About Dr. Jim Dick

Dr. Dick has helped dental patients in the Chattanooga and surrounding areas for over thirty years. Dr Dick offers comprehensive family dental care for adults and children. Dr. Dick is located at 3974 Norcross Road, across from Highland Plaza , 1 ½ miles south of Northgate Mall, off Hixson Pike. New patients are welcome. Our office offers 24-hour answering service. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available (some exceptions may apply). Easy monthly payments are available with approved credit. This includes no interest and extended payment plans. Insurance is accepted and filed. Emergencies are seen promptly.

Our goal is to provide the highest quality dental care that will provide you with excellent function, appearance and value over the long term. Dr. Dick views his role as your dental coach. We strive to always be respectful of your time, giving you the individualized attention that is necessary to guide you toward maximum, health, comfort, function, and appearance, a savings of time and money in the future, and most of all offering a sincere smile.

Dr. Dick is a member of the American Dental Association, the Tennessee Dental Association, the Chattanooga Area Dental Society and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr Dick has extensive continuing education and certifications, has attended over 5000 hours of continuing dental education since starting practice, and over 200 hours during the past twelve months alone. Dr Dick offers the latest in dental technology and treatment modalities, including conscious sedation certification. Did we mention how well trained, competent and generally terrific the staff is?

Dr Dick was the first general dentist in Chattanooga to have had the “new” Waterlase/BIOLASE dental laser. Dr. Dick was featured as the high tech “laser dentist,” in a recent issue of Chattanooga Healthscope magazine, Winter 2004. Fillings, in many cases, can be done without the need for shots, drills or the resultant numb lip, using the dental laser. The laser sterilizes and decontaminates the tooth and gum tissue, promoting rapid healing. Tooth decay and gum disease are among the most prevalent diseases known to mankind. The dental laser has revolutionized the approach to treating these diseases. See www.biolase.com for details including laser root canals, tooth sensitivity treatments, and gum surgery. Ask Dr. Dick about whether laser treatment is an option for you and your family. Benefits you can expect include increased comfort and speedy healing.

Did you know that lasers are now being used to diagnose tooth decay, objectively, with precision, via Diagnodent system. Dr Dick offers diagnosis of dental tooth decay, including around existing fillings, using a light and camera system – DIFOTI, which stands for diagnostic imaging fiber optic trans illumination. Decay can be found more accurately than ever possible before, without radiation. And, you can see these images clearly, for yourself, as they are displayed on either a 42 inch plasma display screen or computer monitor in the treatment rooms. DIFOTI does not replace traditional x-rays, but serves as an adjuctive diagnostic tool. DIFOTI is an excellent option for expectant mothers and children.

Dr Dick's completely renovated facilities include audio visual presentations, free personalized CD's, with educational information about any dental subject you'd be interested in; digital x-rays, which reduce radiation exposure up to 80%; and digital photography. With digital photography you can actually see more by viewing a picture than you can by looking into the mouth because you can zoom in on the pictures like you do with a microscope – see the smallest detail, thus enabling the doctor to conserve the maximum amount of tooth structure during treatment.

Dr Dick embraces a new paradigm in dental care called “micro dentistry." A surgical microscope, with highest magnification, is used. Now, if you wish, you will be able to see what the doctor sees through the microscope, as he does the treatment. This is made possible by wearing special I-glasses or viewing an overhead monitor. Pictures are taken before, during and after treatment. So, you can see exactly what is needed to be done, what was done during the treatment and what was accomplished upon completion.

Air Abrasion is also available, whereby fillings may be done without shots or the drill, it's great for children, as is the laser – no heat, vibration or drill sounds. Fillings last longer, natural tooth structure is maximally retained by removing just the decay and restoring the teeth with beautiful, cosmetically appealing, naturally bonded fillings, crowns, or bridges.

Dr Dick uses current cosmetic bleaching systems, including bleaching for people with sensitive teeth. Try our take home systems with no impressions, or fast, in office, power bleaching. No lights or lasers are necessary to achieve optimal results.

If going to the dentist is one of your greatest fears, you're not alone. Ask about “relaxed dentistry.” Did you know you could be relaxed, yet conscious and responsive, during your next dental visit? Dr. Dick caters to the high fear or time sensitive patient. You can get all or most of your dental treatment completed in just one or more easy, painless treatment appointments with “relaxed dentistry.” While you snooze, years of painful and embarrassing problems with your teeth are corrected. You wouldn't think about having surgery without sedation, why should involved dental treatment be any different. Typically, after the appointment, you won't even remember having had dental treatment.

Dr. Dick offers comprehensive dental care including fabrication of custom mouth guards to help prevent sports trauma. If an injury does occur, the doctor is available to help. Did you know we offer, via Invisalign, invisible braces for adults, digital objective shade matching for restorative work, and brush biopsies for early cancer detection. Do you grind your teeth, have premature wear on your teeth, cracks in your teeth, or clicking and popping in the temparomandibular joint, the jaw joint located in front of your ear? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you will want to consider an effective approach, known as the nti appliance, for relief. (Check out the nti website at www.nti-tss.com for more details.) Nti is a FDA approved technique for treatment of migraines.

Snoring treatment, bad breath correction, laser treatment of canker sores and cold sores, silicone denture relines, cosmetic imaging simulation, composite veneer over amalgam, intraoral videocam, gag-less impressions, cosmetic dentistry, and Imtec, “easy dentures,” that economically lock in loose-fitting dentures at one half the price of conventional implants.

We pride ourselves on our lab and sterilizing facilities. All dental waterlines are sterilized with the latest in waterline sterilization.

While medical emergencies are rare, they can occur at any time or place. We all need to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Dr. Dick's office is equipped with advanced emergency cardiac defibrillation technology. This is above and beyond the minimum requirements for dental and medical offices. All clinical staff are trained and certified in CPR. You deserve to enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your Dentist is current with the latest in technology, information, and techniques.

Periodontal disease, commonly known as pyorrhea, which begins with gingivitis, is one of the most common diseases known to mankind. Did you know, that “probing depths of more than 3mm around teeth, is strongly related to incidence of total coronary heart disease,” per Annals of Periodontology journal, Vol. 3, #1, July 1998. The relationship of oral health to overall health has been proven. Pregnant women face special challenges in maintaining the health of their gums. Having a smile that looks great, feels terrific and lasts a long time is now possible with microscope enhanced plaque analysis.