We care about overall health of your mouth. That's why we make sure your teeth and the rest of your mouth are in their best health state before we commence any purely cosmetic (optional) dentistry. That's why we are very meticulous in our diagnostic procedures and diligent in our general dental work.
- Amalgam fillings (sometimes called "silver fillings") are a mixture of mercury liquid and small pieces of silver and other metals such as copper, tin and zinc. Amalgams have multiple disadvantages. Amalgam is a metal, which expands and contracts with hot, cold and biting. Therefore, with every meal the teeth are being weakened and over time and depending on the size of the filling the tooth becomes susceptible to fracturing. Amalgam fillings also raise a red flag because they contain mercury, which is a very toxic element. The literature is very unclear as to the amount of mercury that is released from amalgams and the long-term effects on the entire body. The safety of amalgam fillings has been in question for a number of years due to concerns over the absorption of elemental mercury contributing to several diseases, including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis dementia and arthritis.
 Composite Resin Fillings. A composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic mixture filled with glass (silicon dioxide).Introduced in the 1960s, dental composites were confined to the front teeth because they were not strong enough to withstand the pressure and wear generated by the back teeth. Since then, composites have been significantly improved and can be successfully placed in the back teeth as well. Composites are not only used for restoring decay, but are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth. There are no known health risks of receiving composite fillings. Composite resin dental fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal dental fillings. Tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth are known as composite resin fillings and are made of a plastic dental resin. Composite resin fillings are strong, durable, and make for a very natural looking smile. Many dental insurance plans cover their use. |
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If you've been diagnosed with a gum disease periodontitis, the most important, but not the only treatment we prescribe for you is so called deep cleaning. Periodontitis is caused by bacteria living in the build up on the roots of the teeth. These bacteria cause destruction of the surrounding bone with subsequent deepening of gum pockets. Overtime, if gum disease is left untreated, the process of bone destruction continues, causing teeth to loose their bone support. They become more and more loose, and eventually fall out completely. Most of the time this process is painless, although sometimes it is accompanied by sporadic gum infection (abscesses) and pus production.
We've developed a systematic approach to the treatment of the gum disease. We use all available means of killing the disease causing bacteria: mechanical, chemical and physical. First, we mechanically remove build-up (tar and calculus) with bacteria on it from your teeth by cleaning the root surfaces below the gum line. In the process, we leave the root surface as smooth as possible to prevent future bacterial colonization. This process is deep cleaning, or scaling and root planning. Then we chemically disinfect your gums by irrigating them with anti-bacterial solution in the office. We also give you anti-microbial mouth rinse to use at home. Then we further attack the remaining bacteria by using the physical energy of laser. We establish a maintenance protocol for you to constantly monitor the condition of your gums and treating them when the need arises.
It is imperative that you stick to the suggested gum disease treatment program in the office, as well as maintaining oral care hygene routine at home. Remember, once it's been lost, the bone will never grow back! Please help us help you keep your gum disease from further progression.
Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be:
- Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
- Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone.
Saving the tooth maintains space, keeps other teeth from shifting, and eliminates the need and cost of a bridge or implant and crown. Although seemingly expensive, it is actually quite cost effective. Remember, once your teeth are gone, they're gone!
A root canal is really not as bad as it is sometimes made out to be and in our office, we try to make it as pleasant as possible. Here's how it works. Root canal treatment consists of the removal of the infected or irritated nerve tissue that lies within the root of the tooth. It is this infected pulp tissue that causes an eventual abscess.
The first step in a root canal is to obtain access to the nerve. This is accomplished by establishing a small access opening in the top of the tooth. It will be done under a local anesthetic. The length of the root canals is determined and the infected pulp is removed.
Usually at the same visit, the canal where the nerve is located will be reshaped and prepared to accept a special root canal filling material. The number of visits necessary to complete your root canal will depend upon several factors including the number of nerves in the tooth, the infected state of the nerve and the complexity of the procedure. The final step in your root canal will be the sealing of the root canal with a sterile, plastic material, called gutta percha. This is done in order to prevent possible future infection.
The tooth will then possibly need a post and core and a crown in order to re-establish normal form and function. This decision will be based upon several additional factors. If treated early, root canal therapy need not be uncomfortable.
Another " Old Wive's Tale " is that by removing the nerve the tooth becomes " dead." This is not true. The tooth is very much alive and functioning because it receives a source of blood supply and nerve supply from the surrounding tissues that hold it in place in your jaw bone. The tooth will have no sense of feeling to hot, cold or sweets but will be responsive to biting pressures etc. With the proper restoration the tooth should last as long as your other teeth and can even be used as an anchor tooth for a partial denture or cemented bridge. Sometimes when there has been long-standing infection or abscess, there may be some soreness associated with the first or second root canal visit. If this should be true, you will be given specific instructions to follow to minimize the discomfort. When an infection is present, it may be necessary to take an antibiotic. If pain should be present, analgesics may need to be prescribed. In either case, be sure to call our office if either of these problems should arise.
