Composite Resin Fillings | Porcelain Crowns | Porcelain Bridges | Porcelain Veneers | Teeth Whitening
Composite Resin Fillings
The concept of a "filling" is replacing and restoring your tooth structure that is damaged due to decay or fracture with a material. Using resin fillings, we can restore your smile and teeth to a more natural look and feel.
With today's advancements, no longer will you have to suffer the embarrassment of unsightly and unhealthy silver/mercury fillings or metal margins of the past. Eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with new-age, state-of-the-art, tooth-colored resin fillings.
Benefits of Composite Resin Fillings:
- Composite resin fillings bond to the tooth; they strengthen the tooth by restoring most of its original shape. Silver amalgams, on the other hand, can weaken the teeth and make them more susceptible to breaking. Broken teeth can be very expensive to replace; resin fillings can actually save time and money in the long run.
- Most patients prefer composite resin fillings. This is due to their natural color, strength and overall appearance and feel. Composites are naturally more comfortable.
- Hot and cold sensitivity is greatly reduced with composite resin material compared to the silver/mercury amalgams.
- Restorations with composite fillings require less removal of tooth, less structure to place than those with amalgams and especially with new cavities. Dramatically smaller holes are needed with a composite.
- Composite resin fillings are healthier because no traces of mercury are used, unlike silver amalgams.
Porcelain Crowns
A crown or cap is used to restore a tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials, including metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin, all ceramic or porcelain.
Ceramic or porcelain crowns generally have the most natural appearance, and are the most popular. Although, they are durable and can last for several years, eventually ceramic crowns need to be replaced.
The process for placing a crown generally consists of two to three office visits. At the initial visit, we will take X-rays of the tooth and surrounding bone, so Dr. Lewis can examine the roots of the tooth. Dr. Lewis may recommend a root canal if there is decay or infection in the pulp of the tooth.
The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:
- Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
- Re-shaping the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown. (The amount of tooth structure removed for crown placement depends on the type of crown.)
- Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks).
- Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the custom-made crown is being created.
- Applying the custom-made crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the custom-made one onto the tooth.
- After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, Dr. Lewis cements it into place.
Once the procedure is completed, proper oral hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a long time.
Porcelain Bridges
If you are missing one or more teeth, you may find it difficult to chew or speak properly. Dr. Lewis can remedy these and other problems by placing a bridge. A bridge is a dental device that fills a space previously occupied by a tooth, and may be required to prevent:
- Shifting of the teeth, which can cause bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.
- Bridges preserve the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.
Bridges can be manufactured from porcelain, gold, alloys or a mixture of these materials. Porcelain-fused –to-metal bridges are very popular because they are similar to natural teeth.
Bridges can last for a long time and are very durable. Practicing good oral hygiene and seeing Dr. Lewis regularly for professional cleanings and exams ensures the longevity of your bridge.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are a great aesthetic solution to enhance your smile. They are thin, semi-translucent "shells" typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers can be a great alternative to crowns. In most cases, veneer application is completed in only two office visits.
Veneers are customized from porcelain material, and are commonly used to correct:
- Spaces between the teeth
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Unsightly, stained or discolored teeth
- Permanently stained or discolored teeth
- Crooked or misshapen teeth
Porcelain veneers are very durable and can last a long time. Please contact our office if you have any questions about veneers.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth darken over time due to normal wear and tear and the buildup of stains. Staining can be caused by such factors as the food and beverages consumed (like coffee, tea and soda). Other known factors for discoloration may include childhood medications or illnesses, tobacco use or improper oral hygiene.
We offer a variety of options for whitening your smile, including in-office methods and professional take-home whitening kits. We are trained professionals using industry-approved methods. One of the methods used by our practice is a gentle hydrogen-peroxide gel-activated solution. This procedure will whiten your entire smile in just one visit.
Please note whitening is not permanent. You should avoid beverages and foods that cause staining. This may help treatment results last longer. The degree of whitening can differ, depending on the type of product used, the severity of the stain and the condition of your teeth.
Tooth whitening services are growing in popularity, and it's one of the most requested services offered by our practice. Everyone sees the growing consumer market focused on whiter teeth. There are many over-the-counter whitening products available, but the reality is that "too good to be true" solutions typically don't work.
Our goal is to meet the needs of every patient, and every patient's needs are different. Call us today at 609.924.9034 for a whitening evaluation.