CROWNS
Crowns are full coverage restorations that are used to cover a tooth that is likely to break, or is too broken down to be restored with a filling. They are most commonly done after root canal treatment, or when a large filling wears out. The larger the hole made by a cavity that has to be treated, the more likely a crown will be needed. Even after a filling is put in a large cavity, a tooth is more likely to break. Keep in mind that the jaw muscles are the strongest in the human body. Teeth are subjected to tremendous pressures. Crowns ride over the weakened tooth, providing strength and protecting the tooth against breakage. A broken or cracked tooth is a far more serious matter and much more difficult to treat. Crowns prevent this, as well as making for a nice smile.
Now it only takes one appointment with our CEREC System to restore a tooth with a veneer, crown or porcelain filling.
Most dental restorative methods require more than one visit to the dentist. This means that on the first visit, you get an injection of anasthesia, your tooth prepared, an impression taken, and a temporary restoration put on your tooth. You make a second appointment for a couple of weeks later, get another injection, have the temporary pried off (if it hasn't fallen off already), and have a permanent restoration put on. Why go to the dentist a second time when you don't have to. With the Cerec System the procedure is done in a single visit from start to finish.
A Cerec Tooth Restoration isn't just convenient, it is also healthy. Many years ago, dentists had few options to repair decayed and damaged teeth other than amalgam, gold, and other metals. With CEREC®, your dentist can use strong, tooth colored ceramic materials to restore your teeth to their natural strength, beauty, and function. These materials closely match the composition of natural tooth structure.
This means when you eat hot food and then drink something cold, the restoration and tooth expand and contract at almost equal rates. So, your tooth does not crack, and you can go on enjoying your evening. Also, the materials are chemically bonded to your tooth, so your dentist can save as much healthy tooth tissue as possible while providing you with a dental restoration that strengthens your tooth.
We use CEREC® for more than just crowns and fillings. CEREC® is capable of producing any single tooth restoration. Chipped or discolored front teeth can be repaired with beautiful CEREC® porcelain anterior crowns or veneers. Your smile makes a lasting first impression and may be enhanced with CEREC®.
Worldwide, a CEREC® restoration is placed every 20 seconds. With a history of over 23 years, this equipment has helped dentists place millions of restorations worldwide. Using metal free materials that are the closest to your natural enamel, CEREC® gives you the highest quality restorative care.
BRIDGES
This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. It is formed to look like the missing tooth, and it takes its place in the mouth. The sides of a bridge use the two surrounding teeth for support, hence the name. A bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically. Bridge work is as much an art as it is an exact science. The materials used may be gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or all ceramic material. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics.
It is important that a missing tooth be replaced as soon as possible for several reasons. If not treated the teeth surrounding the gap begin to shift inward, creating a whole chain reaction of bad things. Teeth use their neighbors for support, and, with one missing, they start to "fall." As this worsens the bite changes in response to the pressure. This can eventually result in problems with the entire jaw, e.g. TMJ. The surrounding teeth deteriorate and it is just a matter of time before they, too, are lost. Gum disease becomes a serious problem, with the difficulty of treatment increasing as the neglect continues.
IMPLANTS
A dental implant is an option to replace a missing tooth. In this procedure, a small titanium shaft is surgically implanted into the bone and allowed to set. The bone grows around it forming a tight connection, which additionally slows or stops the bone loss that occurs when the root of a natural tooth is missing. Once the implant is firmly set in the mouth, the dentist then works to attach the replacement tooth onto the top of the shaft. This permanent solution has the advantages over bridge work that it does not stress the surrounding teeth for support, and, should the tooth wear out, another can simply be replaced on the shaft.
Implants can also be used as support as part of an implant bridge. This is an alternative to partial dentures, and has several advantages. First, there is no adjustment period to acclimatize the patient who, once the work is done, only feels teeth, not metal supports intruding into the mouth. Second, this slows the bone loss occasioned by missing teeth. Third, there is no discomfort or difficulty in eating. And, best of all, of course, they don't have to be taken out all the time.
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Our I-Cat System is great for Implants,
Orthodontics, Oral Surgery & TMJ!
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The I-Cat is a state of the art digital imaging system in our office. It's a new dental imaging machine that provides high definition, three dimensional, digital imaging. It works just like a Cat Scan but is specifically designed for dental use. With a typical scan time of twenty seconds or less, our patients will spend less time in the chair and be subjected to significantly less radiation than traditional CT scans. The images are produced quickly and viewed easily.
The I-Cat will be used in many applications including implant and oral surgery, orthodontics, and analysis of temporomandibular joint functions (TMJ).
TMJ stands for temporal-mandibular joint. Temporal, as in temple area of skull; mandibular as in mandible, or lower jaw; joint as in it's where the head and jaw meet. Problems in this joint may be caused by a misalignment of the teeth, trauma, or excess muscle tension. Aside from the two bones that meet there, cartilage buffers them and five muscles are involved in the area. If something goes wrong a good deal of trouble can result.
