If your teeth are chipped, cracked, or broken, we can repair them. Our doctors have extensive experience in the art of restorative dentistry, which is solely dedicated to helping people’s damaged smiles. If your teeth have seen better days, don’t worry, we can bring them back to their former glory. We have a variety of treatments that can address any problem your teeth might have, and they will all give you a functional, gorgeous smile.
Dental bridges have been utilized by dentists for many years to replace missing teeth, and they are still considered today to be one of the most hardy, safe, and economical choices for bridging gaps between missing teeth and surrounding teeth. For a little background on bridges, they are made up of two anchoring teeth and a replacement tooth and assist with preventing surrounding teeth from becoming repositioned. They also enhance chewing and speaking and, amazingly, help keep the shape of people’s natural faces intact.
The three types of dental bridges are known as traditional, cantilever, and Maryland. Traditional bridges consist of crowns or implants on either side of the tooth that is missing, as well as a replacement tooth that is secured by what’s known as a dental abutment.
Cantilever bridges are utilized when surrounding teeth are located only on one side of the tooth that is missing, while Maryland bridges consist of a specific type of resin that is secured to a metal framework and then attached to the enamel of surrounding teeth.
Typically, dental bridges take approximately two to three weeks to complete and are not as invasive as other types of tooth-replacement methods such as dental implants. Provided patients have solid oral-hygiene habits and schedule regular dental visits, they should last for up to three decades.
Smiling may seem like an impossible dream for those who have several missing teeth, but luckily full and partial dentures are viable, common, and economical choices that help people regain their self-confidence. Full dentures are an option for those who are missing several teeth on their upper or lower jaw. Numerous natural-looking and comfortable dentures are available to help our patients feel less self-conscious and look younger. They are made of either acrylic-based resin or porcelain, and some kinds are made of gum-colored plastic resin.
Fixed or removable partial dentures are also available; these are designed for patients with several missing teeth throughout the upper or lower jaw and made of customized prosthetics within a gum-colored base. Partial dentures stay in place with metal clasps or clips that connect to a person’s natural, healthy teeth. Partial dentures can be removed and allow patients to regain everyday abilities such as speaking more clearly, eating a more varied diet, and smiling with genuine confidence.
Getting dentures is an approximately two-month process that can take several trips to the dentist, though in some instances patients may be able to get same-day dentures, which are made at the dentist’s office rather than at an off-site lab. Same-day dentures are only an option for those who do not require a great deal of customization.
Once ready, dentures require daily care, no different than natural teeth. Typical dentures used under normal conditions will last around five to seven years, though during that period patients might need occasional relines to adjust to the natural variations that can happen in the mouth. The relining of dentures involves resurfacing their bases so that they fit well and function as they should. Broken dentures can be repaired by our dentists, and it is important to have them fixed if they do break. The available repair kits for dentures can often cause extended damage to patients who try to make repairs themselves, which can potentially lead to a costlier bill.
Another excellent option for our patients who have missing teeth or other dental issues is oral surgery, which encompasses treatment options such as dental implants, the extraction of wisdom teeth, and bone grafting. In the case of dental implants, surgically placed roots of teeth are fitted to secure dental crowns. Removing wisdom teeth is recommended when there is not sufficient room in the mouth to house surrounding teeth, which can cause infection, impaction, or partially erupted teeth. Lastly, bone grafting involves the transfer of bone from one jaw area to another and is recommended when patients have a dental implant. Both general dentists and oral surgeons can perform these procedures depending on the type of operation.
Porcelain fillings are designed for patients who feel self-conscious about the cavity-covered silver linings in their mouths when they smile. These tooth-colored fillings, made of durable composite resin, are attractive and match the natural color of teeth. Designed to hide small- to mid-sized cavities, porcelain fillings are highly durable and resistant to stains. In addition, they don’t require our dentist to remove as much of your tooth structure as silver fillings do.
Though uttered by fear by many a patient, root canals are not nearly as awful as people make them out to be—and they are highly important for patients whose tooth decay or injury has caused an infection within the pulp portion of the mouth. This type of infection may go unnoticed at first, but as time goes on individuals may feel swelling in their mouths or an abscess. Our dentists can remove the infection and prevent it from spreading through a root canal. And thankfully, laser root canals offered these days can make the process, more comfortable and faster and often do a more thorough job than the conventional method.
An alternative to having a root canal done is pulp capping, which is an option when the infection has not yet penetrated the interior tooth. This option prevents a large dental filling from getting too close to a nerve.
Tooth extractions are a last resort by our dentists, but in certain situations removing teeth is an unavoidable recommendation. The most common reasons patients must have their teeth extracted include when harmful tooth decay is affecting surrounding teeth; the crowding of teeth is causing orthodontic treatment issues; prominent cracks, fractures, or breaks are causing facial issues; infection spreads to gums, leading to problems such as abscess; and wisdom teeth are causing the eruption or lack of jaw space.
