Jun 26 2008
Services
1. Cosmetic Procedures
a. Closing Gaps between teeth
i. Bonding- process involves preparing the tooth surface with an etching solution that allows the bonding material (composite resins) to adhere. Various color resins are blended to match the existing tooth and look completely natural. The resin is applied, contoured into shape and hardened with a special light. It is then smoothed and polished. Bonding may require the use of anesthesia or drilling and can usually be completed in one visit.
1. Advantage: less invasive, less expensive, quickest result
2. Disadvantage: will pick up stain over time, not as strong as porcelain, less esthetic than porcelain.
ii. Veneers- thin, custom-made shells of porcelain or resin that are designed to cover the front of teeth. A small amount of enamel is removed to accommodate the thickness of the shell. Anesthetic is usually required.
1. Lab- a final impression is taken of the prepared tooth and sent to the lab to fabricate the veneer. A temporary tooth is made in the meantime. At a subsequent appointment usually 1 to 2 weeks later, the restoration is bonded into place.
iii. Crowns- a restoration that entirely covers the tooth. A moderate amount of enamel is removed to accommodate the thickness of the material. Anesthetic is usually required.
b. Repairing Chipped, Cracked or Worn Teeth
i. Bonding- a more conservative procedure indicated for minor chips, or cracks on non-functional areas of the teeth.
ii. Veneers or Crowns- best indicated when repairing a large portion of the tooth or repairing that part of the tooth which comes in contact with the opposing dentition.
c. Covering Stained or Discolored teeth
i. Bonding- used to mask unpleasant, permanent stains on teeth in one visit by cutting out the stain and placing a resin material over it.
ii. Veneer- indicated for more excessively stained or discolored teeth where a more uniform color is desired
d. Filling Small Cavities in front of teeth- with bonding
e. Protecting exposed and sensitive root surfaces
i. Bonding- resin material is placed over exposed root surfaces to prevent sensitivity and/or further abrasion of the tooth.
ii. Connective tissue graft- this procedure uses your own tissue, taken from the roof of the mouth, to cover receded or exposed root surfaces of teeth. The results return the length of the tooth to its original size
f. Correcting tooth abrasion caused by improper brushing
i. Bonding- performed on minimally abraded root surfaces.
ii. Connective tissue graft- not only covers root surface but replaces lost tissue preventing future recession.
g. Correcting crooked or crowded teeth
i. Veneers or Crowns- can be used in this manner to reorient the position of the tooth and make the tooth look straight and aligned with the adjacent teeth.
1. Lab- procedure requires a minimum of 2 visits, one to two weeks apart.
ii. Invisalign Treatment- an orthodontic treatment that uses a series of custom-made, removable, nearly invisible aligners to gradually move your teeth into the correct position. The trays are worn 24 hours a day except while eating.
h. Replacing Missing teeth
i. Implant- a titanium cylinder that is placed into the bone to replace a tooth root. A crown is later fabricated over the implant to replace the missing teeth. This procedure not only replaces missing teeth but also maintains the level of the bone that quickly resorbs following tooth removal.
1. Bone Replacement- a bone graft is necessary when insufficient bone height or width is present to place an implant. This may be done at the time of implant placement or as a separate procedure
a. Block graft- a small, square section of bone is attached to the underlying bone to add width for implant placement. The bone is allowed to heal for several months before the implant is placed
b. Sinus augmentation- when insufficient bone height is present in the upper posterior teeth, bone is added in the sinus through a small window underneath the gums. The bone is allowed to heal for several months before the implant is placed.
ii. Bridge- a procedure where the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth are reduced for crowns. The crowns are internally connected to form a bridge of teeth that are later cemented into place. This procedure replaces only the missing tooth/teeth. It also requires additional home maintenance since floss can not be passed in between the teeth of the bridge.
i. Tooth Whitening
i. In-Office- a highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide gel is painted on the teeth while the Zoom® Whitening Lamp is placed over the teeth to activate the gel. The procedure takes just over an hour.
ii. Home- custom made trays are used with a peroxide gel for 2 hours during the day or overnight to whiten teeth. The process can be completed in 8 to 10 days.
j. Replacing silver and/or gold fillings and crowns
i. Inlays/Onlays- a procedure similar to, but more conservative than, a crown where less tooth structure is removed and only a portion of the tooth is replaced with a porcelain restoration. The final restoration is made to blend in seamlessly with the surrounding tooth.
ii. Crowns- when insignificant tooth structure remains after removing an old restoration, the entire tooth is reduced providing better retention and long term stability.
k. Correcting Excessive or Uneven Gums
i. Gingivectomy- recontouring the shape of the gums to follow the anatomy of the teeth and subsequently allows short teeth to look longer.
ii. Crown Lengthening- recontouring excessive gum tissue and underlying bone around the anterior teeth to allow the teeth to look longer. This procedure is also used to expose an adequate amount of healthy tooth before the crown is formed.
l. Maintaining Oral Hygiene procedures
i. Prophylaxis- a superficial cleaning and polishing of the teeth above the gum line.
ii. Scaling and root planning- the removal of debris, plaque, or tartar on the tooth surface above and below the gum line. This procedure usually requires anesthesia and is done in any or all of the four quadrants of the mouth.
iii. Periodontal maintenance- the regular removal of debris, plaque or tartar above and below the gum line following a scaling and root planning, gum surgery, or implant procedure. Maintenance visits are usually every 3 to 4 months.
iv. Chemotherapeutic agents- the placement of antibiotic or antimicrobial solution under the gums to help reduce localized infection or inflammation.
This page has the following sub pages.
