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SERVICES >> Restorative Dentistry
Restorative Dentistry is a specialty of ours, because we know that a healthy smile doesn't mean as much if you don't like the way it looks. We've been told we're responsible for increasing the laughter of life by creating dazzlingly beautiful smiles. Break through techniques and new materials have made a restored smile look more natural than ever before. Please click on the links below to learn about our restorative dentistry procedures.
Fillings
Dentures
Crowns
Implants
Bridges
Reconstruction
Fillings
In the past, teeth were most commonly repaired with amalgam (silver) fillings or gold restorations. Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, teeth can be restored with a more aesthetic and natural appearance. There are different types of cosmetic fillings currently available. The type used will depend on the location of the tooth and the amount of tooth structure that needs to be repaired.
Natural Tooth Colored Fillings
Silver amalgam fillings have been in use for over 100 years. There is now NEW technology that allows a tooth to be filled with a strong chemically bonded material that can be matched to the color of your tooth making it appear nearly invisible. Research has proven that a tooth with a Natural Colored Bonded Filling is 90-95% as strong as a natural non-cavity healthy tooth, whereas a Silver Filling is only 40-45% as strong as a non-cavity tooth.
Benefits:
- Beautiful in appearance
- Completed in a single visit
- Stronger than a Silver filling
- No filling leaks
- Less chance of tooth cracking
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| silver fillings |
natural tooth-colored fillings |
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Dentures
A denture is a tooth replacement option; e.g. a single tooth, multiple teeth or a full arch. Dentures are removable. They can be crafted to provide the characteristics (tooth shape and color) the patient desires.
Advances have been made in the materials used for dentures and in the way they are designed. If you already have dentures (partial or full arch) you may be experiencing a loose fit or denture slipping. This can lead to gum sores, can effect your chewing and your speech, and decrease your confidence when speaking and/or laughing with others. We can help restore your dentures to the correct fit.
Denture Relines
There are basically two (2) different types of denture relines:
1) hard permanent reline and 2) soft reline.
A hard permanent reline which can either be done here in the office with an office-cured plastic or else it can be sent to the dental laboratory and processed in a laboratory-cured plastic. Due to the special processing, the laboratory reline tends to last longer. Unfortunately this will require taking your denture from you for a few days. Will try to coordinate this procedure so that you may be inconvenienced for as few days as possible.
A soft reline can be done here at the office or else it can be done at the laboratory in a more permanent fashion. The office processed soft liner tends to be more fragile and will need to be removed and replaced with greater frequency; however, it can done immediately. The permanent type, lab processed requires that the denture be sent to the laboratory.
Same day service is available.
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Crowns
A crown is sometimes termed a "cap" or a "jacket." A crown will restore a broken, heavily filled or cracked tooth to its original size, shape and tooth color. A crown may be recommended after root canal therapy has been completed, as the tooth tends to become brittle and is more apt to fracture. A crown can strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and improve the appearance of your teeth. With the advances in technology we now have the ability to build these crowns with no metal present at all.
Crowns are used for a variety of purposes:
1) To strengthen a damaged tooth (from decay or previous old restorations)
2) To protect a tooth that has had a root canal treatment
3) For purely esthetic reasons
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| old crown technology |
new crown technology |
The Old Technology for crowns showed a dark line at the gum line.
The New Technology for crowns show great advancements in dental materials and new procedures that allow the crown to be placed under the gum line for a more attractive appearance.
Fitting A Crown Requires At Least Two Appointments
During your first visit, the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression or mold is made of the tooth, and a temporary crown is placed over the tooth. At the subsequent visit, the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is fitted and adjusted and cemented into place.
First Visit: Preparation of the tooth
In preparing a tooth for a crown, some of the tooth above the gumline is removed to create a foundation for the crown.
A temporary crown will be placed on the tooth during the initial visit while the new permanent crown is being created.
Second Visit: Completion of Treatment
The permanent crown is created to match the characteristics of your mouth; color, size, shape, etc. and fitted upon your return visit. The temporary crown is removed and the temporary cement is cleaned from the prepared tooth. The crown is then fitted, adjusted and permanently cemented into place.
The results is aBeautiful Smile!
Old unsightly crowns can be replaced with today's new high-tech crowns. The new crown material is tooth colored for a more attractive appearance. We will be happy to answer any of your questions. Simply ask us about tooth colored crowns!
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| old crowns |
new tooth-colored crowns |
Do You Grind Your Teeth At Night? - Wear Caused By Grinding
Grinding your teeth while you sleep is a major cause of tooth damage. Grinding wears down your teeth to the point were the tooth enamel wears away and you will require crowns. Notice the top of the teeth. The tooth enamel is gone and the tooth is exposed.
Ask us about a "NIGHT GUARD" to help prevent wear!
Crowns can not only give you back tooth strength, but a beautifully shaped white smile!
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Dental Implants
Traditional options in replacing a tooth or teeth are not without side-effects:
Using a tradition bridge weakens adjacent teeth as they are shaped for a bridge crown.
A removable partial or a full denture needs adjustments and alignments. They wear down over time and need to be replaced. The gun tissue and jaw bone continues to shrink because of the lack of "tooth root".
Dental implants are an exciting option that has changed the lives of many people!
A dental implant is a popular permanent tooth replacement option.
Benefits of a Dental Implant:
- replaces both the tooth root and the tooth crown
- does not affect adjacent teeth
- feels like a NATURAL TOOTH
- allows for normal speech patterns
- provides you with a sold bite, renewed taste, better chewing ability than dentures resulting in better food digestion
New teeth are developed to ensure optimal size, shape, color and fit so they will blend with your facial characteristics and provide support needed for a natural appearance.
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Bridges
The loss of a single tooth can have a major impact on your dental health and personal appearance. Your teeth support and rely on each other. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can shift out of their normal position. Teeth adjacent to the space or from the opposite jaw will often drift or tilt. These teeth are often more susceptible to decay or gum disease because they are more difficult to clean around. All of this shifting and drifting will lead to changes in the bite, which may put stress on the jaws, muscles and teeth. Ultimately, your ability to chew comfortably and your appearance may be affected.
A non-removable bridge can restore your teeth to normal function by replacing missing teeth. It will improve the entire health of your mouth by keeping the surrounding teeth in position and can also help maintain the structure of your face and jaw.
There are two types of bridges; a fixed bridge and a bonded bridge.
A fixed bridge is connected to crowns on the neighboring teeth.
A bonded bridge is connected with an adhesive wing to neighboring teeth.
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| fixed bridge |
bonded bridge |
A combination of a fixed and bonded bridge will often be used together. The use or selection of one procedure over the other is dependent on your individual situation.
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Full Mouth Reconstruction
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