If you need a secure way to improve your smile, a dental crown may be a good fit. Often used to restore a smile that has been damaged due to damaged or missing teeth, dental crowns offer a wealth of benefits that will benefit your whole body.

When Are Dental Crowns Required?

Dental crowns are versatile restorative solutions, and they can be used in many different situations:

• Protect a tooth that has been weakened by decay
• Hold a tooth that is cracked or broken together
• Restore a tooth that is severely worn down
• Cover and support a large filling
• Hold a bridge into proper placement
• Cover up a severely discolored or misshaped tooth
• Cover a dental implant

What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?

Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including metal alloys, composite resin, porcelain, and ceramics. Your dentist can help you to determine which material is right for your unique teeth.

How Are Dental Crowns Placed?

Our process of placing your permanent dental crown typically involves two visits. In the first, your dentist will prepare the tooth, removing the outer portion so that a crown will fit. Then, an impression is made so that a dental lab can create the crown. You may receive a temporary crown until your follow-up appointment.
When the crown is ready, you’ll come in to have it placed. Your dentist will cement it into an ideal location and will make any necessary adjustments to create the ideal appearance.

How Should You Care for Your Dental Crowns?

After your crown has been put into place, you’ll care for it just like your natural teeth. However, you’ll want to avoid chewing on hard foods or objects, especially if you have a tooth-colored crown. Make sure you follow up with your dentist for regular cleanings and exams.

At Complete Dental, our goal is to create a crown that will look natural while fitting comfortably within your mouth. Contact us today to learn more and to set up your evaluation. 

Missing teeth can have many negative consequences on your smile, bite, and your overall oral health. If you have missing teeth, a dental bridge may serve as a good restorative solution.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a restoration that works to replace a missing tooth. It is made up of one or more false teeth that will fill in a gap. That false tooth is then placed between two crowns, which will cover the adjacent teeth. The crowns work to anchor the bridge into place, essentially “bridging” the gap in order to improve both the function and structure of your smile.

What Are the Benefits of a Dental Bridge?

There are many reasons you might want to consider getting a dental bridge:

• Restore your normal ability to speak and chew
• Maintain the natural shape of your face
• Restore your smile
• Distribute biting forces properly
• To prevent the rest of your teeth from shifting out of their desired positions

Are There Different Types of Dental Bridges?

There are three major types of dental bridges:

• Traditional. These bridges involve the standard implant tooth surrounded by a crown on each side.
• Cantilever bridges. These bridges are used where there is only an adjacent tooth on one side of the gap. They aren’t recommended for the back of the mouth, as they can put too much force onto the teeth, resulting in damage.
• Maryland bonded bridges. These porcelain, plastic, or porcelain fused to metal bridges are supported by either a porcelain or metal framework. Wings made of the same material are often on one side of the bridge before they are bonded onto the existing teeth.

A dental appointment will usually take two appointments – one to prepare the abutment teeth, and one to fit the new bridge. To learn more about dental bridges and our procedure, contact us today.

From chewing to smiling, your teeth serve many important functions. So, if you are living with tooth loss, it is time to consult with Complete Dental to learn more about dentures.

Partial Dentures

A partial denture is a removable appliance that is held in place by gripping or fitting into the adjacent, natural teeth. They are typically made from a combination of acrylic materials and a metal framework. They are a good option for patients with several consecutively missing teeth, as long as you have some natural teeth remaining.

Partial Denture Candidates

To be a candidate for partial dentures, you’ll need to have healthy bone tissue. You must also have at least one remaining tooth in the lower or upper jaw to support the appliance.

Caring for Your Partial Dentures
Proper care of your partial dentures will extend the life of your appliance. Partials can last for many years as long as they are properly cleaned and stored. It is also important to have your partial denture inspected by your dentist regularly.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are removable, prosthetic teeth that are set into a gum-colored, plastic base. These dentures will sit on top of the gum ridge to provide a new, full set of teeth.

Complete Denture Candidates
There are severe reasons why you might want to pursue complete dentures:

• All of your teeth are missing
• You want to restore your ability to chew
• You want to restore your smile to its natural appearance
• You are in need of an affordable solution to correct your tooth loss

Living with Complete Dentures

It is important to note that complete dentures will require a few important lifestyle changes. Your dentist can help you understand how to clean your appliance, what foods you can eat, and how to properly bond your denture to the gum ridge.

If you are interested in partial or complete dentures, call us at Complete Dental today to learn more.

An implant-supported denture is an overdenture that is attached to and supported by dental implants. While a regular denture will simply rest on the gum ridge, implant-supported dentures give you added security and stability.

Types of Implanted-Supported Dentures

There are two main implant-supported denture options, both of which need a minimum of two implants for support:

• Ball-retained dentures. With these dentures, each implant will hold a metal attachment that then fits into an attachment on the denture. They are usually ball-shaped and fit into a “female” socket on the denture.
• Bar-retained. With these dentures, a thin metal bar will follow the curve of the jaw before attaching to 2-5 implants in the jawbone. Clips are fitted into the bar or denture. The denture then fits over the bar and is clipped securely into place.

Candidates for Implant-Supported Dentures

You might be a good candidate for implant-supported dentures if you don’t have any teeth in your jaw. However, you’ll need to have enough jaw bone remaining in order to support the implants. In some cases, bone grafting might be an option to increase the amount of bone at the implant site.

