Dental Implants & Oral Surgery

 

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant replaces a missing/lost tooth. Creve Coeur Dental implants consist of 3 parts: a titanium screw that replaces the root of the tooth, a porcelain crown that replaces the missing tooth, and (a) piece in the middle (called an abutment) that connects the screw and the crown.

If you lose a tooth or are missing a tooth resulting in a gap between your teeth, your remaining teeth, jaw, and bite will become unstable. Your bone will atrophy from the area where the tooth used to be and the structural integrity of the bone will be compromised. You can prevent this from happening by replacing missing teeth with dental implants to fill in the gap and restore stability to your mouth and teeth.

Restorations

Alleviating dental structural loss is a major goal of restorations, in addition to an even, improved appearance. Sometimes, tooth restoration can take many forms. Dr. Amorin carefully evaluates the oral condition requiring restoration for the most convenient and comfortable treatment approach. Some of the most common restorative procedures include:

Dental Implants

In many cases, dental implants may be the only choice to restore all necessary functions of the teeth and supporting structures. An implant can replace a single missing tooth and multiple implants can be used to support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing teeth. Implants can also be used to increase the retention of dentures, helping to minimize gum irritation. Another implant advantage is that they do not require the preparation of adjacent teeth that would be necessary for bridgework. How much do dental implants cost?

Bonding

The bonding process is applicable in almost every dental procedure performed today. It is accomplished in one visit to the dentist. No mold-taking, no “temporary,” no lab-fabrication. And it may take care of chips, gaps between the teeth, staining, splotches from wearing braces, crookedness, or even teeth whose shapes are displeasing. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive.

Dental Crowns

Whether a crown is needed for tooth cracks, excessive tooth decay, damaged tooth protection, teeth grinding, missing teeth, need for beautification, or an improper bite resulting from the natural wear and tear produced by aging, dental crowns of today can satisfy your functional and esthetic needs. The purpose of a dental crown is to encompass and protect a needy tooth with a custom-designed tooth material, much like a fitted cap.

Dental Crown Dentists: Both the dentist and the laboratory technologist play a role in the design and treatment outcome of a crown. Art and science are important factors in designing the proper anatomical features of the crown to provide the best possible fit in the mouth. General dentists, family dentists, cosmetic dentists, and prosthodontists may perform all treatment options; however, the level of expertise varies among dentists.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges, dental implants, and partial dentures are used to replace missing teeth that would otherwise adversely affect your mouth. The negative effects of one or more missing teeth can include the shifting of other teeth to accommodate the open space, a change in the bite that may affect your ability to eat, a speech impediment, and an increased risk for periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are used to repair minimal tooth fractures, tooth decay, or otherwise damaged surfaces of the teeth. Dental filling materials may be used to even out tooth surfaces for better biting or chewing. In many cases, individuals with enamel loss resulting in tooth sensitivity will notice a significant improvement or complete elimination of sensitivity once the appropriate dental filling material is placed.

Dental Filling Materials: You have many choices when it comes to restoring damaged or decayed teeth, even down to the type of dental filling material to use. You may choose to have white “tooth-colored” fillings (composite or porcelain) or silver amalgam restorations. There are a number of pros and cons associated with both composite and amalgam fillings.

Dentures / Bridges

The proper application and use of dentures and bridges depending on the specific needs of the patient. A number of considerations come into play, and there is no “one solution fits all” approach. We highly recommend that you consult with our providers today to learn what your options are.

Bridges

A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants. Types of bridges can vary, depending upon how they are fabricated and the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth. Conventionally, bridges are made using the indirect method of restoration. However, bridges can be fabricated directly in the mouth using such materials as composite resin.

A bridge is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a preparation pattern determined by the location of the teeth and by the material from which the bridge is fabricated. The materials used for the bridges include gold, porcelain fused to metal, or in the correct situation porcelain alone. The amount and type of reduction done to the abutment teeth varies slightly with the different materials used. The recipient of such a bridge must be careful to clean well under this prosthesis.

Dentures

Complete dentures are used to replace missing teeth for people with no remaining teeth. Dentures can also be used for people who have lost several teeth. In this case, the appliance is called a partial denture or an overdenture.

Tooth loss may result from periodontal disease (gum disease), tooth decay, or traumatic injury. It is very important to replace missing teeth. The ill-effects of not doing so can be a shift in remaining teeth, an inability to bite and chew properly, as well as a sagging facial appearance, which makes one appear older than they are.

The beauty of dentures today is that they are designed to be comfortable and functional. They are very similar in appearance to natural teeth and can improve a smile or facial appearance.

Extractions

We take a conservative approach to extractions, viewing the situation from the view of your general oral health. If you have impacted teeth or infected areas around a tooth, an extraction might be necessary. Dr. Rosinski will work with you to decide on the best medically advisable and comfortable option.

With a dental extraction (also referred to as exodontia), Dr. Rosinski removes a tooth from the mouth. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons, including tooth decay that has destroyed enough tooth structure to render the tooth non-restorable. Extractions of impacted or problematic wisdom teeth are routinely performed, as are extractions of some permanent teeth to make space for orthodontic treatment.