Services/Procedures

Emergency Dentist

If you have a dental emergency, Dr. Wisdom Akpaka will make himself available to give you the highest quality of care. Dr. Wisdom realizes that dental emergencies are extremely upsetting for the individual who is in severe pain or has suffered the dental trauma of a broken tooth. In many cases, rapid treatment can save an injured tooth or keep an abscess from spreading serious infection throughout your body. When you are in pain, you are fortunate to have a dental practice you can turn to for compassionate and affordable emergency care.

Dr. Wisdom takes pride in making himself available for emergencies and will see patients after hours by appointment. “We do everything we can do to put patients at ease, and when they are in pain, we are quick to respond,” says Dr. Wisdom. “I offer nitrous oxide and oral moderate sedation for patients who are anxious. When they are relaxed, local anesthetic and treatment can be efficiently executed with fast relief.”

Dr. Wisdom welcomes you to call any time if you have urgent need for a dentist. He also offers patients “first thing” early Monday morning scheduling if you have a weekend emergency that can wait until Monday. A phone conversation with Dr. Wisdom will enable him to sort out the best approach for your circumstances.

Common Dental Emergencies

The most common dental emergencies are as follows. It is appropriate to call and seek the care of a dentist if they occur.

Broken tooth
Dislodged or loose tooth

Tooth knocked out
Lost filling or crown

Painful gum infection
Pain in teeth or jaw

Ave Maria Dentistry is here to serve all of your dental needs

We welcome you to contact your Ave Maria emergency dentist if you have need for a dentist for regular preventive care, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, or to address a dental emergency. One of the best ways to avoid the need for emergency dental treatment is regular dental checkups and early diagnosis. Give us a call today!

Restorative Dentistry and Cosmetic Smile Makeovers at Ave Maria Dentistry

Dr. Wisdom Akpaka offers the full range of dental treatments to restore your smile to optimal health and beauty. Today’s materials for restoring teeth to beautiful form and function are long lasting, and full mouth restoration can be surprisingly affordable. Ave Maria Dental participates with many dental benefits plans and offers CareCredit financing.

Patients choose Ave Maria Dental because our dentists are compassionate and highly qualified, have completed advanced clinical training, and offer a full range of restorative treatments including:

Tooth-colored composite fillings and porcelain onlays and inlays
Porcelain crowns
Porcelain veneers

Dental Bonding
Traditional crown & bridge replacement of missing teeth
Removable dentures

Implant retained crowns, bridges and hybrid dentures on dental implants
Teeth whitening

Dr. Wisdom is also highly qualified to consult with his patients about orthodontic treatment and to provide Invisalign clear aligner orthodontics. He has advanced training and experience in dental implants and places dental implants, as well as restores them. He provides treatment for improved gingival (gum tissue) framing of the teeth. And, because Dr. Wisdom has expertise in endodontics (root canal therapy), he can perform any needed root canal treatment in the comfort of his own office, and immediately provide you with a provisional restoration while your custom restoration is created by his partnering dental lab. Should you require a tooth extraction, he can perform this, as well, in his office and offer you tooth replacement options.

Every time Dr. Wisdom restores one of your teeth to health, function, and beauty, you will not only be saving your tooth but also improving your overall oral function, comfort, and beauty. All of our restorations are made according to the highest aesthetic standards and designed to function harmoniously with your bite. Your life-like restorations will look like beautiful natural teeth and blend with your surrounding smile.

After a thorough evaluation of your oral health circumstance, including clinical exam and digital x-rays, Dr. Wisdom will advise you about what is possible to achieve and can develop a well thought out treatment plan to comprehensively meet all of your oral health and smile objectives. Together, they can collaborate on your treatment plan and treatment, giving you the benefit of two highly skilled dentists.

At Ave Maria Dental, we offer a complimentary (no fee) initial or second opinion consultation. If you would like to learn about the smile makeover or full mouth restoration treatment options our dentists would recommend for you, give us a call today!

