The Smile Design Group

Used mostly in restorative dental procedures, porcelain crowns and bridges play a key role in keeping your mouth functioning properly after a tooth is lost or removed. Unlike removable devices like dentures, crowns and bridges are cemented place—but they are not permanent like dental implants. Crowns and bridges are typically used to fix an existing dental issue, but they can also be used to prevent future issues. Crowns are most often used to help strengthen a tooth when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to hold the filling in place. Crowns are also used to protect weak teeth from breaking, cover dental implants, and restore an already broken tooth. Your dentist may also recommend dental crowns as a way to hide teeth that are discolored or misshaped. Today crowns are typically made from porcelain, ceramic or some type of resin—though they can also be made from gold alloy or nickel.

Dental bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material is applied and bonded to existing teeth. Bonding is most often used for cosmetic purposes, but it can also be used to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer, or to change the shape or color of teeth. Dental bonding can even sometimes be used as an alternative to metal fillings, or to protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed because of gum recession.

Dental implants are the only permanent solution available to replace a missing teeth. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve lost a tooth due to decay, trauma or overcrowding, it’s important to visit your dentist immediately. Because teeth support each other, it only takes one missing tooth to cause the surrounding teeth to shift. When this happens, chewing often becomes difficult and speech patterns can become impaired. Widely considered to be the most durable and functional tooth replacement option available, dental implants are becoming the go-to procedure to fill the space left by a missing tooth. That’s because the long-term consequences of tooth loss can be serious. Large voids between teeth eventually become difficult to clean, which is why tooth decay and periodontal, or gum, disease often follows tooth loss. While some turn to temporary solutions—such as dental bridges or removable dentures—patients who want a permanent solution look to dental implants.

Dental sealants are an effective preventive dental procedure used to protect teeth from cavities and decay. They are essentially plastic coatings that are painted on the chewing surface of the teeth to protect teeth from decay. While sealants are most often used in children—usually applied to the baby molars—adults can benefit from dental sealants, too. This is especially true if they suffer from pits or fissures as they create hard-to-brush areas in between teeth. The application of dental sealants is quick and completely non-invasive—they can be applied in just one visit. Your dentist will start by performing an initial cleaning and evaluation. He or she will then apply the plastic coatings one tooth at a time. The sealants flow into the grooves of the tooth and either hardens on its own, or is assisted with a special light source.

Dental X-rays—also called radiographs—are a widely-used preventive and diagnostic tool that your dentist uses to locate damage and disease that isn’t visible to the naked eye. X-ray procedures are typically performed yearly during your annual cleaning appointments. Receiving regular x-rays helps your dentist monitor and track the progress of your oral health. There are several types of dental x-rays, each capturing a slightly different view or angle of the affected area. The two most common forms of dental x-rays include intraoral—meaning the x-ray is filmed inside the mouth—and extraoral—meaning the x-ray is filmed outside the mouth.

Dentures are removable dental appliances that are used to replace missing teeth. Whether you’ve lost teeth from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing the missing teeth is critical—not only for your oral health, but overall health as well. Dentures are made to closely resemble your natural teeth, which means there generally aren’t any noticeable changes to your appearance. In fact, dentures have even shown to improve smile appearance and improve mouth function.

When it comes to minimizing the risk of broken teeth or injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw, custom mouth guards are the most effective option available. With so many over-the-counter and boil and bite mouth guards readily available, it can be difficult to find a something that is both comfortable and safe. That’s why dentists offer custom-fitted mouth guards. These protective appliances provide the most comfort and protection because they are created specifically for you.

Orthodontics is an effective way to cosmetically enhance the appearance of crooked, misaligned, and crowded teeth. Not only do misaligned or crowded teeth affect the appearance of your smile, but it also affects how your teeth function. That’s because cleaning hard-to-reach areas becomes increasingly difficult, which can lead to tooth decay. When tooth decay goes untreated, it can develop into periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss. Today, modern dental practices offer multiple treatment options that will help you achieve a beautiful smile with healthy teeth.

