Advanced Procedures

Crowns

Crowns cover a tooth that’s likely to break, or is too broken down for a filling. They’re most common after a root canal or when a large filling wears out. The jaw muscles are the strongest in the body, so teeth take tremendous pressure. A crown protects a weakened tooth and gives you a nice smile, because a broken tooth is much harder to treat.

A crown takes two appointments. First we remove decay, shape the tooth and take an impression, and you wear a temporary crown while yours is made (usually high-strength porcelain over gold alloy, all-ceramic, or gold). At the second visit we adjust and cement your permanent crown. More about crowns

Dentures

Dentures replace teeth loosened or lost through bone loss. No one enjoys losing natural teeth, but you can still eat and talk normally. We examine your whole mouth, decide which teeth need to come out, and fit dentures over or around any that remain. There’s an adjustment period, but once you’re used to them, normal function and appearance return. Implants can often make dentures more stable. More about dentures

Implants

A small titanium post is placed in the bone, which grows tightly around it, also slowing the bone loss that follows a missing tooth. Then a replacement tooth is attached. Unlike a bridge, an implant doesn’t lean on neighboring teeth, and if the tooth wears out, a new one can simply be attached.

Implants can also support an implant bridge instead of a partial denture: no adjustment period, no metal clasps, slower bone loss, comfortable eating, and nothing to take out.

We also offer mini dental implants. They’re about half the diameter of traditional implants and are used mainly to stabilize lower dentures. They can be placed in one appointment and used right away, at 50–70% of the cost of standard implants. Call for a free consult. More about implants · Mini implants

Root canal treatment

When a cavity reaches the pulp, or deep restorations or trauma damage the nerve, the pulp becomes infected and can even spread past the root tip into the bone (an abscess). It can’t heal on its own and can weaken the whole immune system. Signs include sensitivity to hot, cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain when biting, and a bad taste, though sometimes there are no symptoms until a checkup. Regular checkups help catch problems early.

A root canal cleans out the infected pulp and disinfects the canals, which are then filled to prevent reinfection. The only alternative is extraction. A core build-up and crown is usually recommended afterward. More about root canals

Bridges

A bridge fills the gap of a missing tooth, using the two neighboring teeth for support. It’s made from gold alloy, porcelain bonded to metal, or all-ceramic, depending on the strength, wear and appearance needed.

Replace a missing tooth as soon as you can. Neighboring teeth start to shift into the gap, your bite changes, and this can lead to jaw problems such as TMJ, further tooth loss and worsening gum disease. More about bridges

TMJ treatment

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the lower jaw meets the skull, cushioned by cartilage and moved by five muscles. Misaligned teeth, injury or muscle tension can cause:

Treatment may include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite or filling gaps. There’s no single solution for everyone. A plastic mouthpiece can stop clenching or grinding, and severe, untreated cases may need surgery to repair the joint. More about TMJ