaque. Bacterial plaque is one of the causes of tooth decay and gum disease".

Our Registered Dental Hygienists are trained to identify and evaluate microorganisms with a microscopic examination and provide non-surgical techniques in conjunction with patient education to treat periodontal (gum) infections and disease. There are eight different kinds of single-cell microorganisms present in gum disease:

• Spirochetes: snake-like, they wiggle and worm their way into the tissues of the mouth. One of the few bacteria that can eat through skin, feasting on blood and fibrin.
• Small gliding rods: short and cigar shaped, move rapidly, tough to kill - seen growing on bone and may actually destroy bone.
• Large gliding rods: longer and more graceful in motion, destroy supporting bone structures
• Spinning rods: whirling in no apparent direction, found in cases of progressive gum disease
• Clock arms: Cytophaga are long slender rods fixed at one end and swing like the hands of a clock
• Motile cocci: tiny dots, causing redness and bleeding gum tissue.

In addition to bacteria, one-celled animals are also found in the mouth, to include:

• Trichomonas tenax: look like tiny mice, with five long filaments thrashing about, much larger than bacteria.
• Amoebas: formless blobs moving very slowly, taking shape of whatever food they eat, though to eat white blood cells
• White blood cells are your primary immune defense fighters, rushing to the rescue wherever bacteria begin to invade.

Our protocol includes: early intervention with a conservative, non-surgical approach that relies on bacterial identification, the continuous use of anti-bacterial agents to irrigate pockets and frequent cleanings to eradicate the bacteria which cause the gum infections.

Patient education, training, compliance with feedback, frequent follow-up visits and periodic microscopic checks allow you to maintain healthy teeth and gums. 

SNORING/SLEEP APNEA

Snoring can be a warning sign that normal breathing is not taking place during sleep. The tongue plays a major role in snoring because it has a tendency to relapse (fall back) into the airway when sleeping. While there are many conditions that can lead to snoring, one of the most serious is a disorder called "sleep apnea". For millions of people across the country, the ability to maintain regular breathing during sleep is impossible. As a result, they do not recieve oxygen their body needs to rejuvinate from proper, restful sleep and if the condition is left untreated it increases risk of heart attack and stroke.

Our office performs a comprehensive head and neck evaluation, extensive health and dental history, screening exam and diagnostic tests, as well as overnight sleep screening. When indicated, we refer severe conditions to a sleep specialist for a medical assessment and sleep study.

Treatments may include Oral Appliance Therapy, which has been recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the National Institutes of Health for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea.

TMJ/JAW

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) consists of bone, cartilage and ligaments. Like most joints, the TM joint functions best when these parts are in proper relationship to each other. Just as the shoulder or hip can be displaced, so can the TM joint. Jaw joint disorders may be accompanied by many symptoms including:

• headaches
• dizziness
• neck, shoulder pain
• jaw pain or soreness
• worn or cracked teeth
• earaches or ringing
• limited mouth opening
• clicking or joint sounds
• sore facial muscles
• sensitive teeth

Dr. Yoo has recieved advanced training - utilizing a conservative, non-surgical approach for treating conditions of the TM joint with state-of-the-art techniques and equipment.

Our office utilizes a variety of diagnostic tests, including a device called Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) to determine TM joint (jaw joint) problems. Utilizing the JVA aids Dr. Yoo in making an accurate diagnosis and demonstrates the level of the disorder.