 In cases with larger cavities or broken down areas, an inlay or onlay to cover more of the tooth's surface may be indicated. These restorations are indirect because they require two visits and fabrication by a dental laboratory. The ceramic restorations are considerably more expensive and therefore simple, one-visit composite fillings are typically used instead for small fillings. Ceramic restorations are much more durable and will not stain. Naturally speaking, the final result with ceramics is spectacular. White inlays or onlays are actually glued into the tooth and there is now a body of research that claims that because of this the tooth ends up stronger after such a procedure, less prone to problems down the road. |
A crown is a restorative that covers, or "caps," a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size, strengthening and improving the appearance of a tooth. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is generally broken down and fillings won't solve the problem. If a tooth is cracked a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks so the damage doesn't get worse. Crowns are also used to support a large filling when there isn't enough of the tooth remaining, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, restore fractured teeth, or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth. Crowns may be placed on natural teeth or dental implants.
Nowadays, there are several types of crowns available to you. Traditional kind is a porcelain-fused to metal, where the inner layer of the crown is a non-precious metal. The disadvantages of using such a metal are the following: poor esthetics - unnatural looking crown with gray line along the gum-line;gum irritation in people with metal allergies; this metal alloy usually contains beryllium, known to cause cancer.
Much better options are metal containing various percentages of gold, 88% gold (Captek) being the best to date. These crowns look very life-like, distinguished by a very good fit due to better casting of gold containing alloys. Also, these metals are very highly polished which prevent bacteria living in micro-pores from colonizing along the edge of the crown. Thus the gum around such crown stays clean and healthy.
Another popular option is all-porcelain crown. It could be fabricated from different porcelain/ceramic materials. Lately, they proved to be as strong as conventional crowns, with better esthetics. Still, there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing this kind of crown. The most important being your bite - the way your teeth come together, and the need to cut a lot of the tooth structure away to provide for adequate thickness of such crown.
Since we make it our mission to closely follow innovations in dental materials, we will give you an expert advice on the best one to use for your restoration.
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 Dental bridge is a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is usually fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place that are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures. Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues and even improve your speech. Bridges require your commitment to serious oral hygiene, but can last as many ten years or more. Some of the disadvantages of having a bridge include that it is common for your teeth to be mildly sensitive to extreme temperatures for a few weeks after the treatment. The build up of bacteria formed from food acids on your teeth and gums can become infected in proper oral hygiene is not followed. |
There are three types of dental bridges:
- Traditional Fixed Bridge. A dental bridge is a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. There are two crowns holding it in place that are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with emovable partial dentures.
- Resin Bonded Bridges. The resin bonded is primarily used for your front teeth. Less expensive, this bridge is best used when the abutment teeth are healthy and don't have large fillings. The false tooth is fused to metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth with a resin, which is hidden from view. This type of bridge reduces the amount of preparation on the adjacent teeth.
- Cantilever Bridges. In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge may be used. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space. This procedure involves anchoring the false tooth to one side over one or more natural and adjacent teeth.
For millions of Americans with missing teeth, dentures offer an opportunity to lead a normal, healthy life. Although nothing can look, feel and function just like your own natural teeth, a well-made denture can restore your much deserved comfort and beautiful smile. Nowadays, several types of dentures are available. Which one is best for you depends on the number of missing teeth, their location in the mouth, and the condition of the remaining teeth:
- Complete dentures replacing all the teeth in one jaw
- Partial dentures replace several teeth and are stabilized by the remaining teeth with metal components (traditional design) or 'fexible" partial dentures with natural , gum-colored clasps; they are much better looking and provide you with greater comfort.
- Implant supported dentures
Cosmetic dentistry now offers options beyond having a partial denture or a bridge. You are a candidate for dental implants if you have healthy bone and you are missing one or more teeth. If you are missing only one or two teeth, implants can eliminate the need for grinding down adjacent teeth to support conventional bridge. And if you are missing many teeth, implants can eliminate the need for a cumbersome, unaesthetic removable denture.
An implant is a titanium cylinder that is placed in the bone (under the tissue) and functions to replace what was once the root of the tooth. After a period of 5-6 months a stress or load can be placed into this implant and then the crown is placed over the abutment. This tooth is now cared for like all the other teeth in your mouth.
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Advantages of dental implants are:
- protection of healthy teeth while restoring full function
- improved, natural looking smile
There are so many dental applications for laser energy. It can be used to whiten your teeth, improve the contour of your gums, treat gum disease (
periodontitis) by decontamination and disinfection of gum pockets. It also proved to be extremely effective and painless in treatment of aphthous ulcers (canker sores).
The dentists' understanding of caries decay and its treatment has been changed dramatically over the past decade. We now know that dental caries is an infectious, communicable disease, and it should be addressed as such in its diagnosis, treatment and prevention. In our office, we are currently developing a comprehensive caries management and prevention system that will allow us to recognize patients with increased risk for caries decay and help them to control this destructive process with dietary changes and specific supplements administration (ask us about fluoride rinses, Biotene and Xylitol products; we have them available for your use at home). Using cutting-edge technology such as digital caries diagnosis allows us to catch decay at an early stage. Recent introduction of micro-burs allows us to remove only decayed part of the tooth, leaving the rest of it strong and intact. We want you to keep your new smile healthy . That's why we are so serious about keeping it decay free.
 We feel strongly that we have responsibility to provide our patients with an access to the most knowledgable specialists in different fields of dentistry. We want you to be able to explore all treatment modalities available today. |
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