Comprehensive
Dental Treatment
in Cottonwood, AZ

Expert Surgical Care When You Need It Most

Sometimes maintaining optimal oral health requires more than routine care. When dental problems call for surgical intervention, you can trust the experienced team at Arizona Smile Designers to provide comfortable, compassionate treatment. Our dentists perform a range of oral surgery procedures right here in our Cottonwood office, eliminating the need for referrals and ensuring continuity of care.

We understand that the thought of oral surgery can feel overwhelming, which is why we prioritize your comfort every step of the way. From thorough explanations of what to expect to gentle techniques that minimize discomfort, we do everything possible to put you at ease.

Our Oral Surgery Services Include:

Tooth Extractions — While we always strive to save natural teeth whenever possible, sometimes extraction is the best option for your overall oral health. Whether a tooth is severely decayed, damaged beyond repair, or causing crowding issues, our dentists perform extractions with precision and care. Many patients are surprised at how comfortable the procedure can be — as one patient shared, “I ended up having a tooth pulled and it was PAINLESS…and I am scared of dentists!”

Wisdom Teeth Removal — Wisdom teeth often cause problems as they emerge, including pain, crowding, and infection. Our team has extensive experience removing wisdom teeth safely and comfortably. As one patient noted, “I had my wisdom teeth out there and it went really well.”

Surgical Extractions — Some teeth require a more complex approach, particularly those that are impacted, broken below the gum line, or have unusual root formations. Our dentists are skilled in surgical extraction techniques that safely remove problematic teeth while protecting surrounding tissues.

Pre-Prosthetic Surgery — Before placing dentures or other dental prosthetics, some patients require minor surgical procedures to prepare the mouth. This may include smoothing or reshaping bone, removing excess gum tissue, or other modifications to ensure the best possible fit for your restoration.

Emergency Oral Surgery

Dental emergencies don’t wait for convenient times, and neither do we. If you’re experiencing severe tooth pain, a dental abscess, or trauma to your teeth or mouth, contact us immediately. We make every effort to see emergency patients as quickly as possible — often the same day. As one grateful patient shared after a Friday emergency: “Every dental office I was calling from the phone book was closed. Luckily I reached their office and they were willing to fit me into their schedule, never being a regular patient. They treated me great.”

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Straighten Your Teeth Without Traditional Braces

Looking to exchange overlapping, overcrowded, or crooked teeth for a straight, aligned smile? Invisalign treatment from Arizona Smile Designers may be exactly what you’re looking for. This revolutionary orthodontic system uses clear, removable aligners to gradually shift your teeth into their ideal positions — and the process is so discreet that no one even notices it’s happening.

We’ve been providing Invisalign to our Sedona and Cottonwood area patients for decades, and we love watching their confidence grow when they show off their newly straightened smiles. Whether you’re a teen or an adult, Invisalign offers a comfortable, convenient path to the smile you’ve always wanted.

How Invisalign Works:

The Invisalign system works without the metal brackets and wires of traditional braces. Instead, our dentists use advanced 3-D imaging technology to create a series of custom upper and lower clear plastic trays that fit precisely over your teeth. Every few weeks, you’ll begin wearing a new set of trays, and each new set gently moves your teeth closer to their corrected, straight position.

The aligners are removable, so you can eat all your favorite foods and maintain your normal oral hygiene routine by brushing and flossing as you always have. You’ll wear your aligners for about 22 hours a day, removing them only for eating, brushing, and flossing. Before you know it, you’ll have a beautifully aligned smile!

Your Invisalign Treatment Journey:

Your journey begins with a visit to our Cottonwood office, where we’ll evaluate your teeth and determine if Invisalign is right for you. If it is, we’ll take pictures, X-rays, and impressions to create detailed 3-D images of your teeth. Using advanced computer technology, our Invisalign experts will design a sequence of finely calibrated, customized aligners — as few as 12 or as many as 48, depending on your needs.

Each aligner is worn for about two weeks before moving to the next in the series. You’ll return to our office every 8-10 weeks so we can monitor your progress and ensure your treatment is on track.

Why Choose Arizona Smile Designers for Invisalign:

As your family dentist, we have a complete picture of your overall dental health that a standalone orthodontist simply wouldn’t have. We can combine our comprehensive dental expertise with orthodontic treatment to give you more efficient, personalized care. Plus, you’ll save time by handling both your regular dental visits and orthodontic checkups in one convenient location.

Caring for Your Invisalign Aligners:

To keep your aligners clear and fresh, gently brush them once or twice daily with non-abrasive toothpaste or cleaning crystals. Avoid eating or drinking anything other than water while wearing your aligners, and always remove them before consuming coffee, tea, red wine, or other staining beverages.

Start Your Invisalign Journey →

The Gold Standard for Replacing Missing Teeth

A missing tooth can be discouraging, leaving you feeling like you’ll never have a beautiful smile again. But with dental implants from Arizona Smile Designers, you can restore not just the appearance of your smile, but its full function and confidence. Our renowned dentists have helped countless patients throughout Cottonwood, Sedona, and Northern Arizona reclaim their smiles with this remarkable tooth replacement solution.

Dental implants are considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth because they’re the only restoration that replaces both the tooth root and the crown. Unlike dentures or bridges, implants become a permanent part of your mouth, looking, feeling, and functioning just like your natural teeth.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a small, screw-shaped titanium post designed to replace the root of a missing tooth. The implant is surgically placed into your jawbone, where it fuses with the bone through a process called osseointegration over a period of three to six months. Once the implant has fully integrated, your dentist tops it with a lifelike crown custom-made to match the shape and color of your natural teeth.

The Benefits of Dental Implants:

Dental implants look, feel, and perform just like natural teeth — most people can’t tell the difference. They require the same simple maintenance as your other teeth: regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups. Unlike dentures, you can eat all your favorite foods without restriction. Implants won’t affect your speech or slip around in your mouth. With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime, making them an excellent long-term investment in your smile.

Versatile Solutions for Every Situation:

Dental implants aren’t just for replacing single teeth. They can be used in several ways to address different needs:

Single Tooth Replacement — One implant topped with a crown replaces one missing tooth, without affecting the adjacent natural teeth.

Implant-Supported Bridges — Rather than using natural teeth as supports for bridgework (which can weaken them over time), dental implants can anchor a bridge. For example, if you have three missing teeth in a row, we can place two implants to support a three-tooth bridge.

Implant-Supported Dentures — Traditional dentures rely on gums and underlying bone for support, which can lead to bone loss and poor fit over time. Implant-supported dentures attach to implants placed in your jaw, providing exceptional stability while preserving bone structure. Your dentures stay securely in place, eliminating slipping and discomfort.

Expert Implant Placement:

Dr. Ripplinger, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, leads our implant team with extensive experience in implant placement. Our practice offers comprehensive dental implant services, from initial consultation through final restoration, all under one roof.

The oral surgery used to place a dental implant is minor and routine, typically requiring only local anesthesia. After a healing period allowing the implant to fuse with your jawbone, we’ll attach your custom crown — and you’ll be smiling with confidence once again.

Explore Your Implant Options →