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General Dentistry
- Emergency Treatment
- Amalgam Restoration (silver filling)
- Composite Restoration (tooth colored filling)
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Veneers
- Implants
- Root Canal Therapy
- Dentures
- Partials
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns cover teeth which have cracked, have large previous fillings, or are missing large pieces of the tooth. They may also be used after root canal therapy to strengthen the remaining tooth. A crown covers the entire tooth surface and restores both lost tooth structure and function.
Bridges restore the spaces left behind from the loss of a tooth. Crowns are used for the teeth on either side of the space and a false tooth is attached to them to restore the space. Bridges stay in place and are not removable.
Veneers
These are custom made thin shells of porcelain which are bonded to your teeth. They can be used to change color, shape, and fill in spaces between your teeth.
Implants
In many cases an implant can be used to restore the space from a missing tooth. Implants are metal posts which are placed under the gums and into the bone which supported the missing tooth. The bone will attach to the implant to provide a strong foundation for a crown to be placed on top of the implant. Implants look and function like natural teeth. They can be used to support a single tooth, multiple teeth in the form of a bridge, or as additional support for a denture.
Root Canal Therapy
The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When a tooth becomes damaged from decay or injury, the pulp cannot repair itself. The damaged pulp will slowly die and become infected. Pain and swelling results. The damaged pulp must be removed or the tooth may be lost. Root canal treatment removes the damaged pulp, filling material is placed in the space, and in most cases the tooth will survive long term.
Dentures
Dentures replace missing natural teeth. They provide chewing function, improved speech and support for the facial muscles which have sagged due to loss of the teeth. Complete dentures can replace all of the teeth. Partial dentures replace some of the teeth.
There are several types of dentures. A conventional denture can be placed after removal of the patient's teeth and several weeks of healing. An immediate denture can be placed immediately after the teeth are removed. This allows the patient to go home with teeth in place. Immediate dentures normally require reline within a few months of placement. After denture placement there is always an adjustment period. Dentures are not "the same" as natural teeth. Patients must learn how chew, speak, and care for their dentures. This may take several weeks or months to master. Most patients adapt quickly, and the dentures function well.
Denture patients should still have there mouth examined annually. Patients with teeth remaining should have regular cleanings and exams.
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