Crowns

Crowns (sometimes referred to as caps) are used to cover teeth that have been weakened by decay around fillings or that are severely damaged, decayed, chipped, discolored, or misaligned. Crowns are usually required after a root canal treatment. The most common materials used for crowns are porcelain with a metal substructure.

It usually takes two visits to complete this procedure. First the dentist removes the decay and shapes the tooth into a base for a crown. An impression is made and sent to the laboratory where the crown is made. The tooth is protected by a temporary crown. On the return visit, the temporary crown is replaced with the new permanent one which is cemented to the tooth.

Non-Metal Crown

Empress® and Lava® crowns have no metal substructure and are either bonded or cemented depending on which crown is used. These crowns offer the best aesthetics for the anterior teeth. There are some circumstances where these crowns cannot be used in the anterior, s study of your teeth and bite will determine this.

Bridges

A bridge is a restoration which replaces one or more teeth. There are two types of bridges-fixed and removable. Fixed bridges are cemented into place using adjoining teeth as a support. Removable bridges (partial dentures) can be removed for cleaning, but they are less desirable than fixed bridges and less stable.

There are many reasons why bridges should be considered to replace missing teeth.

When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth may tilt toward the empty space, or the teeth in the opposite jaw may move up or down toward the space. This places unusual stress on both the teeth and tissues in your mouth. A bridge helps maintain the natural shape of your face and may help support your lips and cheeks. Missing teeth can also affect the way you chew and speak. Materials used are metals or combination of porcelain and metal.

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Dentures and Partials

Dentures are removable prosthetic devices designed to replace missing teeth. They can either replace a few missing teeth (partial dentures) or a complete set of missing teeth (full dentures):

Full Dentures

This type of prosthesis is for individuals missing a complete set of teeth in the upper, lower or both jaws. They are generally acrylic in composition, and removable. Dentures that fit properly can improve your appearance, eating and speaking. The denture must be cleaned 2-3 times daily, both on the inside and the outside. Once the denture is made some adjustments may be necessary for the best fit.

Partial Dentures

Sometimes referred to as removable bridges, this type of restoration is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Partial dentures consist of a metal sub-structure with an acrylic base covering the metal and containing the teeth. They generally will have a few clasps to hold the denture in place. A cosmetic alternative is a partial denture with precision attachments instead of the clasps. Wearing a partial denture can help your remaining teeth stay in position. When there are spaces between natural teeth, the teeth may drift or tip, placing unnatural stress on the tissues of the mouth. With your missing teeth replaced, chewing is easier and more comfortable. Replacing missing teeth with partial dentures will also improve your speech, and appearance. Claspless partial dentures are now available providing aesthetics with precision attachments.

Immediate Dentures

In some instances dentist may decide to prefabricate denture prior to extracting the teeth. The obvious advantage is that patient can wear this denture immediately after the surgery so you’ll never be without teeth. However, immediate dentures require several adjustments and need a reline once the tissues have healed.

Bridges

Bridges are an excellent way to fill in missing-tooth gaps with natural-looking artificial teeth. They can also correct speaking and chewing problems, and decrease strains felt when biting. Bridges are semi-permanent, and are comfortable, discreet, and known to strengthen existing teeth. Both porcelain and metal bridges are available. To find out if bridges are right for you, please contact us today.

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Root Canals

This procedure involves removing inflamed or damaged tissue from inside a tooth and cleaning, filling and sealing the remaining space. This allows the bone surrounding the root end to repair and heal.

When a deep cavity, decay or crack destroys these protective layers, the pulp is exposed to the bacteria in your mouth. This can result in inflammation, infection and, eventually, necrosis (pulp death). Often, a severe blow to the tooth can also damage the pulp. Irritants may then escape from the end of the root and cause a diseased area (apical lesion) in the bone.

When your root canal treatment is complete, a temporary filling is placed. The tooth needs to be permanently restored to prevent contamination or fracture. To complete the process, you will need to return to Dr. Berg for a permanent restoration. It is important to return promptly because the temporary filling can loosen and leak, possibly causing the root canal treatment to fail, which would necessitate re-treatment.

White Fillings

These are made from high quality tooth colored materials that allow the natural appearance of a tooth to be restored. Many patients like white fillings because they blend well with the tooth and do not look like fillings.

Desensitization

First, tooth fracture must be eliminated as the origin of the desensitization. Often, teeth become sensitive when tooth enamel erodes or the gum line recedes, exposing tiny microscopic holes, or tubules, that lead directly to nerves inside the tooth. These nerves are the source of sensitive teeth pain.

Dr. Berg can help you determine the proper procedure to alleviate this condition

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