Restorative Dentistry
* Bonding is a wonderful and safe technique for fixing cosmetic flaws in teeth
* Cosmetic Fillings are a tooth-colored alternative to traditional amalgam fillings
* Crowns and Bridges are restorations of the visible structure of a severely damaged tooth
* Specialty Dentures are removable replacement teeth
* Veneers are thin shells of plastic or porcelain that cover just the visible portion of your teeth.
* Root Canal Therapy is the process of removing infection from the nerve inside your tooth.
BONDING
Dental Bonding is a wonderful and safe technique for fixing cosmetic flaws in teeth and even replacing damaged tooth structure. It is a fast and affordable way to conceal stains and cracks, fill gaps, and restore chipped or broken teeth. Dr. Thompson uses a moldable plastic, called resin, to cover existing teeth or replace missing part of the tooth structure. Once the resin hardens and bonds to the existing tooth, it blends in and looks very natural.
What can bonding do?
Bonding can quickly and painlessly solve a number of dental problems. It can:
* Change the color of teeth
* Whiten teeth that are too dark or stained
* Hide cracks in teeth
* Close spaces between teeth
* Lengthen small teeth
* Restore chipped or broken teeth
* Restore decayed teeth
* Restore worn teeth
* Protect teeth from further damage
What can I expect during my bonding procedure?
Bonding is typically a one-appointment process, but like most dental procedures your visit will probably start with an examination and any necessary cleaning. Dr. Thompson will then prepare the particular tooth or teeth by applying a very mild etching solution. This solution slightly roughens the surface of the teeth so the resin bonding material can attach with a very strong bond. A conditioning gel may be applied at this time.
The bonding material is actually soft and flexible, and can be molded like putty or clay. It is a composite resin that will be colored to match the natural shade of your teeth. Dr. Thompson will mold and sculpt the resin to cover the affected teeth or replace the missing tooth structure. A high intensity light will be aimed at the sculpted bonding material, quickly turning it hard and durable.
Often Dr. Thompson will repeat this procedure, applying multiple thin layers, so the entire procedure could take more than an hour. Once hardened, the bonded restorations are very strong, and will look and feel very much like your natural teeth. Finally, all new surfaces are smoothed and carefully polished.
How does bonding work?
Basically, bonding is a composite resin that is molded to replace tooth structure or is applied in a thin layer to cover part of an existing tooth. This resin is a soft putty-like material that can be colored and shaped according to the patient’s needs. A high intensity light turns the flexible resin into a hard durable material that looks like natural tooth.
How long does bonding last?
Bonding is considered a permanent tooth restoration, but that does not mean it will always last forever. Estimates on average lifespan vary from five to twelve years. Often new bonding can be used to repair a damaged portion of the bonding restoration, and the entire restoration can always be replaced if necessary.
COSMETIC FILLINGS
Cosmetic fillings are a tooth-colored alternative to traditional amalgam fillings, and are used to replace areas of decay in a tooth. They are less noticeable than amalgam fillings and improve the appearance of your smile.
Why do I need a filling?
A cavity is tooth structure that has been weakened by decay. When Dr. Thompson removes this decay, he replaces the removed structure with a filling to protect and retain the structure of the tooth. It is called a filling because it fills the space where the decay in the tooth has been removed.
What are cosmetic or tooth-colored fillings?
When Dr. Thompson removes tooth decay, he replaces the removed structure with a filling to protect and retain the structure of the tooth. Traditionally, dentists have used metal “amalgam” fillings for this purpose. Cosmetic fillings, also known as composite fillings or tooth-colored fillings, are a tooth-colored alternative to traditional amalgam fillings. They are made of a composite plastic resin, and they look just like natural teeth.
What are the disadvantages of amalgam fillings?
Amalgam fillings are much darker than natural tooth structure, so they stand out in sharp contrast with the color of your teeth. This is sometimes called the “metal-mouth” look. Amalgams can corrode and leak over time, potentially staining teeth.
What are the advantages of cosmetic fillings?
The most obvious advantage of the cosmetic fillings is that they are nearly invisible in your mouth. They won’t stand out as dark spots in that beautiful smile you’ve been working hard to get. Cosmetic fillings bond very tightly to your existing teeth and work extremely well for small cavities.
Am I a good candidate for cosmetic fillings?
