Advanced Services

Advanced Services

Advanced Services Our Family Dentist Performs

CROWNS

Crowns are full coverage restorations that are used to cover a tooth that is likely to break or is too broken down to be restored with a filling. They are most commonly done after a root canal treatment, or when a large filling wears out. The larger the hole made by a cavity that has to be treated, the more likely a crown will be needed. Even after a filling is put in a large cavity, a tooth is more likely to break. Keep in mind that the jaw muscles are the strongest in the human body. Teeth are subjected to tremendous pressures. Crowns ride over the weakened tooth, providing strength and protecting the tooth against breakage. A broken or cracked tooth is a far more serious matter and much more difficult to treat. Crowns prevent this, as well as making for a nice smile.

teeth filling

It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. In the first, any decay is removed from the tooth, and it is shaped to accept the crown. Then an impression is made of the tooth for use in fabricating a crown. Between the two visits, the crown is made, usually of high-strength porcelain over gold alloy, all ceramic material, or gold. During this time a temporary crown is worn. In the second visit, this temporary is removed. Then the permanent crown is adjusted as needed and then cemented in place.

CEREC® TECHNOLOGY

CEREC® Technology allows Dr. Ottley to perform your crown work in one visit! Using this new technology, Dr. Ottley examines the tooth and determines the appropriate treatment. Next, Dr. Ottley administers an anesthetic and prepares your tooth for the crown by removing decayed and weakened tooth tissue. After Dr. Ottley has removed the necessary tissue, she will then use a camera to take a digital picture of your tooth. The entire camera process only takes a minute or two to complete. That image is then sent to a 3D software that allows Dr. Ottley to use her dental expertise to design the proper insertion block. This 3D image is then sent to a separate milling machine in the office. In less than 30 minutes your restoration block is finished and ready to be placed. Leaving your tooth now restored with no return trip necessary. All of this is done in a single appointment! Ask Dr. Ottley about CEREC® today!

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is made necessary when a cavity is allowed, through neglect, to reach all the way to this pulp. (Regular cleanings and checkups prevent and detect problems early) Sometimes deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy also. Once this occurs, the pulp becomes infected and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone (this is an abscess). By the time the pulp is infected, it must be treated and cannot heal on its own. It can even weaken the entire immune system. This is dangerous, not to mention very painful. Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a checkup.

A root canal is then performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp and disinfect the canals of the tooth. The only other treatment would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in to prevent any further infection. Usually, a core build-up and crown are recommended for restoring a tooth that has had root canal therapy.

BRIDGES

This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. It is formed to look like the missing tooth, and it takes its place in the mouth. The sides of a bridge use the two surrounding teeth for support, hence the name. A bridge replaces the missing tooth both functionally and cosmetically. Bridgework is as much an art as it is an exact science. The materials used may be gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or all ceramic material. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics.

It is important that a missing tooth be replaced as soon as possible for several reasons. If not treated, the teeth surrounding the gap begin to shift inward, creating a whole chain reaction of bad things. Teeth use their neighbors for support, and with one missing, they start to "fall." As this worsens, the bite changes in response to the pressure. This can eventually result in problems with the entire jaw, e.g. TMJ. The surrounding teeth deteriorate and it is just a matter of time before they are lost, too. Gum disease becomes a serious problem, with the difficulty of treatment increasing as the neglect continues.

TMJ TREATMENTS

TMJ stands for temporal-mandibular joint: temporal, as in temple area of skull; mandibular as in mandible or lower jaw joint where the head and jaw meet. Problems in this joint may be caused by a misalignment of the teeth, trauma, or excess muscle tension. Aside from the two bones that meet there, cartilage buffers them and five muscles are involved in the area. If something goes wrong a good deal of trouble can result.

Problems in this area can cause the following:

  • Headaches
  • Earaches
  • Trouble/Soreness in opening and closing the mouth

  • Clicking or popping of the jaw
  • Pain in the jaw muscles
  • Soreness in the area, sometimes extending to the face

Dental treatments for the condition can include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, filling gaps between teeth, etc. There is no one solution that is right for all cases. Sometimes a plastic mouthpiece is used to prevent clenching or grinding that is contributing to the problem. If untreated and taken to extremes, surgery may be required to repair a badly damaged joint.

Share by: