4 Educational Information and Materials for Dental Health
Educational Information and Materials for Dental Health
We are committed to providing great and most updated information for dental offices and dentists. Please visit any of the sites provided below to access important information on dental health and research, as well as sites related to general health and well-being. (If there is a site you would like to recommend, please do not hesitate to let us know.)
Dental Health
• Academy of General Dentistry
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Dental Health’s Role in Overall Health
Overall Health and Well-Being
• American Medical Association
• Maternal and Children’s Health
Cosmetic Dentistry
Whitening
Make your mouth shine! Whitening gently lightens the color of teeth that have darkened due to age, smoking, coffee, tea, certain medications, etc. We offer two different methods to whiten your teeth: customized bleaching trays worn at night for several weeks followed by occasional touch-ups once or twice a month, and Venus White Max which is an in-office whitening system only requiring a single appointment.
Crowns
In addition to improving the health and stability of a tooth, crowns cover and seal broken, cracked, poorly shaped/malpositioned or severely discolored teeth to restore them to either their natural appearance or shade of your choice. Crowns can be made using a variety of materials. Those that are used for cosmetic purposes are typically made using a zirconia substructure covered in porcelain, allowing a life-like translucency that produces a beautiful restoration which lasts for years without discoloring. They are custom-made by our on-site dental lab, allowing your doctor and the lab technician to work together to create the smile you desire.
Veneers
These porcelain restorations bond to the front of the tooth to mask discoloration, improve tooth shape through esthetically pleasing contours and can be made to form a perfectly aligned smile. They are custom-made by our on-site lab and are a nice alternative to crowns as only minimal tooth structure needs to be removed, thereby preserving most of your original tooth. Veneers are strong and can completely transform your smile!
Bridges
Have you lost one or more of your natural teeth? Bridges fix that by providing an artificial tooth connected to two or more crowns which are permanently cemented to the healthy adjacent teeth. The replacement tooth is made using the same materials as the anchor crowns and all are then connected to form the bridge. They are extremely strong and can be made using a variety of materials. Bridges, as well, are custom-made by our on-site lab.
Dental Implants
Like bridges, implants are permanent replacements for missing teeth that do not involve the neighboring teeth. They are ideal in situations where the adjacent teeth are completely healthy and free of any decay and/or older restoration. The implant itself is placed in the bone by a specialist and a crown is then cemented over the implant after adequate healing has occurred. Implants are also terrific “anchors” for bridges. (Note: Implants can be used for patients with dentures that are struggling with denture retention. Small attachments are placed inside the denture which then fasten to the implants, holding the denture in place. In some cases, the denture may need to be remade.)
White Composite Fillings
When a tooth has a small cavity or other relatively minor damage, white fillings can restore and strengthen the affected area while looking extremely similar to your original tooth color. They are bonded to the tooth with minimal to no post-operative sensitivity. Using a shade guide, you and your clinician select the color of composite that best matches your natural tooth. No one will notice a thing!
Bonding
This process utilizes the white composite material described previously to help mask discolored teeth and other minor flaws and can help “straighten” slightly misaligned teeth. However, esthetic bonding usually discolors and wears relatively quickly and lacks the strength of other treatment options. Therefore, porcelain restorations such as veneers and crowns are typically recommended as permanent esthetic solutions. (Note: bonding can be done to eliminate sensitivity caused by gum recession and subsequent root exposure and wear.)
Invisalign
Invisalign is the “CLEAR” way to straighten teeth without the use of the bonded metal brackets and hardware of conventional Orthodontics. Invisalign gradually moves your teeth through a series of customized, removable, nearly invisible aligners. Drs. Cuthrell and Mochnick are both “Preferred Invisalign Providers”. Visit http://www.invisalign.com/ for more details or call to schedule a consult to determine if Invisalign is right for you.