Our team is dedicated to your total family dental health care! We offer complete and gentle dental care, and are committed to excellence in all that we do!
BONDING
Bonding is a conservative way to repair slightly chipped, discolored, or crooked teeth, often for cosmetic purposes. The process comprises placing a white filling on your tooth to improve its appearance. The filling “bonds” with your teeth, and because it comes in a variety of tooth-colored shades, it closely matches the appearance of your natural teeth.
Bonding can also be used in place of regular amalgam fillings. Many patients prefer bonded fillings because the white color is much less noticeable than the silver of the amalgam fillings. Bonding fillings can be used on front and back teeth, depending on the location and extent of tooth decay. Bonding can also be used in place of traditional amalgam (silver) fillings.
Bonding is less expensive than other cosmetic treatments and can usually be completed in one visit to our office. However, bonding can stain and breaks more easily than other cosmetic treatments like porcelain veneers.
If your bonding does break or chip, please let us know. We can generally patch or repair bonding in one visit.
BRIDGES
A bridge is an ideal method to fill the space created by missing teeth. A bridge is one or more artificial teeth cemented into place using the natural teeth on either side for support–hence the name. Bridges are a perfect option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. A bridge replaces the missing tooth both functionally and cosmetically. Bridgework is as much an art as it is an exact science. Bridge materials include gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or all-ceramic material made to match your natural tooth color. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics.
CROWNS
Crowns are used to restore and enhance teeth that are damaged or to replace missing teeth. A crown also called a cap, covers a damaged tooth entirely. A crown not only strengthens the tooth but can also dramatically improve the tooth’s appearance, shape, and alignment.
DENTURES
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures available: partial dentures and complete dentures. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain, and complete dentures replace all teeth. Dentures are made to resemble your natural teeth, so there should be no noticeable change in appearance. In fact, dentures may even improve a smile!
Complete Dentures – This restoration method is used to restore smile and mouth function if all teeth have been lost. The dentures are custom-created and natural-looking. They are fit in the patient’s mouth to take the place of the original teeth. Complete dentures are generally removable and may require adjustments in order to create a proper fit with the gums and mouth.
Partial Dentures – A removable partial denture is used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Made of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, partials help restore better functionality to the mouth. As with complete dentures, it is possible to have more permanent options cemented into place.
EXTRACTIONS
Good oral hygiene is a must. The loss of a single tooth can significantly impact overall oral health and appearance. Although dentists will use every measure to prevent tooth loss, there are still some occasions when a tooth needs to be extracted. A tooth may need to be removed if the following occurs:
Severe Decay
Advanced Gum Disease
Infection or Abscess
Malpositioned Teeth
Fractured Teeth or Roots
Impacted Teeth
The dentist may suggest an extraction after careful examination and treatment—usually taking x-rays to understand the shape and position of the tooth and surrounding bone before extracting the tooth. A dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon based on the degree of difficulty.
A certain amount of pain and discomfort is to be expected following an extraction, but it can be minimized with pain killers and ice packs applied to the face for 15 minutes at a time. Discomfort should lessen within three days to two weeks.
Call our office immediately if you experience prolonged or severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever.
FILLINGS
A filling is a way to restore a decayed tooth back to its normal shape and function. If you have a tooth that requires a filling, the dentist will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area and fill the cleaned-out cavity with a filling material. This filling will help prevent further decay by closing any cracks or spaces where bacteria might enter.
There are a variety of filling materials available, including gold, silver, plastic, and porcelain. We will work with you to determine which material is best for you, depending on the extent of repair, the location of the filling, and the cost. Each of the filling materials is briefly explained below:
Gold fillings are custom-made in a laboratory and then cemented into place. While gold fillings are often the most expensive choice, many consider gold the best filling material. Gold inlays are well-tolerated by gum tissues and may last more than 20 years.
Amalgam (silver) fillings are a more inexpensive choice and well-tolerated. However, their dark color makes them more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not recommended for fillings in very visible areas such as front teeth.
Composite (plastic) resin fillings are custom-made to the exact color of the patient’s teeth, creating a more natural appearance. While these white fillings may be less noticeable than other materials, they usually only last between 3 and 10 years. They may not be ideal for larger fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea, or tobacco.
Porcelain fillings, called inlays or onlays, are created in a lab and bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the tooth’s color, they resist staining, and they cost about the same as gold fillings. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth, making the filling nearly undetectable.
NITROUS OXIDE SEDATION
Nitrous oxide sedation, also known as “laughing gas,” is commonly used to make treatment more comfortable. The nitrous oxide is inhaled through a mask and produces a state of relaxation. A local anesthetic will be administered with nitrous oxide to eliminate pain. Nitrous oxide is designed to make procedures easier for nervous patients and has been effective for many years.
SAME DAY CROWNS
Creative Smiles Now Offers Patients Digital Dentistry
New technology creates natural-looking crowns, veneers, and fillings in a single dental visit.
Creative Smiles is pleased to offer same-day crowns, fillings, and veneers to qualifying patients. At the forefront of dental technology, Creative Smiles recently incorporated (E4D Dentist System, NEVO, or PlanScan) into the treatment options available to patients. As a result, Dr. Cohen and Dr. Edenson can take a digital scan of the patient’s tooth and design and create a custom, permanent restoration in the dental office, all in a single appointment.
“We are so excited to bring this technology to our patients; the range of benefits we can now offer is more comprehensive and convenient,” said Dr. Cohen. The (E4D Dentist System, NEVO, or PlanScan) allows the doctors at Creative Smiles to replace conventional impression methods that include an unpleasant material followed by an uncomfortable waiting period. The clean, fast digital scan is obtained in a few minutes through a series of photographic images taken in the mouth.
The scanned information is then transferred to the design center, where a 3D model of the tooth is created chairside. The dentist can then design and customize the restoration to fit the patient’s unique characteristics, after which it is made in a milling unit right in the dental office.
The final result is a natural-looking restoration that beautifully fits the surrounding teeth, making the crown, veneer, or filling virtually undetectable. “The elimination of impressions, temporaries, second appointments, and waiting for the permanent restoration revolutionizes the entire dental experience for both the dentist and the patient. Patients will love watching their new tooth come to life, as well as the convenience of same-day dentistry,” said Dr. Cohen. The (E4D Dentist, NEVO, or PlanScan) system empowers dentists to treat their patients with dentistry that truly fits their lifestyles.
TMJ TREATMENT
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and describes dysfunction or disorders related to the joint. “Temporo” refers to the temple area of the skull; “mandibular” refers to the lower jaw, and “joint” is essentially where the head and jaw meet. This joint may be caused by a trauma, misalignment of the teeth, or excess muscle tension. The two bones that meet at the jaw are buffered by cartilage and five different muscles so that TMJ can cause a variety of troubles.
Common TMJ symptoms:
Dental treatments for the condition can include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, filling gaps between teeth, and more. No one solution is suitable for all cases. Sometimes a plastic mouthpiece is used to prevent clenching or grinding that contributes to the problem. If TMJ is left untreated and reaches extremes, surgery may be required to repair the badly damaged joint.
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