There are a few other considerations that can determine if you are a good candidate for overdentures:

• Free of oral health conditions, including gum disease
• Generally healthy, both orally and an in terms of your overall health
• A commitment to refrain from smoking

The Implant-Supported Dentures Procedure

Successful placement of your implant-supported dentures will take several visits. The implants will be placed into the jaw bone in one appointment, and you will then be sent home to recover. Your mouth needs time to heal, and the implants need time to integrate into the bone. This can take up to seven months. The dentures will be placed at a subsequent appointment.

If you are interested in learning more about implant-supported dentures, call us at Complete Dental today.

If your tooth has been injured or is diseased, endodontic treatment may be able to save it. Endodontic treatment can help you to maintain your natural smile, and you’ll be able to continue eating your favorite foods while you reduce your need for future dental work.

Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is used to correct severely cracked, decayed, and injured teeth after the pulp becomes infected or inflamed. If not treated in a timely manner, pain and abscesses could result.

A root canal is usually completed within one or two dental visits, depending on the required treatment plan and the presence of infection. After restoration – which will include a crown – your tooth will function like any of the natural teeth in your mouth.

Endodontic Retreatment

With proper dental hygiene and care, teeth that have endodontic treatment can last a lifetime. Occasionally, a tooth that has previously received treatment could fail to heal properly, or you may continue to experience pain. Every root canal procedure is different, and while they are highly successful, you may need retreatment if you experience a problem.

Improper healing from a root canal treatment can be due to a variety of factors. Some of the most common causes include:

• Infection resulting from new decay that has been exposed to the canal
• Loose or cracked fillings/crowns, which expose the tooth to new infection
• Complicated anatomy of the tooth, including canals that went undetected during your first procedure
• Narrow or curved canals that did not receive treatment during your initial root canal
• Restorations that failed to prevent salivary contamination to the inner chamber of the tooth.

If your dentist recommends retreatment, you’ll receive a local anesthetic before the tooth is reopened. The filling material will be removed so that the root canals can be examined and cleaned again. Essentially, the root canal treatment process will be completed a second time, with careful attention to look for any hidden canals.

If you are in need of endodontic treatment, call us at Complete Dental today

At Complete Dental, we help patients to get the healthy, beautiful smiles that they deserve. One of the ways that we make dream smiles a reality is by performing bone grafting surgery – a process that will rebuild jawbone density in order to improve dental wellness.

Why Might You Need Bone Grafting?

Bone loss of the jaw is usually caused by tooth loss. Without the right tooth structure to support, your jaw bone density will diminish with time. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of oral problems, including teeth that shift out of place. The health and functionality of your remaining teeth could be in jeopardy, and your facial shape may begin to change. Bone grafting can help to correct the damage, most notably before you have dental implants put into place.

Who is a Candidate for a Bone Graft?

A good candidate for a dental bone graft will be healthy, both overall and in terms of their oral health. They should not suffer from any chronic health problems that could make grafting a risky endeavor. An ideal candidate will also refrain from smoking – preferably permanently, but during the healing process at a minimum.

What Happens during a Bone Graft?

The bone graft procedure involves taking bone from somewhere else and implanting it into the jaw. It can be taken from your tibia, hip, or from a different site in your jaw. Donor bone or artificial bone might also be options, but they are usually considered as last resorts.

Once the bone has been transplanted to its new location, it will fuse to the original bone and will begin to grow. The bone will go through osseointegration, and after the process is complete, it will be prepared to support your new dental implants.

Want to learn more about bone grafts and dental implants? Contact us at Complete Dental today.

All-on-4 dental implants are a revolutionary new dental treatment used to replace missing teeth. These implants are permanent solutions that don’t need to be taken out and do not require the use of adhesives. Since they do not press down onto the gums like traditional dentures, they are an incredibly comfortable way to restore your smile.

About All-on-4 Dental Implants

All-on-4 is an innovative new way to secure dentures onto implants that have been embedded into the jawbone. Four titanium implants are placed throughout the jawbone, which will allow your dentist to attach a full arch of prosthetic teeth. This differs from traditional implants in which one implant is used to support a single prosthetic tooth. For patients living with widespread tooth loss, this is a much better solution.

All-on-4 Candidates

The ideal candidate for All-on-4 dental implants is someone who is currently wearing dentures. Otherwise, someone who will likely need dentures in the future may also be considered. The candidate must be in good health, have adequate bone in the jaw, and refrain from smoking during the implant process.

Benefits of All-on-4 Dental Implants

All-on-4 implants offer a variety of benefits for your mouth:

• A new set of fully-functioning teeth in a short amount of time
• Improved smile and facial appearance
• Long-lasting and durable
• Ability to eat what you want
• Eliminate many of the health issues associated with failing or missing teeth
• Care for your All-on-4 implants just as you would the natural teeth

All-on-4 dental implants are incredibly successful. Published studies have shown a success rate of 98% when using these implants to correct widespread tooth loss. You’ll be left with permanent teeth that function, feel, and look just like your real teeth. No one will need to know that they are implants.

Contact us today at Complete Dental to learn more about All-on-4 implants.