We do several treatments for our community, from periodontal work, to fillings and root canals.
Fillings
A dental restoration or dental filling is a dental restorative material used to restore the function, integrity and morphology of missing tooth structure. The structural loss typically results from caries (tooth decay) or external trauma.
Many of our patients choose to have tooth-colored composite resin fillings placed. They are both more esthetic and bond better to a tooth than traditional amalgam fillings. While amalgams are certainly an acceptable material to use, we recommend resin for most situations.
Crowns
A crown is placed to restore the function, integrity and shape of a tooth when too much has been lost to be replaced with a filling. The materials used for crowns include gold, porcelain fused to metal, porcelain fused to zirconia or zirconia alone. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. The amount and type of reduction done to the tooth to prepare it for a crown varies slightly with the different materials used.
Bridges
A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants.
A bridge is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth similarly to what is done for a single crown. In other words, the abutment teeth are reduced in size to accommodate the material to be used to restore the size and shape of the original teeth in a correct alignment and contact with the opposing teeth.
The materials used for crowns include gold, porcelain fused to metal, porcelain fused to zirconia or zirconia alone. The amount and type of reduction done to the abutment teeth varies slightly with the different materials used. The recipient of such a bridge must be careful to clean well under this prosthesis.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a sequence of treatment for the Pulp (nerves) of a Tooth which results in the elimination of infection and protection of the decontaminated tooth from future bacterial invasion. This set of procedures is commonly referred to as a “Root canal.” The root canal and it’s associated Pulp chamber are the physical hollows within a tooth that are naturally inhabited by nerve tissue and blood vessels. Root canal therapy involves the removal of these structures, the subsequent shaping, cleaning, and decontamination of the hollows with tiny files and irrigating solutions, and the obturation (filling) of the decontaminated canals with an inert filling.
Root canals are done to save teeth that would otherwise be extracted.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the four “third molars”, often our four back-most erupted teeth. When these teeth are impacted, or fall below our gum line, bad things can result, such as pain, infection, damage to the bone support for adjacent teeth, cavities on adjacent teeth due to inability to clean around the wisdom teeth, and in rare occasions, tumors and cysts in the mouth.
In many cases we can extract wisdom teeth for you before they become a problem!
Implants
When you are missing a tooth, or about to have one extracted, a dental implant is an excellent option to replace that tooth. An implant is an artificial tooth root, made of biocompatible titanium, placed into the jaw bone, on top of which a new tooth is placed. Implants can also be utilized to replace multiple missing teeth with a bridge and can also be used to anchor a denture in place.
Periodontal Diease
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria. Some of it causes cavities. Other bacteria in that film can slowly dissolve the area under your gum tissue and cause periodontal disease, also called gum disease. Regular brushing and flossing breaks up this film. However, if it is allowed to grow under the gums, the area where your gums meet your tooth and the supporting bone is slowly dissolved. That area of dissolved bone can be visible on x-rays and is one of the things we look for during your recall visits. In most cases, gum disease is not painful, unlike a cavity. In fact, one of the few signs you may notice is bleeding when flossing or a foul taste from your gums. Treatment for this is not having your teeth cleaned every six months. A more focused procedure, called scaling and root planning, is done to help treat this disease. Our good care in the office, coupled with good care at home by you, can help maintain your teeth for your lifetime.
A Healthier Smile & Straighter Teeth: Discover the Benefits of Invisalign
Have you always wished for a straighter, more confident smile? Do you suffer from poor bite alignment? Want healthier gums? Invisalign can help you achieve all this and more. Invisalign clear braces correct crooked or misaligned teeth and have amazing dental health benefits. This aligner system helps promote bone and gum health, reduces the risk of cracked and worn teeth, and may even help relieve TMJ pain. Invisalign braces...
- Promote periodontal, gum, and bone health
- Correct crowding, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites
- Provide fast & long-lasting results
- Are virtually invisible and comfortable to wear
- Can be easily removed during meals and for brushing and flossing