Problems in this area can cause:
- Headaches
- Numbness in the hands
- Earaches
- Trouble and/or soreness in opening and closing the mouth
- Clicking or popping of the jaw
- Pain in the jaw muscles
- Soreness in the area, sometimes extending to the face
Dental treatments for the condition can include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, filling gaps between teeth, etc. There is no one solution that is right for all cases. Sometimes a plastic mouthpiece is used to stabalize the bite preventing clenching or grinding that is contributing to the problem. If untreated and taken to extremes, surgery may be required to repair a badly damaged joint.
The I-Cat is proven to be particularly helpful to us with high precision procedures like the placement of implants, orthodontics & TMJ analysis. We are one of only a select few practices that have this new technology and we are thrilled to provide this innovation to our patients.
The I-Cat’s technology and design places our office at the center of patient care. We want you to feel comfortable during every step – from diagnosis to procedure.
We look forward to showing this new technology to you and providing our patients with the best care, as well as peace of mind that comes from the most accurate treatment planning and predictable treatment outcomes available.
Call for a free consult.
ORTHODONTICS
Orthodontics is the art of using appliances to straighten and align teeth. Most commonly it involves the use of braces to move teeth into proper positing. In this method, brackets are bonded to the teeth and arch wires are threaded through the brackets. The arch wires act as a track, guiding each tooth to its proper position. There are several types of orthodontic braces available to patients, including traditional metal braces, ceramic "tooth colored" braces, as well as clear plastic braces.
vCeramic “Tooth Colored” Brackets -- Ceramic braces are translucent brackets that blend in with your natural tooth color. They are used with patients who are concerned about the appearance of their smile as they are less metallic looking than traditional braces. Ceramic braces are designed to resist staining and discoloration over long periods of time.
vClear Braces -- Clear Braces utilize brackets made of monocrystalline sapphire, which make the braces nearly see-through except for the thin arch wire. Next to the Invisalign system (below), clear braces are the closest thing to invisible braces.
vMetal Braces -- Metal Braces are the most economical and traditionally used braces. Metal braces are also ideal for those with more extensive realignment needed.
vDamon Bracket -- The Damon bracket uses a “sliding-door” technology called “self-litigation.” This new technology allows a wire to slide back and forth inside the bracket. This method requires no elastics, creates less friction and is therefore more comfortable for the patient than traditional braces. Damon brackets require fewer adjustments and a shorter treatment period.
ORTHODONTIC RETAINERS
Orthodontic Retainers are appliances made from plastic and stainless steel to custom fit your mouth. They act as a guide to hold your teeth into place after braces are removed. The retainer holds your teeth in place so your surround gums and bone can adjust around them – allowing you to maintain your realigned smile. Although the time you must wear a retainer will vary, many orthodontists recommend retainers are worn into the early 20s until the bone in your jaw and mouth has stopped growing.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is made necessary when a cavity is allowed, through neglect, to reach all the way to this pulp. (Regular cleanings and checkups prevent and detect problems early) Sometimes deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy, also. Once this occurs the pulp becomes infected, and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone (this is an abscess). By the time the pulp is infected it must be treated, and cannot heal on its own. It can even weaken the entire immune system.
This is dangerous, not to mention very painful. Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a checkup.
A root canal is then performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp, and disinfect the canals of the tooth. The only other treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has had root canal therapy.
INTRAORAL CAMERA
The intraoral camera is a miniaturized camera that allows patients to view the inside of their own mouths live. It's a wonderful device and patients love it. It's a wonderful way to educate our patients because they can see what problems they have with their own eyes. The intraoral camera also allows us to document your dental case and provide us with a permanent dental record for a visual documentation of your teeth.
There is no better way than to have a blown up picture in front of you to understand why a treatment is being recommended to you, and a camera can give that to you. This benefit also includes the ability to prove to insurance companies treatments recommended for greater insurance approvals. The benefits are endless.
VALPLAST REMOVABLE PARTIALS & DENTURES
There are different types of dentures, but they share their common function. They replace teeth that have become loose or been lost due to bone loss. When bone loss around the roots of teeth is great enough to loosen them or let them fall out, it's time for dentures. Relax. No one enjoys losing their natural teeth, but you can still eat and talk regularly.
The entire mouth is examined and a determination is made as to which teeth will have to be removed, and which will remain. The loose teeth are then extracted. Dentures are fitted to go over or around whatever teeth remain in the mouth, depending on the type. Some advantages are:
- Esthetic & Biocompatible
- Comfort Thin, Lightweight and Flexible
- No Metal
There is an adjustment period after dentures are placed in the mouth, and it can take some getting used to. But once accustomed to the dentures, all the normal functionality and appearance return and one just carries on as usual. Often implants can used to further stabilize the dentures.
