At Lifetime Family Dentistry, in Collinsville CT, we provide a full range of dental care services and treatments. Our services include: children's, cosmetic, family, general, implant, preventive and restorative dentistry.
Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts
Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased. During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in treating the insides of teeth) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed.
Causes of an infected pulp could include:
a deep cavity
repeated dental procedures
a cracked or broken tooth
injury to the tooth (even if thereís not a visible crack or chip)
If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth could last a lifetime. However, regular checkups are necessary; a tooth without its nerve can still develop cavities or gum disease. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile.
Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If youíve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Thatís because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teethóthings that people often take for granted.
When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.
Types of dentures:
Conventional. This full removable denture is made and placed in your mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take several months.
Immediate. This removable denture is inserted on the same day that the remaining teeth are removed. Your dentist will take measurements and make models of your jaw during a preliminary visit. You donít have to be without teeth during the healing period, but may need to have the denture relined or remade after your jaw has healed.
Overdenture. Sometimes some of your teeth can be saved to preserve your jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture. An overdenture fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth after they have been prepared by your dentist. Implants can serve the same function, too.
A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. Many people call it a cap. Crowns may be placed for several reasons. Usually the tooth has been broken or severely damaged by decay. As a result, a filling can't replace enough of the tooth or make the tooth strong enough. A crown may hold together parts of a cracked tooth. It also can be used to hold a bridge in place. Crowns can be used to improve appearance as well. They may be placed to cover misshapen or badly discolored teeth. Crowns can be made ahead of time (prefabricated) or made to order in a laboratory. Prefabricated crowns are made of plastic or stainless steel. They can be used on a temporary basis until a permanent crown is made. Crowns can be made of:
All metal
Zirconia
Porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
Porcelain fused to zirconia
All ceramic
Metals include gold alloy, other alloys (palladium) or a base-metal alloy (nickel or chromium). The all-metal or PFM crowns are stronger and are better choices for back teeth than ceramic crowns. PFM and all-ceramic crowns are the same color as your natural teeth. They look just like normal teeth. To read the entire article , please visit Colgate.com
If you have been experiencing problems with a tooth, you may wonder, "Do I need a root canal?" Root canals, also known as endodontic therapy, are performed when the nerve or pulp of the tooth becomes infected and inflammed due to dental decay, a cracked or broken tooth or an injury to the tooth, according to the American Dental Association. During the procedure, a dentist uses a drill to remove both the nerve and pulp and seals up the tooth to protect against further damage. Only your dentist or a dental specialist called an endodontist, can determine whether a root canal will adequately treat your problem. Here are a few possible symptoms of the need for a root canal and some steps for dealing with them. General Possible Symptoms The most common symptom that may indicate the need for a root canal is tooth pain, according to the American Association of Endodontists. The intensity of the pain can range from mild to severe; it may lessen or intensify throughout the day, or it may get worse only when you bite down on the tooth. Some patients experience prolonged sensitivity to hot food or liquids. Your gums may also feel tender and swollen near the problem area. First Steps If you notice any of the above symptoms, contact your dentist right away. Explain your symptoms by phone to a staff member, who may arrange for you to come in right away or may recommend emergency care depending on the severity of your symptoms. To soothe the pain and alleviate swelling, apply an ice pack to the outside of your jaw. To read the entire article written by Rebecca Desfosse, please visit Colgate.com
Although some practices still use silver-mercury amalgam fillings, we do not. They have been the standard type of filling for a number of years, but provide only a reasonable restoration. As metal does not bond well to tooth structure, eventually the fillings loosen and allow decay to set in. The main objection patients have about amalgam fillings is the appearance of a dark patch in a light-colored tooth. This can be very noticeable and detracts from a pleasing smile.
