Crowns
The portion of a tooth that is covered by enamel, that is
above the gumline. Also a dental restoration that covers the
entire tooth and restores it to its original shape. Back to top Bridge Work
A non-removable restoration that is used to replace missing
teeth. Back to top Porcelain Veneers
A Smile. It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches
those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It
happens in a flash and the memory of it lasts forever. None are
so rich that they can get along without it, and none are so poor
but are richer for a smile. Yet it cannot be bought, begged,
borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good
to anyone until it is given away. Your smile is the most
important feature of your face. Studies have shown that people
with attractive smiles are perceived as being more friendly,
intelligent, and competent. A smile says much about a person's
personality. It can be warm and inviting. It can also portray
someone as cold and unfriendly. If you are uncomfortable with
your smile, whether due to the shape, color, spacing or
crookedness of your teeth, you might try to subconsciously hide
your smile with either hand gestures in front of your face, or
perhaps keeping your lips somewhat together. When your smile is
healthy and attractive people tend to want to associate with you
more and life becomes more enjoyable. There are many factors
which influence the appearance of your smile:
- Color of the teeth
- Spacing or crowding of the teeth
- Symmetry of the teeth
- Gumline
- Shape of the teeth
There are several procedures which can be simply utilized
to help create a beautiful smile. Bonding is a very
basic procedure where the teeth have a very esthetic tooth
colored material applied to them. The material is shaped by
the dentist and can be used to close spaces, lengthen teeth,
and correct chips and fractures. It can be placed on the
front of the tooth to change the color of the tooth. The
advantages to bonding are that it is painless, results are
immediate, and there is very little drilling of the tooth.
The disadvantages are that it has a limited esthetic life
expectancy since it will chip and stain over time -
therefore requiring routine maintenance. Porcelain
veneers and porcelain crowns can be used to very
esthetically correct a variety of problems, such as:
- Change the color of the teeth to make them
permanently whiter.
- Change the length of the teeth to make them longer
or shorter.
- Change the contours of the teeth to make them more
masculine or feminine.
- Making crooked teeth seem straight-instant
orthodontics.
- Correcting gaps or spaces between the teeth.
- Creating a fuller more beautiful smile by giving the
lips and cheeks more support.
Porcelain veneers and crowns are a very exciting
advancement in cosmetic dentistry. Dynamic results can
usually be achieved within a week or two. For those
patients who would like to see a preview of what could
be done with their smile we suggest a "pre-treatment wax
up." An impression is taken of your teeth and the
laboratory will mold tooth colored wax into a very
esthetically pleasing result. This will show the patient
what their smile could look like.
Pretreatment wax-up Cosmetic contouring and
reshaping. In some cases, especially if the teeth
have chips or are slightly uneven, we can very easily,
without anesthesia, reshape the teeth to remove the
chips or worn areas. Many times this will greatly
improve the esthetics of the teeth. We can round the
edges of the teeth to soften their appearance. Pointed
canines, which can have a very dominant look, can be
recontoured to look less like a vampire.
View a page of pre- and post-operative photographs.
Back to top
Porcelain Inlays/Onlays
When a large, defective filling needs to be replaced,
porcelain inlays and onlays can be an excellent way to restore
the tooth. A porcelain inlay is small and covers the grooves of
the teeth. An onlay is larger and covers one or more cusps or
corners of a tooth. Porcelain inlays and onlays have several
advantages over other filling materials. When used to replace a
silver filling, they will add strength to the tooth. Porcelain
is also harder and more durable than white composite fillings.
The inlay or onlay will be bonded to your tooth, which creates a
resilient, watertight seal. The best part of all is that these
restorations can be custom coloured to match your own teeth. A
porcelain onlay will also be more conservative, saving more
natural tooth structure, than a full crown.
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Before & After: Multiple silver
fillings replaced with porcelain inlays |
How is a porcelain inlay or onlay done? Two separate
appointments will be necessary. At the first visit, the tooth is
shaped to allow room for the thickness of the inlay/onlay. After
a mould is made of your tooth, the inlay/onlay is custom-made by
lab technicians according to the dentist's instructions. This is
a very precise process, which ensures an exact fit. At the end
of this first appointment, a temporary inlay/onlay will be made
to cover and protect your tooth while the new permanent one is
being made. At the second appointment, the porcelain inlay/onlay
is permanently bonded to your tooth using an intense blue light
which cures and hardens the bonding agent. Porcelain inlays
and onlays are a great way to restore strength to weak teeth.
Excellent cosmetics, combined with conservation of tooth
structure, make them the treatment of choice for many patients.
