Prosthetic Dentistry (Prosthodontics)
Prosthodontics focuses on the restoration and replacement of missing or damaged teeth using biocompatible substitutes.
Crowns and Bridges
A crown is a dental restoration that completely caps or covers a tooth. Crowns are made of various materials including metal alloys, ceramics, porcelain, composite resin, or a combination of these materials. Crowns are used to:
- Restore a tooth that has broken or fractured.
- Replace a large filling when there is not much tooth structure remaining.
- Cover a tooth after a root canal treatment.
- Cover a poorly shaped or discolored tooth.
- Cover a dental implant.
Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. With proper home care, a fixed bridge can last up to ten years or more. Bridges are used to:
- Restore and maintain the natural bite.
- Keep opposing teeth in their place.
- Prevent shifting and tilting of adjacent teeth.
- Prevent further dental decay and periodontal disease.
- Enhance your smile, speech, and chewing function.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin sheets of custom-made ceramic that bond directly to the front surfaces of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile due to their simplicity and versatility. When bonded, ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to stains.
Cosmetic Dentistry (Esthetics)
Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the visual appearance of teeth and gums through targeted procedures.
Esthetic treatments enhance color, position, shape, size, alignment, and overall smile appearance. Common procedures include:
- Teeth Whitening: Lightening teeth to eliminate stains or discolorations from food, coffee, or aging.
- Veneer Applications: Re-surfacing the teeth to cover chips, minor overlaps, and gaps.
- Dental Bonding: Applying composite resins to match tooth color and patch broken edges.
TMD Management
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD) involve issues with the jaw joints and the muscles that control jaw movement.
TMD can cause significant discomfort, affecting chewing, speaking, and overall quality of life. Common clinical aspects of TMD include:
- Jaw Pain & Muscle Tension: Chronic aching in the jaw joints, ears, face, and temples, often linked to teeth grinding (bruxism).
- Joint Sounds: Clicking, popping, or grating noises in the jaw when opening or closing the mouth.
- Locking Jaw: Temporary locking of the joint, making it difficult to fully open or close the mouth.
- Relief Strategies: Use of custom nightguards (splints), jaw exercises, stress reduction, and posture corrections.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities (malocclusions).
These irregularities can involve crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and misaligned jaw joints. Orthodontic treatment helps in:
- Alignment: Straightening crooked teeth for improved aesthetics and easier cleaning.
- Bite Correction: Aligning upper and lower jaws so teeth fit together properly, reducing wear and improving speech/chewing.
- Joint Health: Mitigating stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding muscles.
Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry focuses on restoring the function and structure of teeth damaged by decay, disease, or trauma.
Restorative options are essential to saving the natural tooth structure whenever possible. Treatments include:
- Dental Fillings: Cleaning out active decay and filling the cavity with composite resin or amalgam.
- Endodontic Therapy (Root Canals): Treating the dental pulp and nerve inside the root canal when it becomes infected or inflamed, preventing extraction.
- Inlays and Onlays: Custom fabrications that fit within or over the cusps of damaged chewing surfaces.
Oral Surgery
Oral surgery includes surgical interventions to address complex conditions of the teeth, jaws, and oral tissues.
Typical surgical operations include:
- Dental Extractions: Removing teeth that are severely decayed, fractured, or impacted (such as third molars or wisdom teeth). See our featured blog articles on extraction reasons.
- Dental Implants: Inserting titanium posts into the jawbone to act as stable roots for crowns or bridges.
- Bone Grafting: Restoring jawbone volume to prepare a site for implants or resolve periodontal bone loss.