Restorative Dentistry

 

Bridges

Dental bridges are a great way to replace missing teeth. Your existing teeth are used to literally create a bridge to cross the area where your tooth is missing. Bridges are made from gold, metal, alloys, or porcelain to ensure that they are strong and durable.

 

The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. The existing teeth are recontoured to provide a base for the bridge. After the abutments have been created, a mold is taken of the area which is sent to a dental lab. The lab is able to use the mold to create a bridge that will fit properly and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. The bridge consists of two crowns on either end to place on the abutments and a pontic, which is the new tooth that replaces your missing tooth.

 

We will fit you with a temporary bridge while we wait for the lab to craft your permanent bridge. This will protect the abutments and the exposed gum areas and look more appealing than having a missing tooth. When the permanent bridge has been created, you will have a follow up visit to set the bridge. It will be placed on the abutments and the dentist will then use an adhesive to make sure that the bridge is set.

 

The bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again. You should eat soft foods for the first few days after having your bridge placed. After the initial phase, you will be able to eat whatever you want with no issues.

 

If you are missing a tooth you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, it could also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as making it difficult to eat or speak properly. Set up an appointment today to restore your smile.

 

Dentures

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and put back into your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, they may receive full or partial dentures. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures. There are two types of full dentures.

• Conventional Full Dentures - This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. It could take a few months for the gum tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.
• Immediate Full Dentures - Prior to having your teeth removed, your dentist takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have a follow up visit to refit your dentures because the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. The dentures will need to be tightened after the jaw bone has healed.

 

Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed.

This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

 

Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don't have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative of not having teeth.

 

Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. You should brush them to remove plaque and food particles before removing your dentures. After they have been removed you should place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don't drop them. Also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from your dentist if they feel uncomfortable or loose.

 

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth.

 

The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The first part of the process is to install the implant itself, where a screw is placed into the jaw bone. An incision is made in the gum so that the implant can be inserted. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured.

 

The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns installed so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile.

 

After the implant has healed it is time to place an abutment on the implant. The abutment serves as the base for your new tooth. One this is placed an impression of the abutment is taken and is used to create your permanent restoration. Some offices have an onsite lab to create the crown, but others will have to send it to an outside lab. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look just like it used to, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.

 

Full Mouth Rehabilitation

It’s time to make a change if you’ve spent a long time living with mouth pain or feeling insecure about some missing teeth. Full mouth reconstruction will improve your dental health not to mention helping you to feel better about how you look. It also restores the function of your jaw and gums, the supporting structure of your mouth. The end result is a mouth that looks and works the way you need it to!

 

What Is Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction combines multiple restorative, neuromuscular and cosmetic procedures. The goal is to restore not only the look of your teeth but also the structure and function. For example, a broken tooth can cause a problem with your bite. This can lead to difficulty chewing, which creates wear on your teeth. This wear can then lead to jaw and neck soreness, headaches, even migraines.

 

There are several reasons why your teeth might be in bad shape, including neglect, injury and preventive dental care that has worn down and requires replacement. Full mouth restoration may be recommended if you:

• Have several worn down, chipped or broken teeth
• Have missing teeth
• Experience chronic jaw pain, clicking or popping of the jaw
• Have frequent headaches, back pain and muscle tenderness

 

If your dentist thinks you might be a candidate for mouth reconstruction, you will begin with an evaluation to figure out specifically what procedures you'll need.

 

Overdentures

An overdenture is a removable denture that fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth or implants. The natural teeth must be prepared to provide stability and support for the denture.

 

Poor fitting dentures are often held in by using adhesives. Overdentures utilize dental implants, so they are more stable than adhesives. Improved stability allows you to chew food more thoroughly, helping your stomach break down food more efficiently, and absorb more nutrients.

 

When your overdenture is retained with implants it fits more securely than one held in with only adhesives. This fit also increases the stability of the overdenture reducing or even eliminating, unnecessary movement during chewing and talking. This lessens the instances of sores and embarrassing dislodgement.