Dr. Seitz graduated from Elizabethtown College in 1995 with a bachelors degree in biology and continued at Temple University School of Dentistry to earn a DMD degree. In 1999, Dr. Seitz began practicing at Locust Lane Dental Group. His transition from associate to owner was completed in 2004. Since then, Dr. Seitz has continued to add new technologies and patient comforts to the practice. Dr. Seitz has attended many continuing education courses focusing on implant, root canal and laser dentistry using the Waterlase MD. He has also learned to speak Spanish to better serve our diverse area.
Dr. Yovic was born and raised in the Harrisburg area. After graduating *magna cum laude* in chemistry from Bloomsburg University in 2012, he completed his dental degree at University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2016. Dr. Yovic received further training at Lehigh Valley Hospitals General Practice Residency in Allentown, PA. The advanced training he received in his residency program focused on a wide range of dental procedures including pre-prosthetic bone grafting, implant surgeries, orthodontic and cosmetic treatments. Dr. Yovic is committed to providing comprehensive dentistry for all ages by practicing the highest standard of dental care and utilizing the latest techniques and materials. In his free time, Dr. Yovic enjoys golfing, skiing, traveling and skydiving.
Locust Lane Dental Group can provide you and your family with all preventive and restorative dental treatment. If a service may need to be treated by a specialist, the office will provide you with any necessary information. During your treatment, if you feel more comfortable with any doctor or hygienist, the office can note your file to remain with your provider of choice. The entire team at Locust Lane Dental Group follow all recommended infection control guidelines outlined by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Our entire staff is also CPR certified with an AED available in the office.
Our experienced team of dental hygienists will remove plaque, tartar and stain on your teeth and below the gums. Dental radiographs may be taken to assist our dentists in diagnosing dental disease. At every routine exam, our office will perform an oral cancer screening, evaluate your teeth and gums for gum disease and/or decay and provide you with the best home care instructions to maintain optimal oral health. Most of our patients visit our office twice a year, however, we may recommend more frequent visits depending on your oral health.
We highly recommend routine x-rays to diagnose problems early before they lead to more extensive treatment. Not only do digital x-rays expose patients and staff to approximately 80% less radiation than traditional film x-rays, they also are better for the environment because they don't require developing. They can also be viewed on a computer monitor within seconds of taking the image and are more comfortable than traditional films.
There are a variety of restorative materials available including gold, silver (amalgam), composite, ceramic and porcelain. The dentist will work with you to determine which material is best for you, depending on the extent of repair, where in your mouth the filling is needed and cost.
Crowns and bridges are used to restore and enhance teeth that are damaged, or to take the place of missing teeth. A crown, also referred to as a cap, is used to entirely cover a damaged tooth. A crown not only strengthens a tooth, but it can dramatically improve a tooths appearance, shape and alignment.
- Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing- Restore a fractured tooth- Attach a bridge- Cover a dental implant- Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth- Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
A bridge is an ideal method to fill the space created by missing teeth, depending on the situation. A bridge is one or more artificial teeth that are cemented into place using the teeth on either side as support...hence the name. A bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically. Crown and bridgework is as much an art as it is an exact science. The materials used may be gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or an all ceramic material made to match your natural tooth color. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear and/or aesthetics.
Root canal treatment, or endodontic therapy, is typically necessary when a cavity is allowed to reach all the way to the pulp. Sometimes deep restorations, or trauma to a tooth, may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy, also. Once this occurs, the pulp becomes infected and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone. This is an abscess. By the time the pulp is infected, it must be treated and cannot heal on its own. It can even weaken the entire immune system. This can be dangerous, not to mention very painful. Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, throbbing pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure and a bad taste in the mouth.
Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a checkup, which is why we highly recommend routine visits and x-rays. A root canal is then performed to clean out the infected pulp tissue and disinfect the canals of the tooth. The only other treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has had root canal therapy.
Our goal at Locust Lane Dental Group is to save teeth, but in some instances, a tooth may need to be extracted. If an extraction is indicated, our dentists will evaluate if the extraction is simple or surgical in nature. A bone graft may also be indicated to preserve the space for future implant placement.
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing or fractured bone. It creates an ideal environment for implant placement by giving the socket more strength and support and is usually placed at the time of the extraction while you are already numb.
Dental implantsare an outstanding restorative option for patients who have missing teeth or requiretoothextraction because of advanced disease or decay. Adental implantis a threaded titanium post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace losttoothroots.
Locust Lane Dental Group offers two types of whitening procedures to our patients... ZOOM! in-office whitening and custom take-home trays. Both procedures produce equal results depending on your individual case, though ZOOM! whitening provides INSTANT results.
Mouthguards are recommended to protect the jaw, soft tissues and teeth during physical activity and sports where your mouth may be impacted. Nightguards are also recommended for patients who clench or grind their teeth at night to prevent wear, pain and breakage. We simply take impressions of your teeth to fabricate the guard of your choice.
All lasers work by delivering energy in the form of light. When used for surgical and dental procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument or a vaporizer of tissue that it comes in contact with. It can be used in a variety of hard and soft tissue procedures inside the mouth, be it to remove overgrown tissue or to reshape the gums. It causes minimal pain, swelling and bleeding.
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a colorless, odorless gas commonly used to reduce anxiety in patients during dental procedures. Although it's technically not an anesthetic, it does have some pain control properties. Nitrous oxide is considered reliable and safe because the effects are mild and easily reversed.
The Wand is a computer-assisted system for local anesthesia. It carefully guides dental professionals as they are performing dental injections. The Wandworks at a low pressure and a slow rate resulting in less pain and more contained numbness for the area that is being treated.
Dentures and partials are removable appliances that are used to replace missing teeth. A partial denture is made of a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is sometimes connected by metal framework, that hooks to existing teeth to hold the partial in place. Full dentures replace an entire arch of teeth.