Anyone who has a filling in their mouth or needs a cavity filled should certainly ask Dr. Thompson about cosmetic fillings. They are strong and durable and look almost invisible. Many people want to use materials that appear very natural and tooth-like. That is exactly what cosmetic fillings were designed for.
Can I have my old amalgam fillings replaced with cosmetic fillings?
It’s very likely that you can, since removing the old amalgam is usually a quick and easy procedure. Dr. Thompson will have to examine the tooth structure under and around the old filling to see if more extensive dental work is necessary. He will discuss the advantages and any pitfalls of removing old amalgam fillings.
What can I expect from the cosmetic filling procedure?
Once the cavity has been treated or the old amalgam filling has been removed, the process is very similar to the dental bonding procedure. Dr. Thompson will prepare the tooth so that it is ready to bond tightly with the new filling. The filling made of composite, a plastic resin that is very flexible and can be molded like putty. He will apply the resin in layers, hardening each layer as he goes with a high intensity light. This is a one-appointment procedure that gives beautiful long-lasting results.
CROWNS AND BRIDGES
Crowns are restorations that replace the entire visible structure of a severely damaged tooth. A bridge is a replacement tooth anchored by crowns or existing teeth on either side.
What is a crown?
Sometimes the surface of a tooth becomes too badly damaged to be fixed with a filling or other dental technique, but the root structure beneath the gums is still strong. In this case, Dr. Thompson can cement a crown or “cap” on the old tooth. This crown will completely cover what is left of the existing tooth, and will be sized and shaped just like the original healthy tooth. Crowns are made of different materials, and the circumstances of each patient will determine which material is best.
Why would I need a crown?
Crowns are used when a tooth is too damaged for a filling, when a tooth is badly cracked or broken, when a tooth has become badly worn down. Crowns are a good solution because Dr. Thompson can save the healthy structure of the existing tooth and the healthy roots. He just creates a totally new tooth surface that is strong and durable and keeps your teeth stable.
Why use a crown instead of a filling?
Fillings are used when there is a spot of decay in an otherwise healthy tooth. But sometimes there is too much damage to the structure of a tooth to even safely hold a filling. If a large percentage of the tooth is damaged, the entire visible surface of the tooth above the gumline can be replaced with a crown.
Why use a crown instead of pulling the tooth?
The roots of your teeth are firmly planted in your gumline, and your teeth affect the way your face looks. A crown rebuilds the tooth to its original size and shape, saving as much of the healthy tooth and root as possible, and preserving the spacing between the remaining teeth. Removed teeth leave gaps that can cause improper bite and change the appearance of your face.
What are the types of dental crowns?
Crowns are distinguished by the materials they are made from. There are typically three types available. Dr. Thompson can explain which materials make sense for you based upon your individual circumstances because each material has its own advantages.
Gold Crowns
Gold is an excellent material for crowns because the material is extremely workable and provides and excellent fit between the crown and the existing tooth. Gold requires the least preparation of the existing tooth, keeping more of the original tooth structure than is possible with other methods. There is no possibility of gold crowns chipping, and since they are not as hard as porcelain crowns, they are not as likely to cause wear on other teeth. The downside of gold may be its distinctive appearance. In the back of the mouth, where gold is often used, this may not be an issue. However, when it is visible in your smile, the gold crown will make an obvious contrast with natural teeth.
All Porcelain or All Ceramic Crowns
These crowns offer the advantage of a very natural appearance, and for this reason are often used for front teeth. Porcelain can be created to perfectly match your surrounding teeth, making the crowns almost indistinguishable. This type of crown does require considerable preparation, leaving less of the existing tooth, and it is often challenging for the dentist to get a fit as tight as with a gold crown. Their beautiful, life-like appearance continues to make them a popular choice.
Porcelain-over-Metal Crowns
This popular crown type provides an excellent combination of esthetics and durability. The porcelain is color matched to your existing teeth and fused to a metal base. With a metal center, this type of crown can never match the translucency of a natural tooth or an all porcelain crown, and a thin darker line can develop where it meets the gum. However porcelain-over-metal crowns look very natural and are exceptionally strong and durable.
What is the procedure for placing a crown?
If the tooth is extremely damaged, Dr. Thompson may perform a root canal first. Otherwise, he will prepare the tooth by filing it down enough to fit the crown over it and between the adjacent teeth. The filed down tooth will be the base that Dr. Thompson cements to the finished crown. He will then take impressions of the tooth and the surrounding teeth which the lab will use as a model for the new crown. Since the lab typically takes two weeks to prepare the permanent crown, he will often insert a temporary crown until the permanent one is ready. On a second visit, the temporary crown is removed, and the permanent crown is cemented in.
