Dental Crowns
What are dental crowns?
A dental crown is a type of restoration that is designed to fit over a damaged or compromised tooth. If a tooth has fractured, broken or has been recently root canaled, we may recommend that it be crowned. Crowns both protect the tooth from further damage as well as improve its size and shape. You can expect the restoration to last for many years before it’ll need to be replaced.
Why are dental crowns needed?
There are a couple of reasons for why you might benefit from a new dental crown. The most common reason is because a tooth has cracked, fractured or broken. You might need a crown if you’ve recently underwent a root canal, which can leave the tooth more prone to breaking. If a tooth has a large filling in it or a deep area of decay, we might recommend simply crowning it to protect and restore it.
Who is a candidate for dental crowns?
The dentists will examine your teeth to determine if a crown is necessary. If it’s found that you do need a crown, it is best to have the work done right away to prevent further damage to the tooth. If you have an older crown that needs to be replaced, we can do this easily in our office at your own convenience. Crowns can be placed over virtually any tooth within the mouth in need of restoration.
What happens during the dental crown procedure?
The first step is to numb the area of the mouth that needs the crown. The dentists will administer a local anesthetic to make the appointment more comfortable for you. The tooth is then filed down appropriately so that there is enough room for the restoration. We take impressions and use these to make the new crown. You will come in for a second appointment so that the final crown can be placed. You can expect the restoration to last for many years while providing you with a full and healthy-looking smile.
Dental Bridges
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a restoration that helps to replace one or more missing natural teeth. The bridge attaches permanently to surrounding teeth, so it won’t need to be removed and cleaned like a prosthetic appliance. Bridge work is specifically made for each patient, providing a natural and realistic appearance. Most fixed bridges can last for many years before they’ll need to be replaced completely.
Why would a dental bridge be needed?
The most common reason for needing a bridge is because you’re missing a tooth. You might want to avoid having surgery done to place an implant or you’re not a good candidate for implant surgery. Bridge work helps to restore the fullness of your smile while improving functionality. Because of your bridge, your surrounding teeth are less likely to become crooked and crowded.
Who is a candidate for a dental bridge?
We can examine your teeth to determine if a fixed bridge is right for you. In order for the bridge to fit properly and securely, it’ll need to be placed over two surrounding teeth. In general, the larger the bridge, the less secure it will be. We may recommend implants to hold a bridge if we feel it wouldn’t be secure enough on its own.
What happens during the dental bridge procedure?
The procedure begins with a local anesthetic to numb one area of the mouth. We then shape and file down the surrounding teeth. This will help to make room for the new fixed bridge. Impressions are then taken and will be used to create both a temporary and permanent bridge. You’ll go home with the temporary one in place and will need to come back for a second appointment for the permanent. The temporary bridge is removed and the permanent one placed securely using a dental-grade adhesive. We polish and adjust the new bridge and provide you with instructions on how to brush and floss around it.
Inlays and Onlays
What are inlays and onlays?
Both an inlay and onlay are restorations that can help to improve the look and feel of an otherwise damaged or compromised tooth. The restoration can be used to cover a tooth that has cracked or broken or to replace old fillings. They are typically made of porcelain, which allows them to look both natural and realistic. The benefit of both onlays and inlays is that they can last for many years without needing to be replaced.
Why would inlays and onlays be needed?
There are a couple of reasons for why you might need to have either an inlay or an onlay placed. Your tooth might have cracked or broken across the very top of it. Rather than place a full dental crown, a smaller restoration will be perfect for the area. Likewise, we might recommend an onlay or inlay if you have a larger, older filling that needs to be completely replaced.
Who is a candidate for inlays and onlays?
With an examination, we can determine if either of these restorations is best for you. The restoration is made for each individual patient, so it fits and feels completely comfortable. You can think of these restorations as smaller crowns, since they look and last as long as larger options. Inlays sit inside the grooves of a tooth while the onlay sits over the very top.
What happens during the procedure for inlays and onlays?
The process begins by removing decay, old filling material and smoothing out areas that are broken or cracked. We then take impressions of your teeth so that we can make the new restoration. You will come back in for a second appointment. This second visit involves placing the actual inlay or onlay. The restoration is smoothed into place and polished before you leave the office. You can benefit from a gorgeous new tooth that will improve the overall look of your smile.
Dental Fillings
What is a dental filling?
A dental filling is a restoration that is specifically used to fill in an area of one or more teeth that have become decayed or chipped. Dental decay, known as a cavity, can infiltrate a tooth and cause it to become weak. Over time, the decay essentially eats into the tooth to reach the inner pulp. Before the decay is allowed to get to this point, it’s removed and replaced with a tooth-colored composite resin filling.
Why might a dental filling be needed?
If you ignore a cavity long enough, the decay will grow and the tooth could require a root canal due to infection into the nerves. This can be very painful and cause the tooth to become weakened over time. In order to essentially protect the tooth and get rid of the underlying decay, we recommend having a filling placed. Fillings are simple restorations that can be matched to the color of your existing smile.
Who is a candidate for dental fillings?
In many cases, you won’t know you have a cavity until you come in for an exam. During the exam, we use a special instrument to look for dark areas or soft spots in a tooth. X-rays further help us in identifying these trouble areas. If you have a cavity, it’s recommended that it be filled sooner rather than later.
What happens during the dental filling process?
We first numb the area of the mouth needing the filling. The decay is removed from the tooth completely. The next step is to prep the tooth for the new composite filling. We do this by applying an etching gel into the small hole, washing it away and then packing the hole with resin. The resin is cured and hardened with a special dental light. We can place multiple fillings in the same area, and we recommend coming in for treatment as soon as it’s found that you have a cavity.