Crowns
A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it is often less durable.
The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:
Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the 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 permanent custom-made crown is being created.
Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, Dr. Martin cements it into place.
On the day a crown preparation has been started, the gums may be sore. Warm salt water rinses will help. Advil (ibuprofen) may also be helpful. These symptoms last a short time.
A temporary crown is placed to keep the mouth comfortable while the final crown is being fabricated in the lab. The temporary also maintains the position of your tooth in its arch, so that the final crown will fit properly. For this reason, it is important that your temporary is not dislodged from your tooth. We purposely use a weak cement, so that the temporary may be removed at the proper time. Please avoid sticky foods, (chewing gum, candy) or hard foods (nuts, nachos, ice) as they may dislodge or crack the temporary. When flossing around the temporary, let go of one end of the floss and pull it out between the teeth. Pulling the floss up out of the teeth will most likely pop the temporary right off. If the temporary comes off, save it and call our office for an appointment for recementation. While the "temp" should be recemented, this is not an emergency situation.
Keep in mind, that even with a temporary crown, over time, the teeth will tend to shift. A delay of more than the customary 2 weeks might result in the new crown not fitting properly.
Once the procedure is completed, proper dental 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 many years.
Bridges A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. A bridge may be necessary to prevent:
Shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.
Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.
There are three main types of bridges, namely:
Fixed bridge- this is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.
The Maryland bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the inside of adjacent teeth.
The Cantilever bridge is often used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The filler tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space or end.
Dentures-Complete and Partial
Periodontal disease, injury and tooth decay can all cause a loss of your natural teeth. However, we can bring back the smile on your face with dentures to restore your missing teeth. With improved technology and updated materials, Dr. Martin can now make them appear more natural and more comfortable for the patient.
There are two types of dentures: compete and partial. Complete dentures cover the patient’s entire jaw while partial dentures, with their metal framework replace multiple missing teeth. Ask Dr. Martin to see which type would be right for you.
It may take some time to adjust to your dentures. Speaking and eating may feel different at first, but these regular activities will resume normally once you are accustomed to your dentures.
Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth replacements that were first developed half a century ago by a Swedish scientist. Implants arose from the patient’s need to secure loose-fitting dentures. Since the advent of the implant, engineering and enhancements to the implant have enabled dentists to expand the implant’s usefulness, including the replacement of missing or lost teeth.
An implant consists of two components: the fitting which is permanently affixed into the bone, providing the “root”, and the crown which fits onto a high-precision attachment and provides the upper part (chewing surface) of the tooth. We will refer you to an oral surgeon for the fitting, and, after a proper time for healing. Dr. Martin will create the crown.
Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jaw bones to gradually recede from the root of the tooth. Recesssion of the jawbone will weaken implants and eventually make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.
