Crowns & Fixed Dental Bridges
CROWNS
Crowns are used to strengthen teeth and improve their shape and color. Teeth that
are weakened by decay, fractures, advanced wear to the point that they will not
hold fillings are best restored with crowns, also known as caps. Crowns cover all
surfaces of the tooth above the gum line as it becomes a new outer surface to the
tooth.
Crowns can be made from porcelain or metal or both. We have many selections to choose
from when picking crown types depending on how much strength we need to how beautiful
it looks. We will help you decide the best choice for your situation.
FIXED DENTAL BRIDGES
Dental bridges replace missing teeth and are very strong and beautiful. When teeth
are lost the bite shifts weakening your chewing ability and straining the jaw joint.
To prevent these problems we make a fixed bridge which is supported by natural teeth
or implants. The fixed bridge stays in place all the time and is the same size as
the teeth it replaces. We have many new materials to make bridges from. We would
be happy to review your options with you.
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Dentures/Removable Partial Dentures
Candidates for complete dentures have lost all of their teeth. A partial denture
is suitable for those who have some natural teeth remaining. Both improve chewing
ability and speech, and provide support for facial muscles enhancing the facial
appearance and smile.
Complete dentures are called "conventional" or "immediate" according to when they
are made and when they are inserted into the mouth. Immediate dentures are inserted
immediately after the removal of the remaining teeth so the patient does not have
to go with teeth during the healing period. To make this possible, we take measurements
and make the models of the patient's jaws during a preliminary visit.
An advantage of immediate dentures is that the wearer does not have to be without
teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums will shrink over time,
especially during the period of healing in the first six to twelve months after
the removal of teeth. When gums shrink, immediate dentures may require rebasing
or relining to fit properly. A conventional denture can then be made once the tissues
have healed.
Implants are very helpful to stabilize full or partial dentures. They greatly increase
the bite, strength and chewing ability and add a whole new dimension to security
of the appliance. Ask us about this option.
We would be glad to evaluate your dental situation and review the possibilities
for improving your smile and chewing ability.
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Restoration of Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium cylinder replacing a missing tooth root. Given time
to heal, an impression coping is placed into the implant and an impression is taken
just as we would take an impression for a crown. Then the dental laboratory fabricates
an abutment and a crown for the implant. We then insert the abutment into the implant
which is held in place with a screw. The crown is then cemented over the abutment
and we have successfully replaced a missing tooth which is very strong and looks
beautiful.
Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or provided support
and retention for full or partial dentures. We have been using implants for over
25 years and have found them to be very predictable and successful.
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Fillings
Tooth decay leads to the development of a cavities, or holes, in the teeth. Fillings
are used to repair the damage that decay has made.
Tooth colored composite fillings are the most requested filling material we use.
They are comprised of porcelain and resin and bond to the tooth structure creating
good support to the tooth.
Silver fillings (amalgams) which are a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper
are sometimes used for the back teeth. Government studies report complete safety
in their use. These fillings are durable when supported by enough tooth structure.
Regular hygiene appointments and dental exams allow us to find decay in its early
stages so the tooth repair is small. Larger fillings tend to wear out faster than
small fillings. When teeth are not strong enough to hold fillings then we move up
to inlays, onlays, or crowns.
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Dental Inlays/Onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are conservative, durable, laboratory fabricated tooth
restorations. They are used to repair back teeth that have mild to moderate tooth
decay or for cracked teeth where the damage does not warrant a dental crown. Porcelain,
composite resin and sometimes gold are used to create inlays and onlays. Inlays
refer to those procedures where the bonded material is limited to the center of
the tooth, while onlays refer to those procedures where the bonded material covers
the chewing surface of the tooth.
Inlays and onlays have a natural tooth color that makes them virtually invisible
compared to metal fillings. They will not expand or contract based on temperature.
Minimal tooth structure is removed helping to preserve the maximum amount of healthy
tooth structure while restoring decayed or damaged areas.
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