Restorative
To permanently replace one or more missing teeth, we offer a dental bridging procedure that will restore the look of your smile. This procedure entails the use of the surrounding teeth to anchor a replacement tooth that mimics the look, feel, and function of the original. The material of the replacement tooth consists of either porcelain or metal options to ensure tooth strength and long-lasting results.
The dental bridge is created by selecting the adjacent teeth around the missing tooth anchored to them. The teeth are then contoured to provide a base for the bridge, and a mold is taken once this process is complete. Our laboratory uses this mold to create the bridge. In the meantime, you will be fitted with a temporary bridge, which will ensure the protection of the contoured teeth as well as an immediately improved appearance while you wait for the finalized material.
On the last visit, the temp will be removed, and your perfected dental bridge will be set and affixed to the teeth. The final product will have been personalized, and carefully crafted to look and feel as close to the original tooth structure as possible. Once the dentist finishes the procedure with an adhesive, your durable new smile will be finalized.
Crowns
Over time, our teeth become more and more vulnerable to decay, damage, discoloration, and other issues. To restore your smile to what it used to be, we offer a crowning procedure that will strengthen and improve the appearance of decayed, damaged, or weakened teeth. In cases where the damage could cause further issues concerning the affected tooth, a crown may be needed instead of a typical filling or bonding procedure.
The options for crown material are porcelain, gold, or a fusion of porcelain to metal. The porcelain option is generally preferred if the goal is to match the color of the existing tooth and blend in with the rest of your smile.
The installation of your new crown will span about 2-3 appointments. First, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic for your comfort. Next, the affected tooth will be contoured, filed down so that the crown can eventually be placed over it. Like all of our procedures, the goal is to preserve as much of the healthy part of the tooth as possible for maximum preservation. A mold will be taken of the reshaped tooth and sent to the lab, where the crown will be created and fitted to the tooth. Until the final product is ready, a temporary crown will be implemented for a better appearance. The crown will be shaped to fit in with the rest of the surrounding teeth for maximal appearance, and the final appointment will be reserved for the installation of the permanent crown.
If you would like to replace multiple missing teeth, you have the option of either partial or full dentures depending on your needs. A patient will receive partial dentures when not all of the teeth require replacement. Partial dentures entail a similar procedure to our dental bridge offering, but the difference is that dentures are removable at the patient’s will whereas a dental bridge is permanently affixed. If all of the teeth must be replaced, a patient should opt for full dentures, of which there are two categories:
Conventional Full Dentures – All of the teeth are removed, and the tissue is given time to heal completely before the dentures are installed. The healing process depends on the patient and can take up to a few months to complete. During this time, the patient will be without teeth to ensure full healing of the tissue.
Immediate Full Dentures – Before all of the teeth are removed, the dentist will take measurements to tailor the dentures to the exact dimensions of the patient’s mouth. Then, the dentures will be created before the next appointment. Upon the next visit, immediately following the removal of the teeth the dentures will be placed in the mouth. If a patient opts for immediate full dentures, he or she avoids any healing period without teeth. The patient will have to schedule a follow-up visit to refit the dentures, as the jawbone will slightly change shape as the mouth heals with the implemented dentures inside. The dentures will be tightened once the patient’s jawbone has fully healed.
To enhance the aesthetics of your smile, consider our bonding & whitening procedure. Bonding can serve to correct cracks in the teeth, bridge gaps, fill cavities, and cover stains or discoloration on the teeth.
An adhesive gel will be applied to the affected tooth or range of teeth, depending on your needs. Next, a composite resin will be sculpted over the gel, and an LED light will be used to harden the resin. After the resin solidifies and affixed to the tooth, it is then polished to make your fresh, new smile complete.
