Dental Services Offered at Our Palo Alto Office
Walk into our office near Midtown Palo Alto and you’ll notice something right away. We don’t rush. We listen first, look carefully, then talk through what we find. That’s how services at our practice work, whether you’re here for a routine check or something that’s been bothering you for months.
We’ve built our practice around a simple idea: do the right work, explain it in plain language, and make sure you leave feeling better than when you came in. Here’s what we offer so you know what to expect.
Exams and Evaluations That Catch Problems Early
Everything starts with an exam. We offer three types depending on where you are in your care:
- oral examination for new patients or anyone who hasn’t been seen in a while. We check everything. Gums, jaw, bite, soft tissue, the works.
- Periodic oral examination for patients we see regularly. This is your standard check-in, usually every six months.
- Limited oral examination when something specific hurts or feels off and you need answers fast.
Nine times out of ten, the problems we catch during exams are things patients didn’t even know about yet. A small crack. Early gum recession. A filling that’s starting to break down. That’s why it helps to come in before it hurts.
We also do TMJ/TMD evaluations for patients dealing with jaw pain, clicking, or headaches that won’t quit. If you’re waking up exhausted or your partner says you snore, our sleep apnea evaluation can point us toward real answers. These aren’t add-ons we push on people. They’re things we check when the signs are there.
Digital x-rays help us see what’s happening below the surface. They use far less radiation than traditional film. The images show up instantly on a screen next to your chair, and we can zoom in to show you exactly what we’re looking at. No guessing.
Cleanings and Guided Biofilm Therapy
A dental cleaning is probably the most common reason people come through our door. But not all cleanings are the same.
Our standard dental cleaning removes plaque and tartar buildup, polishes your teeth, and gives us a chance to check on your gum health. For most Palo Alto patients who come in every six months, this keeps things on track.
Then there’s Guided Biofilm Therapy. We see a lot of patients ask about this one, and it’s a big plus for people who want a deeper, more comfortable clean. GBT uses a specific protocol. We start by staining the biofilm on your teeth so you can actually see where bacteria is hiding. Then we use warm water, fine powder, and air to gently remove it all. It’s thorough without being aggressive on your gums or enamel.
If you’ve ever dreaded the scraping sound at a cleaning, GBT feels like a completely different experience. We’ve had patients in the Crescent Park area who switched to GBT and told us they actually look forward to their visits now. That’s not something you hear every day in a dental office.
Fillings, Root Canals, and Extractions
Here’s the reality. Cavities happen. Even to people who brush and floss like clockwork. When they do, dental fillings are the straightforward fix. We use tooth-colored composite material so the repair blends right in. Most fillings take one visit, you’re numb the whole time, and you walk out ready to eat within a few hours.
But what if the decay goes deeper?
That’s where root canal therapy comes in. We hear the groans when we mention it, we really do. But modern root canal therapy is nothing like what your parents went through. We remove the infected tissue inside the tooth, clean and seal the canals, and save the tooth. Most patients tell us it felt about the same as getting a filling. The relief from the pain they walked in with is the part they remember.
Sometimes a tooth can’t be saved. It’s too broken down, the infection is too far along, or it’s causing problems for the teeth around it. Tooth extractions are a last resort for us, never a first suggestion. When we do recommend one, we walk you through every step so there are no surprises. We also talk about what comes next, whether that’s a dental implant, a bridge, or just letting the area heal.
We see this every week. Someone comes in expecting the worst and leaves saying, “That was it?” That’s the reaction we aim for.
Keeping You Comfortable: Sedation Options
Dental anxiety is real. It keeps good people from getting care they need. We get it.
That’s why we offer two sedation options:
- Nitrous oxide is the lighter option. You breathe it in through a small mask, feel relaxed within minutes, and it wears off fast after we turn it off. You can drive yourself home. Good for mild nerves or shorter procedures.
- Oral sedation goes a step further. You take a prescribed medication before your appointment, and by the time you sit down in the chair, you’re deeply relaxed. You’ll need someone to drive you, and you might not remember much of the visit. For patients who’ve been avoiding the dentist for years, this is often what finally gets them through the door.
No judgment here. We’ve worked with patients in Palo Alto who hadn’t seen a dentist in a decade because of anxiety. They’re some of our most loyal patients now. The first visit is the hardest one. Everything after that gets easier.
Want to talk through which option makes sense for you? Give us a call and we’ll figure it out together.
Ruibilding Smiles With Confidence - Restoring Damaged or Missing Teeth
Teeth take a beating over the years. Cracks from grinding. Old fillings that finally give out. A tooth lost to injury or decay. We have several ways to put things back together.
- Inlays and onlays work when a tooth has too much damage for a filling but doesn’t need a full crown. Think of them as a middle ground. They’re custom-made to fit the damaged area precisely, they restore the tooth’s strength, and they look natural
- Dental crowns cover the entire visible part of a tooth. We use them after root canal therapy, on teeth with large fractures, or on teeth that are just worn down and weak. One of the most common things we see at our Palo Alto office is patients coming in with a crown that’s 15 or 20 years old and finally needs replacing. That’s actually a good run.
- Dental bridges fill the gap when you’re missing one or two teeth in a row. They anchor to the healthy teeth on either side and give you a fixed replacement that stays in your mouth. No removing anything at night.
