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Filling:
A man made material that is designed to replace a missing or decayed part of a natural tooth while also restoring the strength and integrity of that tooth. The following is a list of commonly used restorations in ascending order of complexity:
Amalgam (silver) restoration,
tooth colored restoration (Bonding),
inlay/onlay (overlay?) restoration and the crown restoration.
Choosing the appropriate restoration depends upon four factors:
*remaining tooth structure*
*functional demands*
*oral hygiene*
*aesthetic demands*
Tooth Structure: The tooth serves as a matrix to hold and support the restoration of choice. The less tooth structure present, the more demands that are placed upon the restoration to support not only itself but the remaining tooth structure as well.
Functional Demands: One must consider the biting forces placed on a specific tooth or teeth. Front teeth undergo "shearing forces" while back teeth undergo "compressive forces". Some teeth experience both types of forces. Each restorative option must be examined carefully to achieve the best long-term results and aesthetics.
Oral Hygiene: Perhaps the most important and the most overlooked part of choosing a dental restoration. The only way to achieve good oral health is to practice good oral hygiene. Not only will this reduce your chances of getting periodontal disease, but it will improve the longevity of your restorations. Restorations do not get decay. Teeth do!
Aesthetic Demands: The expectations of the most aesthetically challenging patient are met by collaborating with a superior dental laboratory, working with excellent dental technicians, utilizing the best and most aesthetic materials and understanding the wants and needs of the patient.
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Crown and bridge:
Crowns and bridges using the most advanced
dental porcelains provide a long term solution for damaged or missing
teeth while ensuring a natural look. Damaged teeth can be repaired by
placing a crown on the tooth, when there is no longer enough structure to
support a filling. Missing teeth can be replaced by 'crowning' teeth
adjacent to the missing tooth and 'bridging' the gap to support a false
tooth.
Implants:
Dental implants are a titanium substitute for the missing natural roots of your teeth. Dental implants are implanted into the jawbone by highly trained dental specialists. After the placement of the implant there is a healing period to allow for the fusion of the implant to the bone. Once the healing period is over, then the implant(s) is/are restored with conventional aesthetic crown(s) or aesthetic fixed bridgework. Implants are utilized in situations where there are not enough natural teeth to support a fixed bridge restoration or in situation where the remaining natural teeth are compromised either through decay or periodontal disease. Implants are an ideal aesthetic and practical solution for a single missing tooth.
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Dentures:
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. It is made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals. Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other teeth from changing position. Complete dentures are either "conventional" or "immediate." A conventional denture is placed in the mouth about a month after all the teeth are removed to allow for proper healing, whereas an immediate denture is placed as soon as the teeth are removed. The drawback behind an immediate denture is that it may require more adjustments after the healing has taken place.
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Patient Safety
To protect our
patients and ourselves our staff wear masks, gloves, glasses, as well as
dental smocks. We strictly observe all Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. All instruments are cleaned,
disinfected and routinely sterilized as recommended by the American Dental
Association and the Centers for Disease Control.
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