How long do crowns last?
Crowns are considered permanent dental restorations, but that does not mean they are expected to last forever. With proper hygiene a dental crown will probably last from ten to fifteen years, but could last much longer.
BRIDGES
When a tooth is missing, and not just damaged, crowns can be used as anchors on adjacent teeth, with a false tooth attached to “bridge” the gap.
What is a bridge?
A bridge is a false tooth that is fused to one or two crowns. This false tooth, or pontic, is held in its position on the gum by the anchoring crowns next to it.
What kind of bridges are there?
- The traditional fixed bridge is a false tooth fused to two crowns. The crowns fit permanently on the teeth on both sides of the new false tooth, and anchor it in place as a “bridge” over the gum. This dental technique is otherwise similar to regular crown procedure. The fixed bridge offers the most natural fit and appearance.
- The cantilever bridge is a false tooth that is anchored to a tooth or teeth on one side, and not the other. This dental technique is otherwise similar to regular crown procedure. A cantilever bridge does not have the same strength as a traditional fixed bridge and can only be used in areas of less stress, like front teeth.
VENEERS
Veneers are thin shells of plastic or porcelain that cover just the visible portion of your teeth. They can fix most cosmetic problems and totally transform a smile in just two appointments.
What are veneers?
Veneers are thin shells of plastic or porcelain that cover just the visible portion of your teeth, typically the front and the chewing surface. They can fix most cosmetic problems and totally transform a smile in just two appointments. Veneers are usually placed on front teeth that can be seen when you smile, and can be used to resurface just one or several teeth. They are similar to artificial fingernails in size and appearance, and serve a similar function as they are bonded to the natural surface to improve appearance. But veneers are very firmly and permanently bonded, and are custom designed for the exact fit and color for your teeth. When you see a complete smile makeover, very often the person has received a new set of porcelain veneers.
Am I a good candidate for veneers?
If you have one or more teeth that are healthy, but need some cosmetic improvement, you should talk to Dr. Thompson about veneers. People get veneers for a variety of reasons, but the result is always beautiful new teeth that make your smile more youthful and attractive.
Why do people choose to get veneers? What can veneers do?
Veneers completely cover the front of your teeth, giving them a brand new, healthy appearance. Since veneers can change the size and shape of a tooth, they can be used for a variety of purposes. They can:
o Close spaces between teeth
o Lengthen and change the shape of teeth
o Whiten stained teeth that resist conventional whitening
o Improve the appearance of chipped, cracked or worn teeth
o Protect teeth from further damage
Are veneers a good option for a total smile makeover?
Yes. In fact, when you see a total smile makeover, very often what you are seeing is a brand new set of beautiful porcelain veneers. They can totally transform a smile in as little as two visits.
What are Composite Veneers?
Dr. Thompson can create composite veneers right on your tooth during the course of one appointment. The material and process for composite veneers are the same the dental bonding procedure. Cosmetic veneers are strong and durable, but not as durable as porcelain veneers. If they fracture, however, they do not have to be replaced as porcelain veneers do. Dr. Thompson can fix a composite veneer fracture by patching it in the same way he created it. Composite veneers do not resist staining as well, and may darken some over time. Since the process is quick and painless, he can replace any composite veneers that lose their natural color.
What can I expect from the composite veneer procedure?
Dr. Thompson roughens the surface of the teeth so the resin bonding material can attach with a very strong bond. The bonding material is actually soft and flexible, and can be molded like putty or clay. It is a composite resin that will be colored to match the natural shade of your teeth. He will mold and sculpt the resin to create a thin shell over the front of the tooth. A high intensity light will be aimed at the sculpted bonding material, quickly turning it hard and durable. He will repeat this procedure, applying multiple thin layers, so the entire procedure could take more than an hour. Once hardened, the composite veneers are very strong, and will look and feel very much like your natural teeth. Finally, all new surfaces are smoothed and carefully polished.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Natural teeth have a translucent appearance that can be most closely duplicated with beautiful porcelain veneers. Porcelain delivers the highest quality, longest lasting and most lifelike results for veneers, and that is why it is typically used in “smile makeovers”, where an entire smile is to be transformed. The porcelain is extremely hard and durable as well as very resistant to staining. It will show little signs of the darkening with age that is more common with composite veneers.
