Composite Bonding

Bonding is a common solution for:

• Fixing or repairing chipped or cracked teeth
• Reducing unsightly gaps or spaces between teeth
• Hiding discolortion or faded area on the tooth's surface

Often used to improve the appearance of your teeth and enhance your smile. As the name indicates, composite material, a plastic or resin, is bonded to an exisiting tooth. Composite bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth.

Composite bonding has many advantages:

• It is a quick process, which typically is completed in one appointment.
• It is very conservative and is relatively inexpensive.
• Composite resins come in many different shades which provide excellent matching to the shade of the natural color of your teeth.
• Composite material, is not as durable and long-lasting as veneers and crowns and may need to be re-touched or replaced in the future.

Crowns

A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, or a mix of these materials. All porcelain crowns generally have the most natural appearance.

This process generally consists of a minimum of 2 visits over a three to four week period.

Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy gums and crowns.

Implant Restorations

Dental Implants are titanium tooth root replacements that were first developed half a century ago by a swedish scientist named Per-Ingvar Branemark. Implants arose from the patient's need to secure loose-fitting dentures. Since the advent of the implant, engineering and enhancements to the implant have enabled dentists to expand the implant's usefulness, including the replacement of missing or lost teeth. Today, implant techniques provide a wide range of tooth replacement solutions including:

• Single Tooth Replacement
• Multiple Tooth Replacement
• Full Upper or Lower Replacement
• Securing Loose Fitting Dentures

The implant or artificial root is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the healing process is completed and the jawbone is attached to the implant, the patient returns to the dental office where the implant is fitted with the new tooth. This process generally takes anywhere from three to eight months.

Post Implant Care

Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jaw bones to gradually recede. Recession of the jawbone will weaken implants and could make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience to our natural enamel. Many times it is the material of choice for patients looking to make slight position alteration, or change tooth size, shape, and/or color.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

The concept of a "filling" is replacing and restoring your tooth structure that is damaged due to decay or fracture with a material. We will replace old, broken-down amalgam/metal fillings that contain traces of mercury with white fillings (composites) to restore your smile and teeth to a more natural look and feel.

With today's advancements, no longer will you have to suffer the embarrassment of unsightly silver/mercury fillings or metal margins of the past. Eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with new-age, state-of-the-art, tooth-colored resin or porcelain materials.

Comparing White Fillings vs. Silver Amalgam Fillings:

• White fillings bond to the tooth; they strengthen the tooth by restoring most of its original shape. Silver amalgams, on the other hand, weaken the teeth and make them more susceptible to breaking.
• White filling composites are preferred by most patients. This is due to the natural color, strength and overall appearance and feel.
• Hot and cold sensitivity is greatly reduced with composite material compared to the silver/mercury amalgams.
• Restorations with composites require less removal of tooth.
• White fillings are healthier because no traces of mercury are used, unlike silver amalgams.

Tooth Whitening/Bleaching

Your teeth will darken over time. Changes in the color of your teeth can be caused by such factors as the food and beverages consumed (coffee, tea, wine and soda). Other known factors for discoloration may include childhood medications (i.e. tetracycline), illnesses, tobacco use or improper oral hygiene. Restoring your natural white smile is possible through teeth bleaching. We can provide a variety of options for whitening your smile.

We are trained professionals using industry-approved methods. Our goal is to meet the needs of every patient, and every patient's needs are different. The most commonly used method by our practice is a hydrogen-peroxide gel-activated solution. If you chose to whiten your teeth, we will be actively involved in monitoring the shade changes of you teeth. Call us today for a whitening evaluation.

Nothing improves your appearance more than a Bright, White SMILE!