Dental Implant Therapy The Gold Standard of Care Today

At Ave Maria Dentistry, we advise our patients to consider the benefits of restoring their missing teeth or severely diseased teeth with prosthetic teeth on dental implants. Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots that not only restore strong biting strength but also are the longest lasting treatment for filling in your smile.

Dental implant therapy is the gold standard of care today because it is predictably successful, long lasting, and provides optimal benefits. If you have a full overdenture or partial denture (bridge), or have lost or will soon lose one ore more teeth—an implant may be the solution for you.

Ave Maria Dentist Implant Explainer

We welcome you to contact your Ave Maria emergency dentist if you have need for a dentist for regular preventive care, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, or to address a dental emergency. One of the best ways to avoid the need for emergency dental treatment is regular dental checkups and early diagnosis. Give us a call today!

After treatment, your smile will appear naturally beautiful. Your teeth will function optimally with full biting strength. And, there will not be potential for a bridge or denture to slip and your mouth to become sore. Dental implant treatment is conservative because it does not involve modification of adjacent teeth to hold a prosthesis in place, and because it conserves bone tissue by stimulating bone growth and halting the progression of bone resorption that occurs when natural tooth roots are lost. It is also the longest lasting treatment for replacement of missing teeth.

Dr. Wisdom Akpaka offers a complimentary initial dental implant consultation that is free of charge. This may be your first visit to a dentist to inquire about dental implant therapy or a second-opinion visit after seeing another dentist or specialist. In many cases, all of a patient’s implant related procedures can be performed in our own office without referral to a specialist. We strive to make dental implant therapy affordable for our patients and welcome your inquiries. Give us a call to schedule your free initial consultation today!

To learn more about dental implant therapy, read this article.

Whole Mouth Rehabilitation

If you have complex oral health problems, a coordinated whole mouth rehabilitation will dramatically improve your quality of life. Dr. Wisdom Akpaka can restore your chewing function, oral health and smile by combining several treatments to meet your individual needs. We will work with you to maximize your insurance benefits, and a whole mouth rehabilitation can be achieved in affordable phases or with CareCredit financing.

Our Complimentary Initial Consultation

Ave Maria Dental offers a complimentary (free) initial consultation so you can discuss your oral health goals with our dentists. At that consult, Dr. Wisdom will do a quick evaluation of your needs and tell you what is possible to achieve. They will explain in detail the life-changing benefits you can receive:

Preservation of your healthy teeth
Replacement of missing teeth
Elimination of dental decay
Elimination of gum disease
Restoration of cracked and worn teeth to optimal functional form
Treatment of dental enamel erosion
Elimination of dental pain
Elimination of TMJ muscle pain
Ability to eat all of your favorite foods and improve your nutrition
Improved alignment of teeth for both aesthetics and occlusion

Correction of occlusal contacts to remove the damaging force of tooth-on-tooth interferences
Restoration of gum tissue
Correction of cosmetic problems:

Crooked teeth
Gaps between teeth
Irregular tooth size
Irregular tooth shape
Stained teeth
Excessive gum tissue
Irregular gum contours
And, more!

If you want to proceed with a comprehensive examination, including x-rays, our dentists will be able to create an individualized treatment plan to meet all of your needs and objectives. In a second consultation, they will discuss with you the procedures that would be involved if you accept treatment. Even if you choose to achieve your comprehensive restoration over a long period of time, each procedure will take you a step closer to your goals, improving your health, comfort, function and appearance.

Treatment Planning for Your Whole Mouth Rehabilitation

Dr. Wisdom believes quality dentistry should be made as affordable as possible for their patients. Ave Maria Dental participates with over 30 dental benefits plans and offers CareCredit financing. Once a comprehensive treatment plan has been developed, you and your dentist may decide that excellent results can be achieved over extended time by doing the dentistry in affordable phases.

Remember: quality, lasting results are what you are after. You want value for your dental investment and the least expensive immediate solutions may result in the need for more extensive dentistry down the road. A dentist focused on what is best for your needs can advise you well. Dr. Wisdom will only recommend treatment that is in your best interest to meet your oral health goals. They take pride in the highest professional ethics and compassion for the patients they serve.