- And then there are dental implants. If you’re missing a tooth and the bone is healthy enough, an implant is the closest thing to getting your real tooth back. A small titanium post goes into the jawbone, it heals and fuses over a few months, and then we place a crown on top. It looks and works like a natural tooth. According to the American Dental Association, implants have a success rate above 95 percent for most patients. We’ve placed them for folks all over the South of Midtown neighborhood and the results speak for themselves.
Healthy & Beautiful Oral Care - Cosmetic Dentist
Here’s what we believe about cosmetic dentistry. It should make you look like the best version of yourself. Not like you had work done.
- Porcelain veneers are thin shells that bond to the front of your teeth. They fix chips, gaps, deep staining, and uneven shapes all at once. We spend real time on shade matching and shaping so the result fits your face. Not someone else’s idea of a perfect smile.
- Composite bonding is the quicker, more affordable cousin of veneers. We apply tooth-colored resin directly to the tooth and sculpt it by hand. It’s great for small chips, minor gaps, or a single tooth that just bugs you every time you look in the mirror. Most bonding appointments take under an hour.
- Gum contouring reshapes your gumline if you feel like your smile shows too much gum or your gums are uneven. It’s a small procedure that makes a big visual difference. We do this more often than you’d think.
And for patients who want straighter teeth without metal brackets, we offer clear aligners through Invisalign. They’re removable, nearly invisible, and they work well for mild to moderate alignment issues. We see a lot of adults in Palo Alto who skipped braces as teenagers and finally want to fix that one crooked tooth. Or two. Or five.
Not sure what would actually help? That’s pretty common. Most people come in with a vague idea of what bothers them and we narrow it down together.
Botox for TMJ Treatment
This one surprises people.
Botox isn’t just cosmetic. We use it specifically for TMJ treatment in patients who clench or grind their teeth and haven’t found relief from other approaches. The injection relaxes the overworked jaw muscles. The tension drops, the headaches ease up. It’s not a permanent fix but it can give you months of relief per session.
We’ve had patients try night guards, physical therapy, and stress management with limited results. Then one round of Botox for TMJ and they’re sleeping through the night for the first time in years. It won’t work for everyone, but when it works, it really works.
Our team has the training and licensing to do this safely in a dental setting. It’s precise work. the anatomy of the jaw better than anyone, and the injections go exactly where they need to go.
Every service we offer connects back to one thing. Keeping your mouth healthy and making sure you feel good about your smile. Whether you live near University South or you’re coming from the other end of Palo Alto, we’re here when you need us. And we’ll always tell you what we’d do if it were our own teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dental services does your Palo Alto office offer for patients with anxiety?
We offer two sedation options to help you feel calm during your visit. Nitrous oxide works well for mild nerves and wears off quickly so you can drive home. Oral sedation is a stronger option for patients who have been avoiding the dentist for years. You take a pill before your appointment and feel deeply relaxed throughout. We have helped many Palo Alto patients get back on track after years away. The first visit is always the hardest one.
How is Guided Biofilm Therapy different from a regular cleaning?
Guided Biofilm Therapy is a deeper, gentler clean that uses warm water, fine powder, and air instead of traditional scraping tools. We first stain the biofilm on your teeth so you can see exactly where bacteria is hiding. Then we remove it all without being harsh on your gums or enamel. Patients in the Crescent Park area who switched to GBT often tell us they actually look forward to their cleanings now. If you dread that scraping sound, this is worth asking about.
Do Palo Alto homes or older buildings affect dental health in any way?
Older water systems in some Palo Alto neighborhoods can have lower fluoride levels than newer municipal supplies. This can make teeth slightly more prone to early decay over time. That is one reason we emphasize catching small problems during routine exams before they grow. Digital x-rays help us spot issues below the surface early. Coming in every six months gives us the best chance to stay ahead of anything that might be developing.
How soon can I be seen if something hurts or feels off?
We offer limited oral examinations for patients who need answers fast about a specific problem. Call us and describe what you are feeling. We work to get urgent cases into our schedule near Midtown Palo Alto as quickly as possible. You do not need to wait for a full routine exam if something is bothering you. Most of the time we can identify the cause quickly and talk through your options the same day.
What happens after a tooth extraction at your office?
After an extraction, we walk you through every step of the healing process before you leave. We also talk about your options for replacing the tooth, whether that is a dental implant, a bridge, or simply letting the area heal first. We never suggest an extraction without explaining what comes next. Most patients are surprised by how manageable the recovery feels. Our goal is that you leave with a clear plan and no unanswered questions.
Is a root canal really as bad as people say?
Modern root canal therapy is much more comfortable than what most people imagine. We remove the infected tissue, clean the canals, and seal the tooth to save it. Most patients tell us it felt about the same as getting a filling. The relief from the pain they walked in with is what they remember most. We hear this every week at our Palo Alto office. If a tooth is causing you pain, a root canal is often what finally makes it stop.
Visit Us, Call Us or Email Us
Palo Alto Dentists Dr. Christine Hansen DDS & Harry Tseng
416 Waverley Street, Ste A, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: 650-326-3290
Practice Hours Monday-Friday • 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
