We are pleased to offer a full range of dental care services in Meriden CT 06450. Our dental services include: children's, cosmetic, general, family, implant and sedation dentistry.
Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts
Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased. During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in treating the insides of teeth) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed.
Causes of an infected pulp could include:
a deep cavity
repeated dental procedures
a cracked or broken tooth
injury to the tooth (even if thereís not a visible crack or chip)
If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth could last a lifetime. However, regular checkups are necessary; a tooth without its nerve can still develop cavities or gum disease. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile.
Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If youíve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Thatís because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teethóthings that people often take for granted.
When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.
Types of dentures:
Conventional. This full removable denture is made and placed in your mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take several months.
Immediate. This removable denture is inserted on the same day that the remaining teeth are removed. Your dentist will take measurements and make models of your jaw during a preliminary visit. You donít have to be without teeth during the healing period, but may need to have the denture relined or remade after your jaw has healed.
Overdenture. Sometimes some of your teeth can be saved to preserve your jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture. An overdenture fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth after they have been prepared by your dentist. Implants can serve the same function, too.
A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. Many people call it a cap. Crowns may be placed for several reasons. Usually the tooth has been broken or severely damaged by decay. As a result, a filling can't replace enough of the tooth or make the tooth strong enough. A crown may hold together parts of a cracked tooth. It also can be used to hold a bridge in place. Crowns can be used to improve appearance as well. They may be placed to cover misshapen or badly discolored teeth. Crowns can be made ahead of time (prefabricated) or made to order in a laboratory. Prefabricated crowns are made of plastic or stainless steel. They can be used on a temporary basis until a permanent crown is made. Crowns can be made of:
All metal
Zirconia
Porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
Porcelain fused to zirconia
All ceramic
Metals include gold alloy, other alloys (palladium) or a base-metal alloy (nickel or chromium). The all-metal or PFM crowns are stronger and are better choices for back teeth than ceramic crowns. PFM and all-ceramic crowns are the same color as your natural teeth. They look just like normal teeth. To read the entire article , please visit Colgate.com
If you have been experiencing problems with a tooth, you may wonder, "Do I need a root canal?" Root canals, also known as endodontic therapy, are performed when the nerve or pulp of the tooth becomes infected and inflammed due to dental decay, a cracked or broken tooth or an injury to the tooth, according to the American Dental Association. During the procedure, a dentist uses a drill to remove both the nerve and pulp and seals up the tooth to protect against further damage. Only your dentist or a dental specialist called an endodontist, can determine whether a root canal will adequately treat your problem. Here are a few possible symptoms of the need for a root canal and some steps for dealing with them. General Possible Symptoms The most common symptom that may indicate the need for a root canal is tooth pain, according to the American Association of Endodontists. The intensity of the pain can range from mild to severe; it may lessen or intensify throughout the day, or it may get worse only when you bite down on the tooth. Some patients experience prolonged sensitivity to hot food or liquids. Your gums may also feel tender and swollen near the problem area. First Steps If you notice any of the above symptoms, contact your dentist right away. Explain your symptoms by phone to a staff member, who may arrange for you to come in right away or may recommend emergency care depending on the severity of your symptoms. To soothe the pain and alleviate swelling, apply an ice pack to the outside of your jaw. To read the entire article written by Rebecca Desfosse, please visit Colgate.com Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford 298 Broad Street Meriden, CT 06450 Phone: (203) 235-5588 DentalGroupCT.com
Dentists complete 122 million composite tooth restorations in the United States each year, according to Oregon State University (OSU). But the average lifetime of posterior dental composites is only 6 years. Bioactive glass may improve their durability and provide some of the minerals that have been lost to tooth decay. “Bioactive glass, which is a type of crushed glass that is able to interact with the body, has been used in some types of bone healing for decades,” said Jamie Kruzic, a professor at the OSU college of engineering. The hard and stiff material can replace the inert glass fillers now mixed with polymers to make modern composite tooth fillings. “This type of glass is only beginning to see use in dentistry, and our research shows it may be very promising for tooth fillings,” he said. “The bacteria in the mouth that help cause cavities don’t seem to like this type of glass and are less likely to colonize on fillings that incorporate it. This could have a significant impact on the future of dentistry.” Bioactive glass is made with compounds such as silicon oxide, calcium oxide, and phosphorous oxide, and it looks like powdered glass. Its antimicrobial effect is attributed, in part, to the release of ions such as those from calcium and phosphate that have a toxic effect on oral bacteria and tend to neutralize the local acidic environment. “Almost all fillings will eventually fail,” Kruzic said. “New tooth decay often begins at the interface of a filling and the tooth and is called secondary tooth decay. The tooth is literally being eroded and demineralized at that surface.” To read the entire article, please visit DentistryToday.com
Bonding Not happy with the way your teeth look? Bonding may be the answer. For some, it can help restore the natural look of your teeth. Bonding is a process where the dentist attaches or “bonds” materials directly to your tooth. Your natural tooth enamel and dentin are fused together with bonding materials such as porcelain and resins to create a strong structure that looks great. The above article is from: MouthHealthy.org Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford 298 Broad Street Meriden, CT 06450 Phone: (203) 235-5588 DentalGroupCT.com
Crowns A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance. Crowns can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. The above article is from: MouthHealthy.org Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford 298 Broad Street Meriden, CT 06450 Phone: (203) 235-5588 DentalGroupCT.com
Natural-Looking, Strong
Fillings
Standard fillings have been made from silver-mercury amalgam for
a very long time. A reasonable restoration for many patients,
amalgams do have a few shortcomings. Metal does not bond well to
teeth, so decay can and does eventually leak into the tooth. But
the biggest reason many of our patients are choosing the white
bonded fillings has to do with the way they look. Many people
simply want to avoid a dark, ugly spot in their teeth. We offer
modern restorations that are a natural-looking white, contain no
metals, and can actually strengthen your teeth. Because they
bond very tightly with the healthy part of the tooth, they
reduce the risk of future decay and actually strengthen your
teeth.
A Crowning Solution
Wear and tear, decay, and breakage can cause too much damage for
a simple filling. In these cases, we will place a beautiful,
natural-looking crown over it that will save the tooth and even
make it stronger. We use only the highest quality materials to
construct your crown, and even someone looking closely wouldn’t
be able to tell the beautiful restoration from a natural tooth.
Don’t
Be Embarrassed by Your Smile
Improve the way you both look and feel with a beautiful,
natural-looking smile. When you look good, you feel good!
Because of this, the doctors of the Dental Group of
Meriden-Wallingford emphasize the aesthetic aspect in all of
their work. Your treatment plan will combine the best preventive
care, tooth-colored fillings, and restorative techniques for
optimum dental health. Modern smile makeovers are easy and
affordable, so you can have the smile you’ve always dreamed
about.
Standard fillings have been made from silver-mercury amalgam for
a very long time. A reasonable restoration for many patients,
amalgams do have a few shortcomings. Metal does not bond well to
teeth, so decay can and does eventually leak into the tooth. But
the biggest reason many of our patients are choosing the white
bonded fillings has to do with the way they look. Many people
simply want to avoid a dark, ugly spot in their teeth. We offer
modern restorations that are a natural-looking white, contain no
metals, and can actually strengthen your teeth. Because they
bond very tightly with the healthy part of the tooth, they
reduce the risk of future decay and actually strengthen your
teeth.