Treatment Planning for Your Whole Mouth Rehabilitation

A whole mouth rehabilitation combines multiple restorative treatments to address your specific areas of concern. These procedures could include:

Composite fillings: A filling is typically the most effective and least invasive way to treat a cavity. Our tooth-colored composite restorations do not contain mercury, and they will be color matched to your natural tooth enamel to maintain the natural color of your smile.
Porcelain crowns: A crown will go right on top of a damage tooth. Made to match your natural teeth, a crown can strengthen your tooth, repair a cracked tooth, or cover a large cavity. We proudly offer nickel-free crowns of the highest quality. These restorations are durable and lifelike, and they eliminate the health risks associated with metal crowns.
Root canal therapy: If you have an infected tooth or a large crack that extends down to your dental root, you may require a root canal. During this treatment, your dentist will clean your tooth, fill it with a soft rubber compound, and place a custom-fabricated dental crown.
Dental bridges: Traditional dental bridges will replace one or more missing teeth. Like our crowns, our bridges are made from advanced dental porcelain, and they will blend seamlessly with your smile. Dental bridges are very affordable, and they can prevent your other teeth from shifting out of alignment.
Dental implants: Dental implants are the most advanced and stable form of tooth replacement. Dr. Wisdom works with a preferred implant surgeon who will place these small titanium posts inside your jaw bone. As your bone heals, the implants will become a fixed part of your oral structure. Then, your dentist can attach a custom-made crown, bridge, or denture.
Dental bonding: Many times, low-cost tooth colored dental composite can be bonded to the tooth surface to restore a tooth that does not require a crown, filling or veneer. Bonding can be used to modify the shape of a tooth, cover stains, repair fine cracks in tooth enamel and more.
Porcelain veneers: Dental veneers are strong, wafer-thin, porcelain shells that can be bonded to the front of teeth to conservatively correct for a variety of problems, including enamel erosion, discoloration, a slight gap, and irregular tooth size or shape. This is a preferred treatment for front teeth because the porcelain has greater translucency and looks more like natural tooth enamel than bonded dental composite.

For optimal results you may require orthodontics to align your teeth into better position and teeth whitening to remove stains. Teeth whitening will give your natural teeth a sparkling, younger appearance, and your dental restorations can be matched to this lighter, brighter shade.

Contact Ave Maria Dental for Your Complimentary Initial Consultation

To learn more about whole mouth rehabilitation and what this could involve for your individual circumstances, schedule a free consultation. Ave Maria Dental serves families and individual patients residing in Ave Maria and the surrounding area. We welcome new patients. Give us a call today!

Quality Preventative and Restorative Family Dentistry

Dr. Wisdom Akpaka enjoys giving Ave Maria area adults, teens and children the best of dental care, including preventive dental cleanings and fluoride treatments, checkups for oral health problems, treatment for dental disease and gum disease, fine dental restorations, replacement of missing teeth, and cosmetic dental procedures. Dr. Wisdom even does tooth extractions, root canal therapy, and implant placement in the comfort of his own office with nitrous oxide or oral moderate sedation medication to put you at ease.

A Care Team You Can Trust for the Younger Members of Your Family

Imagine bringing your children to the same dentist you yourself see. We know parents have special concerns for their children and establishing trust with us is important. We are familiar with the oral health of children from infancy through their teenage years. Some patients are as young as two years old.

We know how to work with kids at each state of development and gently perform needed dental procedures. When you bring your children here, you will soon find you can relax, and your children will be happy. We will always spend time with you, updating you about your child’s oral health, answering your questions and helping you help your children establish healthy habits to preserve their smiles for life.

Evaluation of tooth alignment and jaw development are routinely done for young patients at their regular exam so you will know if and when your child is ready for orthodontics. Because Dr. Wisdom is a certified Invisalign provider, your teen may be eligible for smooth aligner treatment in our office.

