Frequently Asked Questions

Where damage to a person's teeth is extreme, and apparently beyond repair, we can use porcelain or porcelain "fused on gold" crowns to make the smile appear "as new". This is an extremely reliable technique for repairing the most severe of dental problems, even permanently replacing missing teeth to offer a complete smile and a functional bite. We are known for the quality of our work and the fantastic changes we make for people using this technology. These treatments are used for a long lasting correction of major dental problems. It is usual for these treatments to last for 15 plus 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 made of an acrylic material. We take pride in making our temporaries as comfortable, natural and durable as possible so you can go about your normal routine during the restoration process. 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 have a new beautiful looking tooth.

Offers structural support to misshapen teeth or badly broken teeth Looks completely natural Fixes "smile" and functional chewing problems.

Crown and bridgework is a very reliable solution for major dental problems caused through accidents, diseases or wear and tear. Major problems can usually be corrected using these techniques. Material used in these repairs is either high-grade porcelain, or porcelain bonded to gold. The higher strength of porcelain and gold materials is recommended to treat the most serious of dental problems. Where accidental damage has occurred, resulting in lost teeth, or where teeth have broken away through excessive wear, or as the 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. Porcelain crowns and bridges are suitable in cases where porcelain veneers are not. In teeth with root canal fillings, crowns can prevent breakage.

When a tooth has an old deteriorated filling or one with new decay around it, a new restoration is required. A decision needs to made; do we replace the filling with a new one, or do we place a crown or onlay (partial crown, This decision is based on the relative amount of strong, healthy tooth structure AFTER the old filling, decay and corrosion are cleaned out. If enough solid tooth is available to support a filling we choose that simpler, less involved alternative. However, if the remaining tooth is severely hollowed and "shell-like", it then needs to be protected with a restoration which envelops the weakened tooth. This will help resist further cracking or fracture, which could then cause need for root canal, gum surgery or even tooth loss.

A bridge — a device used to replace missing teeth — attaches artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Bridges are either permanently attached (fixed bridges), or they can be removable.

Fixed bridges are applied by either placing crowns on the abutment teeth or by bonding the artificial teeth directly to the abutment teeth. Removable bridges are attached to the teeth with metal clasps or by precision attachments.

If you're missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together for many daily functions from eating to speaking. With missing teeth, it's difficult to do these things. Missing teeth can and should be replaced. Fixed bridges are a great way to restore your dental health and appearance.

A bridge (fixed partial denture) is a device, which 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, and feel more natural.

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.

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.

The attachment procedure usually takes several appointments to complete. At the first appointment your dentist will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by shaping a portion of the enamel and dentin.

Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed.

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.

Bridges are constructed from gold alloys, with bonded porcelain, or sometimes from bonded ceramic material.

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.

Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain or a combination of the two. Crowns made of gold are the most durable and kindest to opposing tooth structure however they are the least aesthetic. A combination or porcelain fused to metal crown has the advantages of a hard core of gold alloy and is covered with a porcelain material to hide the metal. An all porcelain crown has several categories, those that have a strong core and those that do not. Of all the options, all porcelain crowns look the most natural but can have limitations to them. When needing a crown it is best to discuss with your dentist which option is best for the tooth being crowned.

An abscess is a term used to describe a tooth that has been infected for a period of time and sometimes shows signs on the x-rays. For whatever the reason, decay or fractures close to or into the nerve, the nerve will start to die off. This process called necrosis is the process of the nerve of the tooth dying and the body’s reaction to this is the resultant infection. The process of the nerve dying off can be very painful due to the nerve being contained within the confines of the tooth. When something gets infected in swells and gets inflamed and inside a tooth that pressure has nowhere to go, resulting in a pain some view to be the worst pain one can experience. Once this occurs the only treatment option left is to remove the nerve. The most common and most advised way is by root canal therapy.

There are many options all of which center around being fixed or removable. Removable options include dentures and removable partial dentures It is almost always the best option if you can save a tooth to do it. It is almost always more time consuming and more costly to replace a tooth than it is to save it. Depending on the situation it is most favorable to save the tooth as the best option. A tooth can always be pulled (extracted) out, however if a replacement is not inserted in a timely matter then tooth movement, shifting, and bite changes can occur which are permanent alterations which can have harmful effects.

There are many options all of which center around being fixed or removable. Removable options include dentures and removable partial dentures Fixed options include implants or bridges (fixed partial dentures).  Implant

There are many options all of which center around being fixed or removable. Removable options include dentures and removable partial dentures A dental implant( to replace a single tooth) is designed to permanently replace missing teeth in a fixed non-removable fashion. A specially designed root formed titanium alloy “screw” is placed within the jawbone to act just like a natural tooth would. It can function and mimic a natural tooth to make a very pleasing smile and tooth replacement. An implant can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or can support bridges, partials and dentures. By supporting removable options they can make the fit and function multiple times better for chewing and biting efficiency. A denture is needed when you are missing all of your teeth. It is removable and is recommended not to sleep in them due to tissues needing rest from forces applied while chewing. The upper denture can stay in place quite well depending on the amount of bony ridge left over upon tooth extraction or removal. You see, our bone in our jaws has one purpose and that is to hold and support our teeth, once all the teeth are removed the bone starts to atrophy. This atrophy over time is why dentures need to be relined and adjusted on a regular basis. Lower dentures move around quite frequently due to the muscles of the tongue and cheek that have their attachments along where the borders of the dentures sit.

A denture depends on suction to hold it in and can be aided by attaching them to dental implants. By the addition of dental implants, dentures are now very predictable and there is no longer and reason why they should come out and be limited by certain foods. The higher the number of implants supporting a denture the more stable it can become.

There are many options all of which center around being fixed or removable. Removable options include dentures and removable partial dentures A dental implant( to replace a single tooth) is designed to permanently replace missing teeth in a fixed non-removable fashion. A specially designed root formed titanium alloy “screw” is placed within the jawbone to act just like a natural tooth would. It can function and mimic a natural tooth to make a very pleasing smile and tooth replacement. An implant can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or can support bridges, partials and dentures. By supporting removable options they can make the fit and function multiple times better for chewing and biting efficiency. A removable partial denture or RPD is an appliance that can be removed by the patient and is attached to the remaining teeth by way of attachments. These attachments are usually made of metal and hold on

Immediate Denture: An immediate denture is a denture that is manufactured and placed in your mouth the same day you have your teeth removed. A consultation is required a day or two prior to this procedure. At this consultation, your dental provider will determine whether you are a candidate for an immediate denture. Some patients will need to have some of their teeth removed early and have 6 - 8 weeks of healing time. Then they will come back and have the remainder of their teeth pulled and the denture inserted that same day.

A consultation appointment is required the day prior to having an immediate denture manufactured.

Healing time of 6 - 8 weeks allows for any swelling that may occur with your extractions to go down. Less swelling means that you will have a better fit on your dentures.

Extractions are not included in the prices quoted for dentures. A consultation with your dental provider will tell you if your extractions can be performed at our office.

Because a partial denture hooks to your natural teeth, a dental hygiene cleaning is required within 6 months of having the partial made. If it has been longer than 6 months since your last cleaning, you may schedule a cleaning with our Dental Hygienist the same day as your appointment.

That question can only be answered by your dental provider. Some extractions may be more difficult than others and may require a visit to an oral surgeon.