We offer the latest types of filling materials that do not have any metal. They bond very well to a tooth, diminishing the chances of loosening and the onset of decay. They are made to match the shade of the tooth and provide additional strength to the natural tooth structure. Lifetime Family Dentistry Elena Bielawski, DDS, FICOI, FMIII 66 Maple Avenue Collinsville, CT 06019 (860) 605-2075 LifetimeFamilyDentistryCT.com
Dentists complete 122 million composite tooth restorations in the United States each year, according to Oregon State University (OSU). But the average lifetime of posterior dental composites is only 6 years. Bioactive glass may improve their durability and provide some of the minerals that have been lost to tooth decay. “Bioactive glass, which is a type of crushed glass that is able to interact with the body, has been used in some types of bone healing for decades,” said Jamie Kruzic, a professor at the OSU college of engineering. The hard and stiff material can replace the inert glass fillers now mixed with polymers to make modern composite tooth fillings. “This type of glass is only beginning to see use in dentistry, and our research shows it may be very promising for tooth fillings,” he said. “The bacteria in the mouth that help cause cavities don’t seem to like this type of glass and are less likely to colonize on fillings that incorporate it. This could have a significant impact on the future of dentistry.” Bioactive glass is made with compounds such as silicon oxide, calcium oxide, and phosphorous oxide, and it looks like powdered glass. Its antimicrobial effect is attributed, in part, to the release of ions such as those from calcium and phosphate that have a toxic effect on oral bacteria and tend to neutralize the local acidic environment. “Almost all fillings will eventually fail,” Kruzic said. “New tooth decay often begins at the interface of a filling and the tooth and is called secondary tooth decay. The tooth is literally being eroded and demineralized at that surface.” To read the entire article, please visit DentistryToday.com
A Crown May Be Necessary Crowns are sometimes necessary to save a broken or worn-down tooth when a simple filling will not restore it to full functionality. A crown will save and even add strength to the damaged tooth. We use the most advanced materials to make your crown. Our crowns are made of the best-quality materials with e.max™. It looks so natural, you won’t be able to distinguish it from a real tooth. If teeth have been lost or are unable to be saved, a bridge might be the best solution for replacement. We use high-quality materials to custom make your bridge. Lifetime Family Dentistry Elena Bielawski, DDS, FICOI, FMIII 66 Maple Avenue Collinsville, CT 06019 (860) 605-2075 LifetimeFamilyDentistryCT.com
Bonding Not happy with the way your teeth look? Bonding may be the answer. For some, it can help restore the natural look of your teeth. Bonding is a process where the dentist attaches or ìbondsî materials directly to your tooth. Your natural tooth enamel and dentin are fused together with bonding materials such as porcelain and resins to create a strong structure that looks great. The above article is from: MouthHealthy.org Lifetime Family Dentistry Elena Bielawski, DDS, FICOI, FMIII 66 Maple Avenue Collinsville, CT 06019 (860) 605-2075 LifetimeFamilyDentistryCT.com
Crowns A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance. Crowns can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. The above article is from: MouthHealthy.org
For
many years, the standard filling material was the metallic
silver-mercury amalgam. Although many practices still use it, we do
not. We offer modern restorations that match the shade of your tooth
and bond tightly to the healthy tooth structure. These fillings add
strength to a tooth and reduce the chances of additional decay. Many
people don’t like the appearance of a dark plug in their teeth,
which is often very noticeable and not aesthetically pleasing. Also,
metal does not bond well to the tooth, so amalgam fillings
eventually allow decay to set in under the filling. We bring our
patients the latest and best filling materials to provide
unnoticeable restorations that restore a tooth to full functionality
and lessen the chance of cavities.
The
Laser Scanner Finds Ultrasmall Cavities Years Earlier
If you have had good check-ups in the past but then at your next
appointment the dentist found a large cavity that wasn’t there just
months before, you may be wondering how that happened. The cavity
was there before, but wasn’t detectable with X-rays or visual
inspection. Dr. Bielawski uses the laser scanner to detect even the
smallest cavity when it can still be restored with a very small
filling. Some cavities are even reversible if found early. Dr.
Bielawski often places them “on watch” instead of advising immediate
restorations. This laser detection system is crucial in finding them
early. Patients may complain of pain or tooth sensitivity, and
X-rays will reveal nothing. The laser scanner pinpoints the source
of the problem so we can provide the correct treatment to eliminate
the pain and keep your smile healthy. Lifetime Family Dentistry Elena Bielawski, DDS, FICOI, FMIII 66 Maple Avenue Collinsville, CT 06019 (860) 605-2075 LifetimeFamilyDentistryCT.com
Root Canal – Saving Hopeless Teeth
A root canal can save a tooth with infected or damaged roots. In the
past, a tooth with this problem would be extracted. It is now known
it is best to save the tooth to prevent other problems later on. The
pulp interior of the tooth is removed, using rotary tools for more
precise preparation, and replaced with a specific type of filling
material. Sometimes a crown is placed over the tooth if additional
strength is needed. Our experience in the most advanced procedures
of root canal therapy, together with modern anesthetics, means that
patients now find this treatment very manageable and often painless.
Dr. Bielawski is able to treat you right here in the office, without
referring you to a specialist.
For
many years, the standard filling material was the metallic
silver-mercury amalgam. Although many practices still use it, we do
not. We offer modern restorations that match the shade of your tooth
and bond tightly to the healthy tooth structure. These fillings add
strength to a tooth and reduce the chances of additional decay. Many
people don’t like the appearance of a dark plug in their teeth,
which is often very noticeable and not aesthetically pleasing. Also,
metal does not bond well to the tooth, so amalgam fillings
eventually allow decay to set in under the filling. We bring our
patients the latest and best filling materials to provide
unnoticeable restorations that restore a tooth to full functionality
and lessen the chance of cavities. 
