General Dentistry

• Dental prophylaxis (“cleaning”)
• Digital x-rays (requires half the radiation of traditional film x-rays)
• Periodontal care
• Mouthguards for teeth grinding and TMJ disorders
• Athletic mouthguards

One of the most common types of dental restorations are called fillings. These are different types of materials that are placed in teeth to fill cavities and repair small defects in teeth. The most common types are silver amalgam and tooth-colored resin composite.

• Amalgam is a mixture of mostly silver and mercury and has been used for many years as a filling material. Used properly, amalgam can be a good choice for some fillings.
• Resin composite is used to fill teeth where appearance is a priority. These types of fillings are popular since they come in colors that mimic natural teeth but they have certain drawbacks.
• Gold foil is the oldest type of filling material available and in some situations can last the lifetime of the patient. Pure gold can be placed in one visit in small cavities and will last longer than any other filling material.

Dental inlays are used to fill cavities, but, unlike direct fillings,  are fabricated outside the mouth (usually at a remote dental laboratory) and are cemented or bonded in place at a later time.  They can be made of either tooth-colored porcelain or a gold alloy.  They are more expensive than direct fillings due to the complexity of the procedures and time involved, but they provide more support for the remaining tooth structure than fillings and  can last much longer.  Onlays are similar to inlays in terms of procedure, materials and cost, but they replace more of the damaged or missing tooth structure.  They can be used in situations where fillings or inlays are inadequate.

Crowns or “caps” are covers that go over an entire tooth. They are used when a filling, a porcelain veneer, an inlay, or an onlay will not do the job. They come in various materials, sometimes with a metal coping or thimble covered with porcelain and sometimes without metal, depending on the situation and need for strength and cosmetic demands. Gold crowns are the strongest and most long lasting, and are used often on back teeth where strength is most critical and cosmetics needs are minimal.

Bridges are used to permanently replace missing teeth. As opposed to dentures, which are removable, bridges can restore your missing teeth and stay in your mouth.  They are constructed in the same manner as crowns and with many of the same materials, but they involve multiple, connected teeth.

Dentures are removable tooth replacements.  Complete dentures replace an entire arch (all the upper teeth or lower teeth).  They are held in by suction (sometimes aided by adhesives) and can produce a very attractive smile, but do not feel or function like natural teeth.  In some cases, dental implants can be used help hold dentures in place much more securely.  Partial dentures are similar, but are used in combination with some retained natural teeth.

Dental implants have revolutionized the way we think about tooth replacement in dentistry.  Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth with cosmetics and function that rival natural teeth.  They are also used effectively to support bridges for multiple missing teeth, and can even replace a complete arch of teeth, eliminating the need for a removable complete denture.  Our team works with dental laboratories, oral surgeons, and periodontists to ensure the best possible outcomes when implants are incorporated in a treatment plan by guiding the process from the start and designing and placing the final tooth replacements.