Periodontal disease—also known as gum disease—is a bacterial growth that is caused by plaque and tartar build up. If left untreated, gum disease ultimately destroys the tissues and bones that support teeth. When this occurs, teeth become loose and ultimately need to be removed. While plaque and tartar are the primary causes of gum disease, other contributing factors include tobacco use, clenching or grinding teeth, and genetics. There are two main types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Swollen and bleeding gums are early signs of periodontal disease that many people ignore. Gingivitis usually appears during the beginning stages of periodontal disease and often goes unnoticed—unless it’s identified by a dental professional. Untreated gingivitis eventually leads to periodontitis, which breaks down the bones and tissues that support the teeth.

A root canal procedure is performed when the soft tissue—also known as the pulp—inside of the tooth becomes inflamed or infected. When the pulp becomes infected, it is usually caused by an untreated deep cavity or tooth fracture. Damaged or dead pulp causes blood flow and cellular activity to flow towards the infected area, which ultimately causes pain. Most patients in need of a root canal experience pain when biting down, chewing, and/or ingesting hot or cold foods and drinks. The goal of a root canal procedure is to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed—this is a much better alternative than extracting the tooth. Tooth extractions may seem like a simpler solution on paper, but the void left behind by the extracted tooth needs to be filled otherwise teeth can shift. It is much easier to save an existing tooth than it is to add a dental implant or bridge.

With so many teeth whitening options available—both over-the-counter and professional—it can be difficult to determine which option is best for your teeth. While take-home tray whitening systems are effective, patients typically prefer in-office teeth whitening with their dentist. That’s because professional whitening involves careful preparation and the use of high-quality products that yield results almost immediately. Teeth typically become discolored through extrinsic factors like coffee, wine, or smoking—or through intrinsic factors like medications, or excessive fluoride use. Although some people experience discoloration simply due to aging. Before your whitening procedure begins, your dentist will complete initial prep work, including a thorough cleaning of your teeth and gums. Next, he or she will apply the whitening solution onto any exposed surfaces. Depending on the whitening system being utilized, a light source may be used to enhance the whitening gel.

A tooth extraction involves removing a tooth from it socket in the jawbone. Even though permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, there are a number of reasons why a tooth extraction might be necessary. The most common reason for tooth extraction involves teeth that are badly damaged—either from trauma or decay—that cannot be repaired through other restorative dental procedures. Tooth extraction procedures are usually a last-resort after your dentist has made every other effort to restore and repair the tooth. Before removing the tooth, your dentist or oral surgeon will numb the area—a general anesthetic may also be used if you are having more than one tooth pulled or the tooth is impacted. To remove the tooth, the dentist will grasp the tooth using forceps and gently rock the tooth back and forth to loosen it from the jawbone and ligaments that hold it in place. If the tooth is impacted, it may need to be surgically removed.

Dental veneers are the perfect cosmetic dental solution for patients who want to completely redesign their smile without orthodontics or invasive procedures. Veneers are thin shells made from of porcelain or resin composite materials that are custom-made to cover the front side of your teeth. Veneers work by covering up unsightly stains or chips, while also hiding uneven teeth, worn down teeth, and/or abnormally spaced teeth. Receiving dental veneers is usually a multi-step process that involves at least three office-visits to complete. During the initial consultation, your dentist will perform a full examination and evaluate your teeth to ensure you are a candidate for veneers. On your next visit, he or she will begin the process by removing approximately ½ millimeter of enamel from the tooth surface—this is roughly the same thickness of the veneer. Then your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, which is used to create the veneer.

Your wisdom teeth—also called the third molars—are the last teeth to develop and erupt in the mouth. Because of this, there is often little room left in the mouth to facilitate these new teeth. As a result, wisdom teeth often erupt sideways, only partially, or become impacted—meaning the tooth is blocked from erupting. When this happens, it is recommended that patients have a wisdom tooth extraction procedure to relieve pain, alleviate any infection, and reduce swelling. Wisdom teeth typically appear between the ages of 17 and 21. Wisdom teeth removal is a fairly common, but it is a surgical procedure and many patients will be put under using a local or general anesthetic. Once the patient is sedated, the surgeon will remove the affected tooth or teeth. If the tooth is impacted, the surgeon will cut away gum and bone tissue to remove the tooth. While many general dentists are trained in the removal of impacted or un-erupted wisdom teeth, most wisdom tooth removals require the services of an oral surgeon.