Expertise for Handling the Dental Restorative Needs of Adults

At some point in our lives, all adults are in need of dental restoration to repair a weakened or damaged tooth, treat gum inflammation, or replace one or more lost teeth. Many adults crave cosmetic improvements to their smile so they can smile with confidence. With today’s dental technology there are often multiple treatment options, and you want to be sure your dentist is “on your side” to fully inform you about the advantages and disadvantages of your choices. You want help making the right decisions for your circumstances. And, you want a nonjudgmental, compassionate dentist who understands your past oral health history, concerns, and even fears. You want a dentist who is more interested in making sure you have the quality care you deserve than personal financial gain.

Dr. Wisdom has the experience, skill, judgment, compassion, and philosophy of care that guarantees you are going to receive conservative dental treatment that is focused on your needs, and that they will listen and respect your preferences, as well as fully inform you about your oral health condition and treatment options. They will also work collaboratively with local dental specialists you might need to help achieve the best results. And, they will communicate with them to ensure the specialists are fully informed about your dental case and needs.

Contact Us Today!

To learn more about our family dentistry in, give us a call. We love serving whole families and patients of all ages.

Sedation and Anti-Anxiety Dentistry

We understand that many patients fear the dentist and have had past dental experiences, anxiety symptoms, or a gag reflex that keeps them from going to the dentist. If you are one of them, we welcome you to come visit us and learn first hand just how gentle and caring we can be. At Ave Maria Dental in Ave Maria, FL, we want you to feel comfortable from the moment you call. Dr. Wisdom Akpaka is not only friendly and compassionate, but also prides himself in providing gentle, painless dental care.

Before examining your mouth, cleaning your teeth, or beginning to treat an oral health problem, Dr. Wisdom will talk with you about your medical and dental history, and discuss your concerns and goals. The entire dental team will take time to get to know you and help you relax. The dentist will fully explain recommended procedures and help you make treatment decisions. When a procedure is performed, you can take breaks by giving us the non-verbal signal we practice with you.

For anxious patients, Dr. Wisdom has expertise in administering safe sedation options. One of these options is nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas.” Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose to help you relax. You will be able to hear and respond to your dentist and dental assistant. Another option is a safe oral medication taken before the procedure that helps you relax. This is known as “oral moderate sedation.” Although you become fully relaxed, you will be able to hear and respond to your dentist and dental assistant, just as you would with nitrous oxide. These two medical options not only remove anxiety but also greatly reduce the gag reflex some patients experience.

Many patients are worried about pain, and this can be a source of anxiety. At Ave Maria Dental, our dentists are gentle, kind, and care about your concerns. Keep in mind that today’s local anesthetics are powerful. If you are having a dental procedure that could be painful, your gum tissue will be numbed with a topical anesthetic. When you are numb, your dentist will gently inject a local anesthetic that blocks all potential pain.

Some patients experience one or more of the following anxiety symptoms when they go to the dentist:

Nausea
An elevated heart rate

Sweating palms
Crying

Feelings of panic
Difficulty breathing

If you experience these symptoms, please do not be embarrassed. Our dentists are medically trained to professionally handle these.

Would you like an anti-anxiety dentist focused on making dentistry comfortable for you?

If you live in the Ave Maria area and have delayed a check up, teeth cleaning, or dental treatment because you are anxious, we want to help you. Just reach out, tell us about yourself, and schedule an initial appointment. Dr. Wisdom Akpaka will partner with you in developing a special plan for your care and eliminating your fear of the dentist.

Invisalign® Orthodontics

Dr. Wisdom Akpaka (“Dr. Wisdom”) is a certified Invisalign® provider. By wearing a sequence of clear aligning trays called “aligners”, teeth can be gently shifted into place. Adults and teens appreciate the clearness of the aligners and their smoothness. Best of all, the aligners are removable, so you can take them out for special occasions, and you will remove them to eat and clean your teeth.

Optimal alignment of teeth typically can be achieved within 12 to 18 months, and the cost is not more than the cost of traditional wire and bracket braces. The effectiveness of Invisalign® orthodontics is well documented, and more than one million individuals have been treated using this technology.

