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General
Treatments
Research has shown that almost everybody has a 95% chance
of experiencing some tooth decay. When tooth decay does
occur, it is highly important to remove the decay, clean
the tooth and repair the tooth with some type of restoration.
Additionally, lost or missing teeth need to be replaced
to protect your overall oral health.
In
this section, we will look at the various restorations we
can use to protect and restore decayed or missing teeth.
Please
click on a treatment option above for more information. |
Composite
Fillings
The clear alternative to traditional mercury fillings.
The Problem:
* Decay on a portion of any tooth
* Desire to replace old-fashioned mercury (silver) fillings
* Desire to maintain a white, beautiful smile
The Solution:
A composite filling is a tooth colored quartz-like material.
After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this tooth colored
material is layered into the tooth. Each layer is hardened
or cured with highly intense visible light, and the final
surface is shaped and polished to match the tooth. The final
restoration is virtually invisible.
Advantages:
Composite fillings are more than just attractive. They are
environmentally non-toxic because they use no mercury. They
are stronger because they bond directly to the surface of
the tooth. They protect the tooth from fracturing because
they don't require the severe "undercut" (removal
of healthy tooth structure) of a mercury filling.
Disadvantages:
The initial investment in a composite filling is higher
than that for a mercury filling. This is due to the fact
that the composite material is more expensive and the restoration
is more difficult and time consuming to place. However,
this initial higher investment is offset in the long run
by the health benefits and reduced likelihood of restoring
potentially fractured teeth.
Alternatives:
Inlays/onlays are sometimes good alternatives to composite
fillings, offering excellent long term durability. In cases
of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are the only
alternative.
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Silver
Fillings
An inexpensive way to restore a small amount of tooth decay.
The Problem:
* A small amount of decay on a portion of a back tooth
The Solution:
We
do not use mercury/silver fillings
as a restorative
material.
However, these restorations were common in the past because
they were an inexpensive way to restore a small amount of
tooth decay. This section will give you some information
on silver fillings. Please click on composite
fillings if you would like to see the modern
tooth-colored restorations we perform here.
Advantages:
Silver fillings have been used for more than 125 years.
Their biggest advantage is that they are quickly placed,
making them relatively inexpensive. They are also relatively
durable.
Disadvantages:
Silver fillings do not bond (stick) to the tooth structure.
This requires the preparation to be "undercut,"
creating a chamber that is smaller at the surface of the
tooth and wider inside. This undercut keeps the filling
from falling out of the tooth.
The
problem is that the creation of this undercut requires the
removal of more healthy tooth structure than is necessary.
This weakens the tooth and predisposes it to fracture when
biting into hard items. Since fillings will break down from
normal wear, they will eventually need to be replaced, and
this will require the removal of even more healthy tooth
structure.
Though
silver fillings contain some mercury, current studies indicate
what appear to be no measurable health risks to patients.
However, we do know that mercury is a highly toxic material
that can cause neurological and kidney disease. Adults and
children have even been warned to limit the consumption
of certain types of fish that carry high levels of environmental
mercury. Even if there are no direct risks to patients,
the extensive use of mercury in fillings may have a long
term environmental impact.
Alternatives:
Composite (white) fillings are an excellent alternative,
limiting the removal of healthy tissue and posing no known
environmental risk. In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays
or crowns are a much better restoration.
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Dental
Implants
An excellent way to replace missing teeth.
The Problem:
* A missing tooth or teeth
* Potential bite and jaw joint problems from teeth shifting
to fill the space
* The "sunken face" look associated with missing
teeth
* Desire to improve chewing ability
* Desire for a more permanent solution than dentures
The Solution:
A dental implant is an appliance used to replace the roots
of teeth. The implant is surgically attached to the jaw
bone and an artificial tooth is attached to the top of the
implant, creating a natural looking, undetectable replacement
for the missing tooth. In the event that more than one tooth
is missing, several implants may provide a base for a series
of artificial teeth known as a fixed bridge (see fixed bridges.)
Implants can even be used to secure a full set of removable
dentures for people who have no remaining natural teeth.
This can greatly improve chewing ability and reduce the
risk of choking.
It
generally takes about six months for the surgical implant
to heal before the final installation of the artificial
tooth or teeth can be finished.
Advantages:
Dental implants with artificial teeth are the closest
thing to regrowing your natural teeth. They are strong,
stable, durable and virtually undetectable. By filling
gaps left by missing teeth, implants can provide better
chewing ability and head off jaw joint problems. They
are far superior to removable dentures.
Disadvantages:
Dental implants are excellent, state-of-the-art restorations
and have few disadvantages when compared to alternatives
such as dentures. However, dental implants do require
surgery and time to heal, and they are initially more
expensive than dentures or fixed bridges. These disadvantages
are offset by the ease of use, saved time and long term
health benefits of implants.
Alternatives:
Dentures are a poor alternative to dental implants. However,
in some cases, where finances are a primary concern, dentures
are the only alternative.
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Root
Canal Therapy
Protect and keep a sick or dying tooth.
The Problem:
* Infected or sick tooth due to decay or injury
* Chronic tooth pain from contact with hot and cold liquids
* Pain from pressure or biting down
* Danger of infection spreading
The
Solution:
Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber that contains the nerves
and blood supply for the tooth. When the pulp becomes infected
due to decay or injury to the tooth, the pulp must be removed
from the center of the tooth and the canals of each root.
Once the infected pulp is removed, the remaining chamber
is filled with a rubber-based material to seal it off.
All
teeth that have had root canal therapy must be protected
with a tooth-like artificial covering known as a crown (see
crowns). This is because teeth that have had the pulp removed
are more susceptible to fracture.
We
do 98% of the root canals that are needed in our office.
Root canal therapy has changed from methods of the past.
Current root canals should be comfortable and almost always
completed in one visit. We are on the select dentists utilizing
a microscope for the procedure.
Advantages:
Root canal therapy is an excellent way to save a tooth that
would otherwise die and need to be removed.
Disadvantages:
If a tooth is sick, there are no disadvantages to root canal
therapy. On rare occasions, however, root canal therapy
may need to be redone to ensure that all of the infection
has been removed.
Alternatives:
The only real alternative is to remove the sick tooth. However,
this will require a dental implant or bridge to fill the
empty space and prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth.
These solutions will ultimately cost more than the root
canal therapy, and they will never equal the quality of
keeping your natural tooth.
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