iHeartDDS
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ALL-ON-FOUR Implants
You do not need a dental implant for each and every one of your missing teeth. All you need is four precisely placed implants on the top of your mouth, and four on the bottom, to restore your full smile. That’s the beauty of the full arch. And because the implant is made of titanium, it has the unique ability to fuse to living bone and function as part of it. So eventually, the dental implant be-comes part of the jawbone and serves as a strong, long-lasting foundation for your new teeth. A strong bridge would be fixed on top of these four implants.
Dental Bridges
If you have lost a tooth due to trauma or decay, can replace the missing tooth with a dental bridge. A dental bridge is a false tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by the abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Although pontics can be made from a variety of materials such as gold, typically they’re made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth.
Dental Bridge Types
There are four main types of dental bridges:
• traditional
• cantilever
• Maryland
• implant-supported
Dental Abrasion
Dental abrasion is tooth wear originating from friction or mechanical forces from a foreign object, and it predominantly impacts premolars and canines.
Tooth wear from abrasion typically looks like a wedge or V-shaped indentation of the tooth at the gum margin, and it appears worn, shiny and is often discolored at the cervical margin. Some causes of abrasion include rough, lateral tooth brushing, biting your nails, chewing on pens, pipe smoking, placing and removing denture clasps, abrasive dentifrices, and stiff toothbrushes. Toothbrush abrasion can be repaired by bonding a tooth-colored filling over the abraded area of the tooth.
Dental Crowns
When a tooth needs to be covered and shielded from further damage or infection, a tooth-shaped cap called a dental crown is needed. The crown is cemented to the top of the tooth and encases the entire portion that can be seen above the gum line. It can be made from many different materials depending on your needs as well as your own preferences.
How Will I Know If I Need a Dental Crown?
While crowns can be placed for cosmetic reasons (such as to hide a misshapen or discolored tooth), they’re normally used to repair teeth that have been broken, worn down, or otherwise damaged. They’re also a possible solution for badly decayed teeth that have weakened to the point where they might fall apart. We can assess the damage before deciding whether a crown or another kind of treatment is needed.
Dental Implants
A dental implant or fixture is a surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis. The basis for modern dental implants is a biologic process called osseointegration, in which materials such as titanium form an intimate bond to bone. The implant fixture is first placed so that it is likely to osseointegrate, then a dental prosthetic is added. A variable amount of healing time is required for osseointegration before either the dental prosthetic (a tooth, bridge or denture) is attached to the implant or an abutment is placed which will hold a dental prosthetic/crown.
Dental Composite
Dental composite is a mixture of resins, or a combination of glass and plastics. It’s widely popular in dental procedures – including cavity filling, restoration, and cosmetic reshaping – because of its stability and safety. Unlike the metal fillings of the past, composite also offers a great aesthetic advantage. It can also be matched nearly identically to your own tooth shade, so that once it’s placed, it’s nearly undetectable.
Deep Cleaning
“Deep Cleaning” is another term used for Scaling and root planing. Teeth scaling and root planning help to treat chronic periodontal disease (otherwise known as gum disease). They are more in-depth than a typical teeth cleaning.
Teeth scaling and root planing often take more than one dental visit and could require a local anesthetic based on the severity of your chronic periodontal disease and if you have receding gums. Recovery from this outpatient procedure usually only takes a few days but may take longer.
Overdenture
If you’re missing teeth, modern dentistry offers more options than ever before for replacing them. With so many options for new teeth, it can be confusing to know the important differences between you options. Edentulous mouth is still treated by dentures, however, there are modern ways to replace the missing teeth with aids of two or four implants to snap to the conventional dentures called “overdentures”. Here’s the difference between conventional dentures and overdentures so you can make an informed choice in your care.
Traditional dentures are artificial teeth mounted in an acrylic base that looks like gums. Dentures are held in place by adhesives, natural suction, or a combination of both. Overdentures is very similar in a way to conventional dentures in a way to use the same acrylic teeth; however, the denture is secured in your mouth by clipping or screwing onto titanium dental implants that have been placed in your jawbone. Because they clip onto a solid foundation in the form of dental implants, overdentures are known to have better retention and stability.