Why Are Orthodontics Desirable?

Often patients think of orthodontic treatment as a cosmetic fix for irregularly spaced, turned, or inclined teeth. Orthodontics is much more than a cosmetic treatment. Orthodontics improve oral health and the longevity of your natural teeth and dental restorations. Invisalign® is an especially desirable form of orthodontic treatment because throughout treatment, you can smile with confidence, not have irritated lips and cheeks, eat normally, and more easily thoroughly clean your mouth.

Who Can Be Treated with Invisalign®?

Invisalign® treatment can fix several issues that are typical to the adult mouth. Invisalign® is effective treatment for adults and teens whose permanent teeth have erupted. Invisalign® treats a wide range of problems from widely gapped, overly crowded, or protruding teeth to cases involving serious malocclusion, overbite or under bite. Adults who wore braces as teens and have since seen their teeth move out of alignment are also good candidates.

What Is Malocclusion?

Malocclusion is an improper fit between the upper and lower teeth that can lead to premature tooth wear, crazing of the dental enamel, bruxism (teeth grinding), and painful temporomandibular joint disorders. When teeth are properly aligned, your smile will be more esthetic, you will be able to more easily clean all surfaces of your teeth, your occlusal function will be more harmonious, and you will better protect your teeth and dental restorations from excessive wear.

How Does Invisalign® Treatment Work?

On your first visit, you will meet with Dr. Wisdom to discuss what you hope to achieve from treatment. As a certified Invisalign® provider, Dr. Wisdom will answer all of your questions and provide expert advice about the procedure. Once you and Dr. Wisdom decide Invisalign® is a good option, you will schedule a second appointment to start treatment.

At the second appointment, Dr. Wisdom will get the ball rolling by taking digital images of your mouth. The images will be processed with Invisalign® software, which will design a custom treatment plan for you. The plan will tell us how many aligners you will need to wear, and approximately how long your treatment will last. Your length of treatment will depend on how much correction is needed. Generally, patients change to the next set of aligners every two weeks. The aligners should be worn a minimum of 20 to 22 hours a day to keep treatment on schedule.

Once the treatment plan is made, Dr. Wisdom will send it to an Invisalign® lab, where your sets of aligners will be created. When you return for your third visit, Dr. Wisdom will provide you with your first few sets of aligners and instruct you on how to use and care for them. Approximately every six weeks you will return to the office to pick up your next sets of aligners and have a quick checkup to make sure treatment is progressing as planned. Once treatment is complete, Dr. Wisdom will have a retainer made to help keep your teeth in place.

Teen Invisalign®

Invisalign® also has a special product for teenagers called Invisalign® Teen. This unique system offers the same benefits as the traditional product, but with a few extras to help out your teen stay with the program. Each aligner features a blue dot that fades as it is worn. The dot remains when kids don’t wear their aligners like they should, alerting parents that they are not complying with treatment. Because teens have a tendency to lose aligners, Invisalign® teen also includes six extra aligners, for free.

You Can Have a Beautiful Smile

If you want to enjoy a straighter smile without the hassle and discomfort of metal braces, contact us today to learn if Invisalign® is right for you. Your initial consultation appointment is free. Ave Maria Dental proudly serve Ave Maria, Tamarac, Sunrise, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Deerfield Beach, and even Fort Lauderdale.

Words From Dr. Wisdom

Wisdom D. Akpaka

“I am passionate about providing quality care in a gentle environment that is comfortable for patients of all ages and experiences. I take pride in helping patients who fear going to the dentist and patients who have worries about their oral health. I am committed to lifelong learning and providing the best of care whether you are in due for a cleaning and checkup, have a tooth that is painful, suspect you need a filling or crown, want to replace a missing tooth, want a smile makeover, or are suffering from a complex of multiple oral health problems. I also strive to make dental care as affordable as possible for the families and individuals I am privileged to serve. At Ave Maria Dental, our mission is to provide exceptional care and exceptional service in a friendly and compassionate environment. Let us help you achieve optimal oral health and a confident smile.”