Comprehensive Dental Services

Where damage to a person’s teeth is extreme and apparently beyond repair, we can use all-porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-a-metal-alloy crowns to make the smile appear “as new." This is an extremely reliable technique for repairing the most severe of dental problems, even replacing missing teeth to offer a complete smile and a functional bite. These treatments are used for a long-lasting correction of major dental problems. It is usual for these treatments to last for 10 to 20 years, which is as close to permanent as dental treatment can get.

Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to our office. Initially, we will remove decay, shape the tooth, and fit it with a temporary crown of either plastic or metal. On the subsequent visit, we will remove the temporary crown and then fit and adjust the final crown. Finally, we will cement the crown into place, and you will have a new beautiful-looking tooth.

1. Replaces Missing Teeth
2. Offers Support to Misshapen Teeth or Badly Broken Teeth
3. Looks Completely Natural
4. Fixes “Smile” and Functional Chewing Problems

Crown and bridgework are very reliable solutions for major dental problems. Material used in these repairs is either high-grade porcelain or porcelain bonded to a metal alloy. Where accidental damage has occurred, resulting in lost teeth, or where teeth have broken away through excessive wear or as a result of old fillings breaking, crowns and/or bridges can be used as a long-term solution.

Many people have unexplained pain from filled back teeth, which is usually due to hairline cracks in the chewing part of the tooth. Placing crowns on these teeth relieves the pain and allows a return of full dental function for these teeth. In front teeth, older fillings can both weaken the teeth and cause “appearance” problems due to staining or chipping. In teeth with root canal fillings, crowns can prevent breakage.

A bridge (fixed partial denture) is a device that fills the gap where teeth are absent. Fixed bridges are bonded into place and can only be removed by a dental professional. Removable bridges, as the name implies, can be taken out and cleaned. Fixed bridges offer more stability than their removable counterparts.

Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for wearing a bridge. A bridge helps support your lips and cheeks. The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older. Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.

Bridges That Keep You Healthy and Confident

Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge. Missing teeth can cause speech disorders, as they are used to make many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.

Fixed bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Crowns, which are cemented onto the natural teeth, provide support for the bridge.

A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.

TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM joint. You may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Injuries and arthritis can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle and ligaments.

Align, Relieve, and Restore Comfort

As a result, the disk, which is made of cartilage and functions as the “cushion” of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth, or trouble opening your mouth wide.

1. Are You Aware of Grinding or Clenching Your Teeth?
2. Do You Wake Up With Sore, Stiff Muscles Around Your Jaw?
3. Do You Have Frequent Headaches or Neck Aches?
4. Does the Pain Get Worse When You Clench Your Teeth?
5. Does Stress Make Your Clenching and Pain Worse?
6. Does Your Jaw Click, Pop, Grate, Catch, or Lock When You Open Your Mouth?
7. Is It Difficult or Painful to Open Your Mouth, Eat, or Yawn?
8. Have You Ever Injured Your Neck, Head, or Jaw?
9. Have You Had Problems (Such as Arthritis) With Other Joints?
10. Do You Have Teeth That No Longer Touch When You Bite?
11. Do Your Teeth Meet Differently From Time to Time?
12. Is It Hard to Use Your Front Teeth to Bite or Tear Food?
13. Are Your Teeth Sensitive, Loose, Broken, or Worn?

The more times you answered “yes,” the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.

There are various treatment options that the doctor can utilize to improve the harmony and function of your jaw. Once an evaluation confirms a diagnosis of TMJ disorder, the doctor will determine the proper course of treatment. It is important to note that treatment always works best with a team approach of self-care joined with professional care.

• Ease Muscle Spasms, Reduce Joint Pain: The initial goals are to relieve the muscle spasm and joint pain. This is usually accomplished with a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, or muscle relaxant. Steroids can be injected directly into the joints to reduce pain and inflammation. Self-care treatments can often be effective as well and include the following: Resting your jaw; Keeping your teeth apart when you are not swallowing or eating; Eating soft foods; Applying ice and heat; Exercising your jaw; Practicing good posture.
• Relax Your Jaw, Relieve Your Pain: Stress management techniques such as biofeedback or physical therapy may also be recommended, as well as a temporary, clear plastic appliance known as a splint. A splint or night guard fits over your top or bottom teeth and helps keep your teeth apart, thereby relaxing the muscles and reducing pain.
• Prevent Damage While You Dream: There are different types of appliances used for different purposes. A nightguard helps you stop clenching or grinding your teeth and reduces muscle tension at night, and helps to protect the cartilage and joint surfaces.
• 24/7 Care for a Healthier Bite: An anterior positioning appliance moves your jaw forward, relieves pressure on parts of your jaw, and aids in disk repositioning. It may be worn 24 hours/day to help your jaw heal. An orthotic stabilization appliance is worn 24 hours or just at night to move your jaw into the proper position. Appliances also help to protect from tooth wear.