Considerations
Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth
by up to 50%. As an alternative, inlays and onlays, being bonded
directly onto the tooth using special high-strength resins, can
actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75%. As a
result, they can last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases, where
the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an
entire crown, but is too great for a filling to safely provide
support, onlays can provide an excellent alternative.
Back to top
Fillings
Material used to fill a cavity or replace part of a tooth. Back to top Dentures
Full dentures Full dentures are a treatment
option of last resort. When a patient has had all their
teeth removed, or is about to have the remaining teeth taken
out, dentures are a treatment choice to help restore some of
the function of the lost teeth. Dentures have certain
problems. As the bone under them recedes, the dentures will
need to be relined occasionally to make them fit better and
be more stable. Some people find chewing more difficult with
dentures. The taste and texture of food is different since
the dentures cover the roof of the mouth. Dentures can
become painful when they move around and create sore spots
on the gums. Some people will find dentures have a tendency
to make them gag, even if the denture is perfectly made.
Being able to chew your food properly for good nutrition can
sometimes be challenging wearing dentures. There are three
types of dentures offered in our office:
- Conventional denture - fabricated after impressions
are made of your mouth. The patient helps in the process
by picking color of the teeth and by helping to
establish the bite pattern.
- Suction cup dentures - these dentures have little
suction cups, like an octopus has, to help grab the gum
tissue to stabilize the denture and increase retention.
- Overdenture - these are the same as conventional
dentures but some of the persons teeth have been left
for the denture to fit over. The remaining teeth have
had root canal treatment to remove the nerves and then
they are trimmed down and reshaped to accommodate the
denture fitting over them.
Partial dentures When a person has some of
their teeth remaining, then a partial denture is a
possible treatment choice. Impressions are taken of the
mouth and teeth and a partial denture is made to fit to
these teeth. There are three types of partial dentures
offered in our office:
- Conventional - have metal frameworks and metal
clasps that snap over certain remaining teeth to
gain support.
- "No Show" - these partial dentures are made to
show as little metal as possible. Either the clasps
are designed in a way to minimize their appearance,
or "attachments" are used which are little devices
buried in the denture that hook onto the remaining
teeth for stability, but are not visible to other
people.
- Flexite - these are all acrylic partials that
have either pink, white, or clear acrylic clasps.
The clasps almost become invisible because they
blend in so well.
Back to top Root Canal Therapy
 Root canal therapy, officially called
endodontics is a procedure
that treats the nerve (pulp) of the tooth. In the past, when the
nerve of a tooth became infected or abscessed, the tooth had to
be removed. Today, most teeth can be saved by having the
diseased nerve taken out. We will make every attempt to save as
many teeth for our patients as we can.
Procedure
The tooth is anesthetized and an access opening is made into the
nerve. The length of the roots are determined and the pulp, which
comprises blood vessels, nerves and lymph vessels is removed.
Deep decay or trauma to the tooth are reasons the pulp must be
removed. If treatment is not done, pain usually results, as well
as infection.
 
 
The root canals are cleaned out with special instruments and
enlarged so that a special filling, gutta percha, can be placed
inside the roots where the nerve used to be. This seals the
tooth to help prevent re-infection. A crown is usually placed
on the tooth following a root canal procedure to prevent the
tooth from fracturing. Back to top
Implants
Why dental implants? The obvious reason is to replace a
missing tooth (or teeth). Another reason is to help anchor a
denture in place. Actually the most important reason is to
regain your confidence and self esteem.
If you avoid smiling or eating in public because your denture
might slip or a space left by a missing tooth might show, then
dental implants may be an option for you. A dental implant has
two components:
- The implant is the metal cylinder surgically implanted
in the bone. Over time the bone fuses with the implant and
it becomes very secure.
- The custom made crown that is attached to the implant.
Actual examples of individual crowns held in with
implants.
 Multiple
implants are used to secure a fixed implant bridge. This is
where several teeth are missing and implants are used to
anchor the crowns that will become the persons new teeth.
Once the implants are healed in the bone, the custom
fabricated crowns and bridges are anchored to the implants.
The patient now has a natural look that is very secure
and functional.
 
 
Multiple implants are possible in both
upper and lower jaws.  
All teeth missing...
multiple implants anchored in
bone.
Special fixed bridge is attached to implants - missing
teeth and lost gum tissue replaced with very secure,
prosthesis that does not come out. Patient can now chew like
normal.
Below are actual photos of illustrations
above.
Multiple implants are also used to secure a denture. This
will prevent the denture from moving up and down or sideways
which is always a problem for some people. The implants are
connected to a bar-like device and the denture "snaps" onto
the bar very securely.
