Services | Family Dentistry | Cosmetic Dentistry |
Prosthetic Dentistry | Dental Implants / Oral Surgery |

Prosthetic Dentistry

Prosthetic dentistry is the art and science of replacing missing teeth. Missing teeth can have an adverse effect on your dental and general health as well as on your self-esteem.

Our doctors, having studied at the L.D. Pankey Institute of Advanced Dental Education, are acutely aware of the interrelationship between the teeth and the jaw joints (TMJ). Cases involving reconstruction are diagnosed, treatment planned and fabricated using study models of a patient's dentition which are mounted on an adjustable articulator. The articulator is a precision machine that duplicates jaw movements. This technlogy allows our doctors to develop an occlusal scheme (bite pattern) that is harmonious with the jaw joints and surrounding structures, resulting in a long-lasting, functional and comfortable prosthesis.

All of our prosthetic tooth replacemnts are fabricated in local laboratories, using the finest dental materials, by highly skilled dental technicians who understand the exacting specifications demanded by our doctors.

Whether you need a single crown or full mouth reconstruction, aesthetics are of paramount importance to us. Our doctors have been trained in the art of removable prosthetics (partial or full dentures) as well as fixed prosthetics (crowns and bridges) and will help you decide which will suit you best.

We take great pride in developing beautiful, natural looking, long lasting restorations.

Crowns and Fixed Bridges
A crown (or cap) is a full-coverage restoration of a tooth. The fabrication of a crown for a particular tooth may be necessary if a specific tooth is broken-down due to decay or a fracture, or if a tooth is to be used as a supporting tooth for a fixed bridge. This supporting tooth is normally located next to a missing tooth.

Preparing a tooth for a crown is done in complete comfort with the use of local anesthesia. A post and core procedure is necessary in some cases, requiring a stainless steel or cast metal post to be cemented into one of the root canals. In others cases, small metal pins are used to create the strongest possible foundation for the crown.

A temporary crown or bridge is fabricated out of an acrylic material and cemented over the prepared tooth with a temporary cement while your final crown is being fabricated. Most individual crowns are ready to be inserted at the following visit.

The post-operative course after crown preparation is fairly mild. Most people report minimal discomfort rarely requiring any analgesics. Sometimes the prepared tooth may be slightly temperature sensitive for a few days.

A crown is carefully designed and fabricated to last many years with the functionality and appearance of your natural tooth.

Dentures and Removable Partial Dentures
Many people currently wear or are in need of full upper and lower dentures and removable partial dentures. Over a period of five to ten years as our bodies change, dentures (dental prostheses) can become ill fitting and uncomfortable.

All of our dentists are experienced and skilled in fabricating natural looking and comfortable dentures. We can easily craft new dentures for you or reline existing ones. Also, through the use of dental implants, uncomfortable dentures can now be made more retentive, stable, and easier to wear than ever before.

If there is a need for an immediate denture (where the teeth are removed and the denture is placed at the same visit), our oral surgeon is always available to avoid the inconvenience of a referral to a specialist outside the office.