• Comprehensive Dental Care

Welcome to the practice of Debra S. Zombek & Associates, D.D.S., P.A.
Our patient-centered clinic offers comprehensive dental care with an equal commitment to preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. At our clinic, our patients are our top priorities. We value personalized attention and long-term relationships with our clients.
In addition, we are committed to high standards of patient safety and environmental protection. We emphasize mercury-free dentistry in all our work, as well as environmentally friendly dental practices.
We are proud to offer leading dental technologies and techniques in a small, community-oriented practice. Come visit our Rocky Mount, NC office today to find out how satisfying quality, personalized dental care can be.

• New Patient Exams, Digital x-rays

Digital x-rays can now be taken using sensors that transmit the image directly into a computer monitor. This larger image helps the patient understand the doctor's explanations more easily and enables the doctor to "zoom in" on a specific area of the tooth. An important advantage to this new technology is that it reduces the amount of radiation by 90%. Digital x-rays are also faster. The digital image only takes a minute or two to appear in the monitor. In addition, this new technology is friendly to the environment since no chemicals are needed for developing the image.

• Fillings - White and Silver

Natural tooth-colored fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal dental fillings (or Amalgam fillings). Tooth fillings that are colored to look like a natural tooth are known as Composite Resin Dental Fillings and are made of a plastic dental resin.
Composite Resin Dental Fillings are not only strong, durable, and offer a more aesthetically pleasing result, they avoid the use of mercury found in traditional metal fillings.

• Crowns & Bridges

Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth. Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve a cosmetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.

• Extractions

When restoration procedures such as root canal therapy, crowns, or fillings are not enough to save a tooth, it may need to be pulled, or extracted.
Tooth extraction procedures today are far less painful than ever before, thanks to powerful anesthetics and sedatives. In many cases, a patient who has tooth pulled experiences little or no discomfort, and only minor bleeding.
Before a tooth is extracted, the area surrounding the tooth is numbed with a topical/and or injectable anesthetic such as Novocaine.
Patients with extracted teeth sometimes need to take an antibiotic, and at the very least, take precautions following the procedure to ensure that infection doesn't occur.

• Tooth Whitening

If you don't smile as much because your teeth have become discolored, dingy, or stained, teeth whitening can get you smiling again. Teeth whitening can be performed to provide you with overall whiter, brighter teeth, or if one tooth is discolored, a more consistent color. There are various teeth or tooth whitening procedures, and your specific needs should be considered when consulting with your dentist.

• Partials

Partial dentures, also sometimes called “overdentures,” are designed to fit over a small section of implants or natural teeth. Partial dentures are characteristic by their pinkish gum-like plastic bases, on to which replacement teeth are attached. Small clasps are used to attach the denture to existing teeth. Some clasps, which can be more expensive, are made of natural-looking material that is hard-to-detect.

• Dentures

Dentures are designed to replace missing teeth, and are worn by millions of Americans. Technological advancements have resulted in dentures that are lightweight and mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Most dentures are made from a combination of metals and synthetic material such as acrylic resin. Dentures are generally classified as partial or full. Partial dentures are designed to replace a small section of teeth, and help prevent existing healthy natural teeth from shifting position; full dentures generally replace an entire set of teeth such as upper and lower dentures.

• Root Canals

Root canal therapy usually entails one to three visits. During the first visit, a small hole is drilled through the top of the tooth and into the inner chamber. Diseased tissue is removed, the inner chamber cleansed and disinfected, and the tiny canals reshaped. The cleansed chamber and canals are filled with an elastic material and medication designed to prevent infection. If necessary, the drilled hole is temporarily filled until a permanent seal is made with a crown.
Most patients who have root canal experience little or no discomfort or pain, and enjoy a restored tooth that can last almost as long as its healthy original.

• Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is fast-acting, quick recovery and has few side effects.   Nitrous oxide is a safe and well established way to deal with dental anxiety and discomfort.  It can be used with children and adults.  85 % of pediatric dentist use it with their patients.
Nitrous oxide is a sweet-smelling gas made up of nitrogen and oxygen.  It has a calming and comforting effect while allowing you to be in control and awake through the procedure. This allows you to communicate with us throughout the procedure .  It has the effect of raising the pain threshold and may even make time feel like it passes more quickly.
Nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen so it takes effect quickly, less than five minutes and you will recover quickly, about five to ten minutes and has few side effects.  It can be individually adjusted to your personal need.
Nitrous oxide can help you if you are anxious or have an overactive gag reflex, and also help control pain. It can be used when we give injections to help you through this procedure to make it more comfortable for you.
It can not be used if you are pregnant, too young to understand the procedure or if you are uncomfortable with something around your nose. Remember to have an empty stomach or no heavy meals two hours before use.
We will be monitoring you throughout your use of nitrous oxide.  We will monitor your temperature, blood pressure, skin color, eye dilation, pulse, communication levels and emotional responses.

• Cerec Crowns & Onlays

We offer the latest Cerec Crowns & Onlays. This saves patients time by offering a one visit/appointment for making and delivering the crowns or onlays

• Periodontal soft tissue laser treatments

The use of the Dental Laser now enables us to provide the latest technology available in dental treatment. The Odyssey Diode Soft Tissue Laser is used for many types of decay removal and most soft tissue surgery.
Lasers are revolutionizing the way we treat dental disease. They work by emitting a precise, specialized beam of light that gently targets and destroys dental decay and removes soft tissue.
Lasers provide safe, fast, comfortable and effective treatment for both hard and soft oral tissues. They eliminate the unpleasant noises and vibrations of conventional dental treatment. Sometimes it is necessary to combine conventional procedures with laser treatment depending on the procedure and technical difficulty involved.
Lasers promote faster healing and little or no post surgical discomfort, especially with frenectomies and gingival (gum) surgery.
Lasers sterilize the treatment area.
Laser treatment sometimes requires little or no numbing.
Lasers are gentler to the oral tissues then conventional methods of treatment.