Emergency Dentistry
Toothaches, broken teeth, and other urgent situations require immediate attention for quick solutions and resumed oral health. You don’t have time to wait for an appointment, so we are happy to welcome walk-ins, too. But does your issue count as a dental emergency? And what should you do immediately after a knocked out or broken tooth? Read our guide for dental emergencies and know to call our dental office immediately!
Periodontal Therapy
Oral pathogens often trigger chronic systemic diseases that could lead to other more serious complications such as acute coronary syndrome or fatal myocardial attack.
Dental plaque consists of different subgingival microbial complexes that colonize in the biofilm and destroy the protective enzymes (amylase) that fight disease and decay. If these organisms are not removed, they will lead to the lysis (ultimate loss) of permanent teeth and residual supporting bone strength and turgor.
Porcelain Veneers
A dental veneer is a thin covering bonded usually to the front tooth’s surface. Since it is cemented to the tooth surface it permanently change and correct a tooth’s imperfections. It’s made of porcelain or a composite resin. Porcelain veneers are popular because they can resist stains. Plus, they also mimic natural teeth’s light-reflecting properties. Porcelain veneers can fix tooth discoloration caused by root canal treatment or too much fluoride use. Stains caused by coffee, cigarettes or by taking drugs like tetracycline can also be covered up by dental veneers. But, it is important to know the dental veneers pros and cons.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth. When one
undergoes a root canal, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed.
What happens during root canal treatment?
Learn more about this quick, comfortable procedure that can relieve your pain and save your natural tooth.
Teeth Fillings
Silver fillings have many setbacks. The edges of the silver filling can wear down, become leaky, or break. This results in the tooth not being protected and causes cavities to form. With aging, time and temperature changes, the metal of a silver filling expands, contracts, and can separate.
Dental Inlays & Onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are a dental procedure that is used to restore a decayed or damaged tooth to its original condition and can actually strengthen it.
They are a more conservative approach than a dental crown because they don’t involve the removal of healthy tooth structure.
For this reason, inlays and onlays are considered a minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry treatment and for many dentists and patients is a much better choice.
A crown, although not a bad procedure, involves the removal of more healthy tooth structure than needed and can increase the risk of tooth fracture and the need for a root canal treatment.
Inlays and onlays are fabricated in a dental lab and are then fitted and bonded to the damaged tooth by the dentist. This type of restoration is called an indirect filling because unlike a traditional dental filling they are not molded into place during your dental visit.
Teeth Whitening
Dental bleaching can be used to correct tooth discoloration. Discolorations can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest in bleaching technology, we can offer a safe method for recreating a beautiful and brilliant smile. In cases of extreme tooth discoloration, crowns or veneers may be the only choice, but because of the low cost of teeth whitening treatments, bleaching is nearly always worth a solid try.
In only a day or two, sometimes the same day, your custom bleaching splints will be ready for you to pick up. We provide you with a special bleaching agent that you put into the clear splints. With only a few hours of wear per day, our special bleaching agent creates bubbles that create the energy necessary to remove stains without altering existing structures or dental work. When your teeth reach the desired brightness, only occasional treatment is needed to maintain your new smile. We will want to take professional pictures to see your results!
TMJ Therapy
TMJ treatment, referred to by some dentists as TMJ therapy, includes many options. The first step is to relieve the pain with the application of mouthguards, also known as dental splints. The next step in TMJ treatment is to apply bite therapy principles and tools to analyze the cause of the misalignment or stress that is causing the problem. If necessary, a routine of jaw exercises will be created to eliminate the clenching or grinding that is contributing to the stress on the lower jaw.
Signs & Symptoms
• Facial pain
• Earaches or ringing of the ears
• Dull, chronic headaches
• Jaw locking
• Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint
• A bite that feels uncomfortable or “off”
• Neck, shoulder and back pain
• Swelling on the side of the face