Weldon Springs Family Dentistry

Bonding

Bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure using a tooth-colored composite resin material to enhance your smile. This procedure is used to repair chips, close gaps, or to repair tooth discoloration. Unlike other cosmetic dental treatments, such as porcelain veneers, dental bonding is completely reversible. Whether to improve your smile by bonding your front teeth, or bonding all of your teeth, this procedure is a noticeable improvement over unsightly silver amalgam fillings. Today, with the far-reaching advancements in dental technology, bonding can usually last for over 10 years. It is a safe, affordable, and attractive solution for many dental issues.

Crowns and Bridgework

Over years of wear and tear, or just as a natural part of the aging process, our teeth tend to become more susceptible to cracks, discoloration, and decay. If you’re uncomfortable with the way your teeth look, or if you have broken, weakened, or cracked teeth, crowns can retain the natural look and feel of your teeth, while helping to maintain healthy gums and to protect the precious roots of your tooth. Crowns can be made of metals, porcelain, resin, or ceramics.  A porcelain crown can easily be matched to the shade of your other teeth, allowing them to blend in and appear just like your natural teeth in shape and in color. It takes one to two visits to install a crown.  On the first visit, the dentist will prepare your tooth by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed tightly over it.  You will be given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that you don’t experience any discomfort.   After reshaping the tooth, a dental impression will be taken so that the shape of your crown matches the nearby teeth and is fitted properly so that it doesn’t affect your bite. Before leaving, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready. The dental impressions will then be sent to a lab where the crown will be manufactured. In one to two weeks, your finished crown will be returned to your dentist’s office. At this point, the crown will be fitted, adjusted where necessary, then permanently cemented into place.  Crowns are extremely durable and will usually last 10-15 years. You should care for crowned teeth as you would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and flossing.  In some cases, terribly damaged teeth can’t be restored, even with the use of a crown. That’s when our dental team will suggest bridgework. Your dentist will recommend the removal of the non-restorable tooth and then apply techniques to preserve the bony socket, and the shape of the jawbone. If only one tooth is damaged, bridgework involving the crowning of the teeth on either side of the gap left by a missing tooth can be done. These support teeth are attached to an additional crown that bridges or fills in the gap between the two support teeth, replacing the missing tooth.  The same can be accomplished if more than one tooth is missing.

Dental Implants

Dental Implants are medical devices surgically implanted into the jaw to restore your ability to chew, to enhance your appearance or to replace missing or damaged teeth. They provide support for artificial teeth, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures. The implants are constructed of titanium metal “roots” that are surgically inserted into the jawbone after your original root and damaged tooth or teeth are removed. Once you’ve recovered from surgery and the titanium roots are firmly attached to the jawbone, a replacement ceramic or porcelain crown is fastened to the metal root. Some patients heal within three months, while others may take up to six months to heal. Dental implants are the perfect solution to replace missing teeth. They provide a permanent fix by implanting comfortable, natural, and healthy-looking teeth.  Plus, they last for many years.  In fact, with regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups every 6 months, they can last up to 50 years. Dental implants resist decay, discoloration, or staining, and are designed to preserve your adjacent healthy teeth, your gums, and your jawbone. They are designed to act, look and feel like natural teeth.

Fillings

There are four types of tooth fillings:

• Silver amalgam fillings which consist of a combination of minerals, including tin, zinc, copper, and mercury.  These are considered the best options for dental fillings because they are affordable, durable and can last for years

• Composite fillings created from plastic and resin and designed to match the color of your natural teeth

• Ceramic fillings made from porcelain that are made by a dental technician and can look like your natural teeth

• Glass Ionomer fillings made from a mix of glass and acrylic. This type of filling is usually used for children whose teeth are still forming. They release fluoride into the tooth to protect it from additional decay

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer screening is a thorough examination performed by our dentist to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth.  With so many advances in modern dental technology, we can now pinpoint the start of a potential problem much earlier in its evolution. The goal of bi-annual oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer when there is a greater opportunity for early detection and subsequent treatment. Oral cancer screening with an ultraviolet light or a similar device allows the dentist to see issues that aren’t always visible to the naked eye.  Oral cancer screening doesn’t require any special preparation.  It is typically performed during a routine dental appointment.

Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment, most commonly known as “braces,” is a way of straightening or moving your teeth to improve your appearance and how they work. It can also help to ensure the long-term health of your teeth, gums, and jaw joints, by correcting your bite, allowing your teeth to spread the biting pressure over all your teeth. We’re happy to evaluate your children’s teeth and offer a recommendation as to whether they need braces.  We also provide orthodontic treatments for adults.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal or gum disease starts with an infection of your gums.  With this form of gum disease, the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, creating pockets where additional bacteria can build up and cause an infection. This results in swollen, red gums and may also be responsible for some other serious problems, such as moderate periodontal disease or loose teeth.  Periodontal disease can eventually destroy your gums and the bones that hold your teeth into place. The best way to prevent periodontal disease is for you and your family to follow a program of good oral hygiene, one that you begin early and practice consistently throughout life. That means brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily — in the morning and before going to bed — and flossing at least once a day.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are thin, custom-made “shells” or coverings that we can fit over your front teeth to improve their appearance.  They are easy to apply and, in most cases, require no anesthetic. Veneers are a popular dentistry option for cracked, broken, chipped, or discolored teeth. We can place veneers directly onto your tooth’s surface. They are then bonded with a dental adhesive to create a beautiful, flawless, natural look. So, instead of replacing an entire tooth (or teeth), veneers cover up the flaws on existing teeth.  And veneers can be placed on both the top and bottom of your front teeth to give you a consistent, natural appearance. Most veneers are made from either porcelain or ceramic tooth-colored shells and can restore the look and feel of your teeth, especially if you have chips, breaks, gaps, or stains on your natural teeth. Veneers can also help to strengthen your natural teeth by placing a protective covering material over them. Veneers cannot replace missing teeth.  Veneers are an excellent and more affordable solution for covering healthy but damaged teeth that need cosmetic repair.  And with proper dental care, veneers can last from 15 to 20 years or more.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Even with good oral hygiene at home, professional teeth cleaning is a must at least every six months.  Professional cleanings aren’t just for keeping your smile bright, they can have a significant impact on your general health. Having your teeth cleaned by our dental hygienist provides the removal of most surface stains that dull and discolor your teeth, the removal of plaque or tartar, and can catch any potential dental issues that may not even be bothering you yet. If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, and suffer from bone loss, inflammation, or tartar that has accumulated beneath the gumline, the hygienist will deep clean your teeth, making sure that they scrape any tartar below the gumline to be sure it is removed.

Removeable Dentures

To put it simply, dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth.  If you’ve lost all or some of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health.  Dentures are removable artificial teeth and gums made from acrylic, nylon or metal and are formed to your mouth and created to replace lost or removed natural teeth.  They are designed to fit snugly over the gums to replace missing teeth and eliminate potential problems caused by gaps.  

Root Canals

Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with the nerves of the teeth. Root canals are probably the most common procedure relating to endodontics. When a tooth becomes infected it is usually related to the nerves in the root of the tooth. The infected nerves need to be removed. If left untreated, an infection can turn into an abscess, which is a much more serious problem that may include bone loss in the jaw. Root canal treatment is needed when dental X-rays show that the nerve has been damaged by a bacterial infection. The gum may become inflamed if it’s infected by bacteria, allowing the bacteria to multiply and spread.  Some root canal symptoms include:

• Persistent tooth pain 
• Sensitivity to heat and cold
• Swollen or red gums
• Tooth discoloration
• Pain when you chew on that tooth 
• A chipped or cracked tooth

Sealants

Sealants prevent cavities in children when they are applied soon after permanent molars come into their mouths, around age 6 for 1st molars and age 12 for 2nd molars. They can be applied by either our dentist or our dental hygienist. Sealants are also available for adults looking to minimize the chances of tooth decay. They are a form of preventative maintenance that protects your teeth from future dental procedures arising from plaque, decay, or bacterial buildup.  Sealants last for about 10 years and can be reapplied if necessary.

Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening is a non-invasive procedure that restores the natural color of your teeth.  Our dentist can recommend several whitening techniques based on the needs of our patients. Some of these options are traditional teeth whitening procedures that take a bit of time to show results, and some are more drastic, which can produce results from the first session of whitening.  Crowns, however, cannot be whitened. We also offer technologically advanced treatments, which are safe and produce excellent results for patients with both sensitive and non-sensitive teeth without damaging your enamel.

TMJ/TMD Treatments

TMJ or Temporomandibular joint dysfunction refers to the temporomandibular joint itself. This joint is the hinge between the temporal bone—the large portion of the lateral wall and base of the skull—and the lower jaw. The temporomandibular joint acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull so you can open and close your mouth. People have two TMJs, one on each side of the jaw.   Dysfunction or injury can lead to pain and discomfort.  Jaw pain, difficulty or pain when chewing, clicking, or locking of the jaw joint are some of the symptoms of TMJ.  Common dental treatments include medications, bite guards, and physical therapy. TMDs or Temporomandibular disorders are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control the jaw’s movement. Some TMD symptoms include pain in the chewing muscles or jaw joint, pain radiating to the neck or face, stiffness in the jaw, limited movement or locking of the jaw, painful popping, grating, or clicking of the jaw, ringing in the ears, hearing loss or dizziness, and limited movement or locking of the jaw. Many TMDs last only a short time and can go away on their own. However, in some cases they can become chronic and last a longer period of time.  In addition, TMDs can occur alone or at the same time as other medical conditions such as headaches, back pain, sleep problems, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Tooth Extractions

Extracting wisdom teeth has become a common procedure.  Wisdom teeth can often cause issues in the health of your teeth and mouth.  They can change your bite, come in at an angle, cause pain and repeated infections of the soft tissue behind the lower last tooth or cause your teeth to become crowded together, damaging or moving nearby teeth. Surgical removal of your wisdom teeth may be recommended as a preventative measure to protect your other teeth from future problems and preserve your oral health. Other tooth extractions may be necessary if they are severely decayed, have advanced periodontal disease or have broken or chipped in a way that cannot be repaired. Some teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth, such as teeth that are impacted—a tooth that becomes stuck below the surface of your gums—or in preparation for orthodontic treatment. Call us today if you would like to learn more about our dental services and how our experienced team can help address your issues and restore your smile.