Reflection Dental

General dentistry is primarily focused on preventing problems from forming or becoming worse. To that end, our general dentists and their offices provide services like the following. Dental exams. These involve cleaning and examining the teeth to detect problems. General dentists and oral hygienists both play a role in dental exams, with the latter often handling much of the cleaning work and the former providing an expert visual inspection to determine issues. X-rays and other diagnostic methods. These help the dentist detect immediate issues and track changes over time. Restorative procedures. If problems have emerged with your teeth, your general dentist may recommend and perform restorative procedures as appropriate. Potential procedures include root canals, fillings, and crowns. Our general dentist may also remove badly damaged teeth and provide denture services, and they may handle certain gum procedures as well. Referrals. In some cases, an issue may call for treatment from a specialist such as an orthodontist (for bite-related issues) or periodontist (for advanced gum care). If that applies to your situation, our dentist will point you in the right direction. Advice and care-plan forming. Everyone’s mouth is unique, and a big part of our general dentist’s job is providing personalized advice on oral care to each patient.

Our professionals at Reflection Dental specialize in family dentistry and have learned how to treat people of all ages. This is a little different from general dentistry. Our family dentist has specialized training to treat specific ages, meaning their education includes treating children and elderly patients. A general dentist has been trained to perform general dental practices, but they haven’t received specific training for children or elderly adults.

American writer Robert Hasting wrote, “Smile! It increases your face value.” But what if you felt that your smile wasn’t attractive enough to add value to your appearance or personality? Many people in Lombard are turning to cosmetic dentistry at Reflection Dental to improve the appearance of their teeth and regain confidence. Let’s look at what cosmetic dentistry is and how it can help you look and feel your best in any situation. Cosmetic dentistry is a method of professional care that’s elective rather than essential and can improve the appearance of your mouth, teeth, gums, and face. The most common cosmetic dentistry procedures are teeth whitening, inlays and onlays, implants and dental crowns, veneers, and bonding. Our cosmetic dentist at Reflection Dental can perform these procedures.

Dental emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, even if you take excellent care of your mouth and teeth. Around 22% of American adults have reported experiencing tooth or mouth pain in the last six months. This proves how common dental emergencies are. However, not every toothache or oral issue is considered an emergency. Therefore, you must understand what constitutes a dental emergency and what to do if you experience one.

Most dental crown procedures at Reflection Dental involve two visits to the dentist’s office in Lombard. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth by filing it down to remove its outer layer and then makes a mold of the tooth. The mold is used as the model to make the actual crown, which is typically made off-site at a laboratory and can take up to several weeks. In the meantime, your dentist will put a temporary crown on the tooth to protect it until the permanent crown is prepared, which will then be cemented on the tooth during the second visit. Reflection Dental has the technology to make the crown in the office the same day, in which case you only have to make one visit to the dentist and you’re done. It’s worth asking your dentist if this is an option and what the estimated cost would be.

In dentistry, a bridge is a false tooth (called a pontic) attached to either side of a gap by abutment teeth. There are several different types of bridges. Traditional bridges consist of a false tooth or teeth affixed to each of the abutment teeth by dental crowns. Traditional dental bridges are the most common, and they are for when you have natural teeth on both sides of the gap caused by a missing tooth. While cantilever dental bridges are similar to traditional bridges, with only one abutment tooth cemented to the pontic, a cantilever bridge requires only one natural tooth adjacent to the gap left by the missing tooth.

Cosmetic dental veneers are coverings placed over natural teeth to improve the overall appearance of one’s smile. The thin coverings are most commonly crafted from porcelain and/or composite materials and used to correct minor imperfections such as deep stains, gaps between teeth, and small chips. Veneers are a popular choice among patients looking to brighten their smiles, as they blend in well with the natural teeth, and the procedure is considered minimally invasive. Veneers Procedure and Types of Veneers In certain cases, patients at Reflection Dental may only need a single veneer to correct discoloration or one broken or chipped tooth. Alternatively, Reflection Dental may recommend a full set of six to eight veneers to cover the top front teeth. The two types of veneers are traditional veneers and no-prep veneers and, the procedure varies slightly based on the specific veneer type.

When teeth are missing, it can significantly affect how a patient feels about themselves, especially if they have visible tooth gaps when smiling or talking. In addition to altering our patient’s appearance, missing teeth can also cause discomfort. Patients can lose teeth by accident, through infection, or from severe decay. Full dentures are an excellent alternative that Reflection Dental encourages for our patients who want to replace teeth when implants are not a viable option due to bone loss or expense. Full dentures require some getting used to and won’t feel exactly like the natural teeth, but today’s dentures can be removed and put back in the mouth as necessary. Plus, full dentures are more comfortable and natural-looking than ever.

Dental sealants work like raincoats for your teeth. They provide a protective coating where cavities are most likely to occur and can last years after application. Cavities are formed when damaging acids come into contact with the tooth enamel. The longer these acids and debris sit on the teeth, the more damage it causes. Good oral hygiene can help prevent cavities, but it isn’t always enough alone. That is where dental sealants come in.

Most people need their teeth cleaned once or twice a year. Teeth cleanings are an essential part of maintaining excellent oral health and maintaining your overall health. There are several steps involved in professional teeth cleaning at our Lombard office. Why Are Teeth Cleanings Important? Professional teeth cleanings are important because they provide a whiter, brighter smile. A healthy smile can help you feel more confident, which may help promote a higher quality of life. However, the benefits of dental cleanings go far beyond a beautiful smile. Oral cancers can be detected early during routine cleaning examinations. Around one in 60 men and one in 140 women will be diagnosed with oral cancer during their lifetime. When caught early, oral cancers can be successfully treated.