 
Metal bar attached to 2 (or more) implants. Special
denture is made to grab onto the bar and prevent denture
from dislodging. Result is a much more comfortable denture
that can be used to chew properly. While nothing works
as well as your own set of natural healthy teeth, implants
can be considered the next best thing. People are not even
aware they have implants once the procedure is done. The
replacement teeth feel extremely natural and function like
the teeth the person used to have. Back to top Preventive Dentistry
Routine checkups, also known as "continuous care
appointments" are very important. Here is a list of the
things we do for you during those appointments:
- Review medical history and modify treatment as
needed
- Oral cancer screening
- Gum (periodontal) disease screening
- Cavity detecting x-rays
- Cavity detecting laser
- Full mouth disease and tumor detecting x-rays
- Examination of existing fillings
- Application of sealants (for children) to help
prevent cavities in back teeth
- Evaluation of bite and the consequences of missing
or crowded teeth
- Re-check fit of dental appliances (dentures,
partials, retainers, sport guards, nightguards, etc.)
- Evaluate cosmetic needs to give you a more beautiful
smile
- Removal of hardened bacterial deposits (tartar or
calculus)
- Removal of soft, sticky bacterial deposits (plaque)
- Removal of coffee, tea, and tobacco stains
- Floss and polish teeth to make them squeaky clean
- Personalized oral hygiene instructions plus the
specific tools for your personal use at home
- Clean dental appliances (dentures, partials,etc.)
- Intra-oral photos of problem areas - so you can see
what we see
- Fluoride and other medicaments for both children and
adults as needed
- Dietary discussion
- Plan treatment for your present and future dental
needs
- Evaluate your total dental needs and refer you, as
needed, to specialists
- Let you know the cutting edge dental technology and
treatments available here
- Recommend the appropriate personalized time period
between re-care appointments
So you see... it’s "not just a cleaning" in this
office!
Periodontal care
 Gum disease is the most prevalent infection affecting
the human race. Did you know that 80% of the population
has some form of periodontal disease? Fortunately, 75%
of periodontal disease is gingivitis. The other 25% is
called periodontitis. We will educate you about the
causes of and the differences between the two types of
periodontal diseases. Our goal is to work with our
patients as co-therapists to help prevent the disease
from becoming worse.
Dental plaque forms continuously
24 hours per day, so it must be removed every day with
brushing and flossing. If you allow the plaque to build
up it forms tartar, or calculus, which cannot be removed
by brushing. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease
thrive around these deposits. The bacteria give off
toxins which cause the destruction of the bone around
the teeth. Gingivitis is characterized by red and
puffy gums, as well as bleeding upon brushing. The soft
tissue, or gums are inflammed due to the constant
irritation from the plaque and calculus. Gingivitis
is easily treated with routine oral hygiene care to
remove the deposits, followed by proper home
maintenance. Periodontitis develops when the infection
moves from the gums to the underlying bone. When the
bone gets infected, it reacts by dissolving away. Once
the bone is lost, it will not grow back. Periodontitis
is also characterized by spaces opening between teeth
and loosening of the teeth. Periodontal disease is
detected by visual examination as well as the use of
x-rays to detect bone loss or changes. A periodontal
probe is also used to detect bone loss. In a healthy
mouth, the bone and gums extend to the base of the
enameled portion of the teeth. The periodontal probe is
used to measure the sulcus, or trough that exists
between the gum and the teeth. A normal sulcus measures
2-3 millimeters deep. If the depth measures more than
that, this indicates the formation of a "pocket," or
deep area. A pocket forms in an area where the bone has
been lost. The deeper the pocket, the more bone has been
lost. Initial treatment of periodontitis is done with
a procedure called root planing. It is the aggressive
removal of subgingival, or below the gumline tartar.
Often it is necessary to numb the affected area(s) so
that the patient will be comfortable during the
procedure. Once the accumulated plaque and tartar have
been removed, the gums are allowed to heal and tighten
around the teeth. Depending upon the extent of the
disease present, multiple visits might be needed to
treat this disease. After the treatment has been
performed, the person might need to keep the gums
disease free by coming back every few months for routine
maintenance. This will help prevent the risk of relapse,
and possibly further need for future root planing.
Another adjunct treatment for pocketing would be the use
of chemotherapeutic agents. This is the placement of
antibacterial medicine below the gumline in the areas
where the initial treatment might not have produced an
ideal response. These agents help to kill off the
bacteria associated with periodontal disease.
Occasionally, even after treatment, a patient might need
to be referred to a periodontist, if additional
treatment is needed.
This is the toothbrush we
recommend for your periodontal needs and to safeguard
the investment you made in your mouth. Back to top
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