Restorative Dentistry: Something to Smile About

Jul 30th, 2013
Easton Dentists Mar 1st, 2017

Without proper oral healthcare and proper attention, the overall health of your mouth can deteriorate over time. Without regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist, all kinds of calamities can occur. It is important to seek the help of an experienced dentist before your oral health reaches a point where it necessitates intensive treatment. The Dental Center at Easton offers restorative dentistry, a process that restores the health of your mouth and returns your confidence. Restorative dentistry procedures can act to repair minor damage and they can correct major tooth loss.

How Can Poor Oral Health Affect Your Daily Life?

  • By complicating your daily activities: If you are missing teeth or have teeth that are not functioning properly, you may struggle when performing essential daily activities such as eating and speaking. Eating can become difficult or even painful if your mouth is missing essential teeth that are needed to chew food. Your speech may also suffer if your oral health problems cause your mouth to struggle to properly form words.
  • Mouth health: When teeth are missing or damaged, the overall health of your mouth suffers. If your are missing a tooth or multiple teeth, your gums are more prone to gum disease and remaining teeth are likely to succumb to illnesses. This can be very painful and can also lead to more serious health problems if left untreated.
  • Physical Appearance: Damaged or missing teeth leave can distract from an otherwise beautiful smile. This can cause you to become self-conscious about the way you look and can negatively affect your social life, career, and personal confidence. A beautiful smile can send a positive message to others and can serve as an attractive means to communicate to the world. A mouth with damaged or missing teeth detracts from what you have to say and your appearance as a whole.

What Services Does The Dental Center at Easton offer to Restore Your Oral Health?

  • Dental Implants: Dental implants are permanent replacement teeth that  are set in the place of lost or damaged teeth. A dental implant is completely sturdy. It allows you to complete your daily activities with ease, just like a normal tooth! Those around you won’t even be able to tell the difference between the implant and your other natural teeth.
  • Invisalign: Invisalign is a nearly invisible substitute for traditional braces that is less abrasive than traditional metal wires, yet still restores your oral health by realigning your teeth. Invisalign is clear and can be taken out while eating. It allows you to carry out activities like eating, speaking, and drinking with ease!
  • Bonding and teeth whitening: During bonding, tooth-colored substances are fused onto teeth to correct stains or breakage. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that lightens the color of your teeth.

These are just a few of the procedures that we offer at The Dental Center at Easton that help restore your oral health. Contact us today to set up a consultation and give yourself something to smile about!

Crowns and Bridges—What Are They and How Do They Work?

Jul 18th, 2013
Easton Dentists Mar 1st, 2017

If you are one of many people in the Columbus, Ohio area struggling with your oral health, you may feel like there is no way to regain the healthy look and feel that your teeth once had. At The Dental Center at Easton, we use dental crowns and bridges to not only restore the health of your teeth but also to make them look better! If you are considering a dental crown or bridge, you likely want to learn more about these crucial dental devices.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is put on top of a damaged tooth in order to create a protective covering. It is a permanent device that should only be placed and removed by an experienced dentist.

How Does a Dental Crown Work?

Crowns cover up and protect weak, fractured, or malformed teeth. They can also be used as “posts” for dental bridges. In addition to serving as structural supports, crowns also provide a healthy and functional appearance to previously misshapen teeth. Crowns are nearly indistinguishable from regular teeth because they are manufactured from porcelain or ceramic and can be accurately matched to your natural tooth color.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge, like its traditional namesake, traverses the gap between missing teeth, teeth with large spaces in between them, or implants form ‘posts’ for a dental bridge. Like dental crowns, bridges are permanent devices that require installation and removal by an experienced dentist.

How Does a Dental Bridge Work?

When a dental patient has missing teeth, the other teeth in their mouths begin to shift direction in order to fill the empty space. This can often lead to an unhealthy bite profile, jaw problems, and even gum disease. A dental bridge works to cover this gap and maintain a healthy looking and feeling mouth by anchoring itself on two teeth or dental implants called abutments. Crowns are attached to abutments and the pontic, or main part of the bridge, is attached to the crowns. Like crowns, a bridge’s porcelain or ceramic covering can be matched to your natural tooth color. This allows bridges to be almost indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Now that you understand the purpose and processes behind dental crowns and bridges, maintain a healthy mouth by scheduling an appointment with one of the experienced dentists at The Dental Center at Easton! Let help your bridge the gap to oral health!

Dental Crowns and Bridges: Manufacturing Process and Care

Jul 10th, 2013
Easton Dentists Mar 1st, 2017

Once you and your dentist have decided that a dental crown or bridge is the appropriate option to address your dental healthcare needs, you will likely have questions about the crown or bridge manufacturing process. New crowns or bridges are permanent tooth replacements that will be present in your mouth for years to come so you want to make sure that you are educated about their manufacturing processes and that you know how to properly care for your new teeth.

How Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Made?

When getting a new crown or bridge placed, your dentist will file down your damaged tooth or teeth in order to make room for the new prosthesis. After an initial filing, a mold is taken of your teeth. This will act as a shaping device for your new crown or bridge. The mold is sent to the dental laboratory where skilled technicians form your prosthetic. A temporary crown or bridge will be fitted while the permanent device is being made. A temporary crown or bridge is often made of acrylic or stainless steel, while a permanent crown or bridge is usually manufactured out of metal, porcelain, or ceramic. Metal is a good choice for non-visible teeth in the back of the mouth because of its durability, while porcelain or ceramic are the best choices for visible teeth. These materials can be matched to your natural tooth color. After approximately 2-3 weeks, the crown and/or bridge is ready to be installed.

Your dentist will gently remove the temporary crown or bridge and place the permanent one with cement. When a bridge is installed, the pontic, the main part of the bridge, it is attached to two anchoring teeth, called abutments, that have been covered with crowns.

How Long do Dental Crowns and Bridges Last?

A crown or bridge can last a lifetime with proper care. It is important to practice good dental hygiene after you have been given a new dental crown or bridge. Make sure that you brush and floss at least twice a day, and attend regularly scheduled check-ups with your dentist. Avoid hard foods such as ice and raw vegetables, sticky foods such as caramel, and habits that are hard on your teeth such as biting your nails or using teeth to open packages.

Now that you better understand the manufacturing process and proper caring techniques for dental crowns and bridges, you are ready to take the next step in your journey to better dental health. Let the professionals at The Dental Center at Easton assist you! We serve patients in Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas that include New Albany and Gahanna. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!