Dental Implants
Today’s dental implants are typically made of titanium. These fixtures are placed into the jawbone and allowed to heal until they are “integrated” into the bone. Dental implants may be utilized to replace one, many or all of a patient’s teeth.
Crowns/Caps
Crowns cover or “cap” a tooth in order to restore the normal function and appearance of the tooth. Crowns may be made as all metal, porcelain fused to metal or all-ceramic (porcelain). Crowns are indicated for teeth with very large fillings, teeth that have had a root canal, fractured teeth and misshapen and/or discolored teeth.
Bridges
Traditional methods to replace a missing tooth or teeth include the fabrication of a bridge. To replace a missing tooth with a bridge at least one tooth on either side of the space created by the missing tooth must be prepared for a crown. Then a false tooth is joined to the crowns, and the entire structure is cemented to the prepared teeth. The patient cannot remove the bridge, and special aids are available to keep it clean.
Removable Partial Denture
When there are multiple missing teeth, weak anchor teeth or no posterior teeth to anchor on, a removable partial denture is utilized to replace teeth. These restorations typically are made of a metal framework and a plastic base with teeth. They must be removed for daily cleaning and at night.
Dentures
When a patient no longer has any natural teeth, complete dentures are the traditional method to restore function and appearance. Many patients experience difficulty wearing conventional dentures because of poor stability and decreased chewing function. The use of dental implants to improve the stability and retention of dentures is becoming quite popular.
Teeth Whitening
Many products are now available for patients to whiten their teeth. These products include commercially available strips, custom fabricated trays with a beaching gel or bleaching in a dental office using UV light or laser as the catalyst. Our office offers custom fabricated trays with bleaching gel.
Esthetic/Cosmetic Dentistry
Many patients are interested in improving the appearance of their smile. Prosthodontists are the dental specialists who long ago determined what constitutes a pleasing smile. Teeth whitening, reshaping natural teeth, bonding of tooth-colored material to teeth and porcelain restorations are procedures we commonly use to modify a smile.
Teeth Grinding/Night Guards
Often patients who grind their teeth at night are unaware of their habit, but the forces exerted on both the teeth and the Temporomandibular Joint—TMJ can be quite destructive. A custom-made night guard can protect the teeth and relieve pressure on the TMJ.
Congenital and Developmental Mouth Defects
Many patients are missing certain teeth because they never developed, or the teeth may be misshapen. A prosthodontist can determine the best way to replace and/or restore these teeth. Other patients exhibit teeth with poorly developed tooth structure throughout the mouth and require a prosthodontist’s expertise in restoring these teeth to proper form and function.
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