Dental implants serve as the support for many tooth-replacement options. Implants are surgically tapped into the jawbone to provide a foundation for the fixed replacement of single or multiple missing teeth. They are also used for the retention, stability and support of removable complete and partial dentures. In many cases, they can be used to eliminate removable prosthetics.
Crowns are used to re-establish the strength and esthetics of a natural tooth after deterioration from tooth decay, trauma or severe wear. They are made of porcelain or porcelain over gold alloy and cover the entire tooth surface. With advances in materials and techniques they can give you the strength and esthetics of a natural tooth.
Bridges are restorations that are fabricated to replace a missing tooth by "bridging" over the open space. A bridge can consist of two or more natural teeth or surgically placed dental implants, replacing the missing tooth or teeth.
An alternative for patients who are missing segments or all of their teeth is the use of partial and complete removable dentures. The support and retention of removable prosthetics with dental implants can be a tremendous improvement over a traditional removable complete or partial denture.
Porcelain Veneers are a way to restore and enhance the appearance of teeth. They can be used to whiten teeth, close spaces and strengthen teeth. Thin shells made of porcelain are fabricated in a dental laboratory to a predetermined color, shape and contour. They are then bonded to the front and biting edges of teeth. Veneers are translucent and natural in their appearance. They effectively close gaps between teeth and restore and protect worn, chipped, twisted and discolored teeth.
Cosmetic dental procedures include whitening, porcelain veneers, tooth-colored fillings for replacing silver amalgam fillings. Many times simple reshaping of existing teeth can make a large esthetic difference.
Tooth whitening is a well-established procedure in cosmetic dentistry. Variations of peroxide, the active agent in whitening, have been safely used for many decades in the bleaching of the tooth enamel.
The whitening process is effective on most discolored teeth. Darker stains, such as those caused by antibiotics as a child, are more difficult to whiten. The degree of whiteness will vary from patient to patient, depending on the structure of the teeth and presence of existing fillings.