There are a few potential disadvantages to porcelain veneers to discuss with Dr. Thompson. They take no less than two appointments because the teeth must be prepared by removing some of the existing tooth structure to make room for the veneers. Also, while the finished veneers form a tight, strong and durable bond with your tooth, the porcelain can fracture under extreme stress. If fractured, by teeth grinding or improper use, a porcelain veneer will probably need to be replaced.
What can I expect from the porcelain veneer procedure?
Porcelain veneers take at least two appointments because Dr. Thompson must first shape your teeth and prepare them for the new veneers. Typically, this means removing some tooth tissue to make room for the new veneers, and roughing the tooth surface to ensure a tight, strong bond. Next Dr. Thompson will make a wax impression of your teeth to be used as a model for the porcelain to be shaped to your precise specifications. At the end of this first appointment, Dr. Thompson can insert temporary plastic veneers to protect your teeth while the dental lab is creating your custom fitted veneers. During the second appointment, your doctor will remove the temporaries, and use an adhesive to bond the porcelain veneers to your teeth. A harmless, high intensity light will harden the adhesive and create a strong durable bond between the veneers and the teeth.
What type of veneer is right for me?
For lower cost and fewer appointments without much alteration to your natural tooth structure, composite veneers make a good choice. The strength, durability and life-like appearance of the porcelain veneers make them very popular and a stellar choice for a full smile transformation.
Once I have veneers, what can I expect?
Once the veneer is in place, it will function just like a regular tooth. A veneer is considered a permanent tooth restoration, but that doesn’t mean it is expected to last forever. Proper care and habits and regular dental examinations and cleanings will allow you to keep your veneers looking beautiful for ten years or more.
Root Canal Therapy
What is a root canal?Underneath your tooth’s outer enamel and within the dentin is an area of soft tissue called the pulp tissue. While atooth’s pulp tissue does contain nerve fibers, it is also composed of arteries, veins, lymph vessels, and connectivetissue. Each tooth’s nerve enters the tooth at the very tip of its roots. From there, the nerve runs through the centerof the root in small “root canals,” which join up with the tooth’s pulp chamber.
Why do I feel pain?
When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed due to a deep cavity or fracture,the blood supply to the tooth may be lost and the tooth pulp may die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased blood flow and activity in the tooth’s cells. Pressure may build within a tooth that cannot be relieved, causing pain that is commonly felt when biting down, chewing, or consuming hot or cold foods and drinks.
Why might I need treatment?
Without treatment, the infection will spread and bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate, possibly causing the tooth to fall out. Pain usually worsens until you are forced to seek dental attention.
What is root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy is a procedure that removes the damaged or dead pulp. The canal is reshaped and filled with gutta percha, a rubber-like material, to prevent recontamination of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently sealed.
What is involved in root canal therapy?
If your general dentist recommends a root canal, he or she will perform the treatment or refer you for treatment toan endodontist, which is a specialist who treats injuries, diseases, and infections of the tooth pulp. A space is created into the tooth’s pulp chamber, which, along with any infected root canal, is cleaned of all diseased pulp and reshaped. Medication may be inserted into the area to fight bacteria. Depending on the condition of the tooth, the crown may then be sealed temporarily to guard against recontamination or the dentist may immediately fill the canals. Temporary fillings are usually removed and the pulp chamber and canals are filled on the next visit. If the tooth is still weak, a post may be inserted above the canal filling to help rebuild the tooth. Once filled, the area is permanently sealed. Finally, a gold or porcelain crown is normally placed over the tooth to strengthen its structure and improve its appearance.
How will I feel after treatment?
There may be some inflammation around the gum tissues, which may cause discomfort for a few days. This canbe controlled by an over-the-counter pain reliever. A follow-up visit to your dentist will help him or her review howthe tissue is healing. From this point on, brush and floss regularly, avoid chewing hard foods on the treated tooth, and see your dentist on a regular basis for cleanings and examinations.
Are there options to root canal therapy?
The only alternative to root canal therapy is to extract the tooth; however, this alone can cause the surrounding teeth to move, resulting in a bad bite. Though a simple extraction may be perceived as less expensive, the empty space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which ultimately can be more costly than root canal therapy.
