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 Donna J. McNeil, photographer |
Porcelain Crowns
To have enough strength to withstand biting forces, porcelain crowns used to always be built upon a metal core. The dark metal inside the porcelain/metal crown causes a dark blue line to show at the edge of the crown. New breakthroughs in adhesives and stronger porcelain materials now make it possible to make crowns entirely out of porcelain, which then can be bonded to the teeth. All-porcelain crowns maintain a translucency that makes them hard to tell from natural teeth. Without metal, the problem of the dark blue line at the edge of the gums is eliminated. When you want to improve your smile, all-porcelain crowns are a beautiful and natural-looking choice!
Root Canals
When a tooth becomes infected, it’s necessary to remove the source of infection through root canal therapy. We understand that you may have anxiety about the procedure, but we want to assure you that it will be comfortable for you. Treatment, in fact, is the most comfortable option, because an infected tooth will never heal on its own. The unpleasant consequences of an infection in a tooth’s pulp only get worse and more painful with time. When the procedure is complete, we’ll schedule follow-up appointments to restore your tooth. Depending on your unique situation, we may use any number of t4echniques to restore the tooth, the most common of which involves the placing of a crown. When the time comes, we’ll work together to decide which restorative procedure best suits your needs.
Tooth-colored Fillings
Until recently, silver, mercury-containing amalgam was the material most often used to restore decayed portions of your teeth, especially back teeth. Unfortunately, silver fillings can really darken a smile, and amalgam, by its very nature, can cause damage to your tooth in the long run. Amalgam fillings absorb moisture and expand and contract with heat and cold. So, as the filling ages, it can fracture your tooth; we’ll then need to place a crown on your tooth to save it. Also, silver fillings often undergo metal fatigue, corroding and leaking over time. This destroys the protective seal of the filling and allows new decay to develop underneath it. This leakage can give a gray appearance to the entire tooth. Dental research has resulted in the development of new tooth-colored materials that are not only durable and long lasting, but attractive as well. These materials, porcelain (CEREC 3-D) and composite resin, provide an attractive, natural look while at the same time restoring strength and durability to your tooth.
Sealants
Sealants are a clear or white plastic that is placed in the grooves of the biting surfaces of back teeth. The deep grooves and pits of back teeth are very difficult to keep clean. Plaque, a nearly invisible film of bacteria and food, collects in these grooves. Every time you eat, the bacteria in plaque form acid. Without sealants, the acid can cause the enamel to break down, resulting in a cavity. Sealants are an important part of an effective preventive dental care program.
Oral Cancer Exam
Each year, oral cancer strikes approximately 35 thousand Americans. Of all the major cancers, oral cancer has the worst 5-year survival rate. Only about 50 percent of those diagnosed with oral cancer will survive more than 5 years. In fact, oral cancer kills nearly 9 thousand people every year. The reason these statistics are so grim is because oral cancer is often detected in its later stages. But when it’s detected early, before the disease can spread to destroy healthy tissue, the survival rate is greatly improved. |
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