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Arestin (minocycline HCl) Microspheres, 1 mg. is an antibiotic that helps kill the bacteria that cause gum disease at the root of the problem. These microspheres are smaller than grains of sand and are not visible to the eye. Arestin is different from antibiotic pills that a person swallows because Arestin is placed right where you need it, delivering the antibiotic directly to your gums. Arestin is placed during the scaling and root planning visit immediately after all the plaque and calculus is removed. Arestin therapy is done in conjunction with root planning and scaling to increase its effectiveness and is not meant to be an alternative therapy.
Dental bonding is the process of bonding tooth-colored composite resin to the teeth. Once the resin has been bonded to the tooth, it is basically permanent. That doesn't mean that you'll never have to have it touched up or replaced. It just means that it is very unlikely to fall off or break away.
Dental bonding is a great way to repair small imperfections on teeth quickly and affordably. Bonding works well in many situations and is like a simplified version of a veneer or a crown, but it cannot withstand forces and stress as well as veneers and crowns.
Why Dental Bonding?
· To fill in a small gap between two teeth
· To repair decayed teeth by filling a cavity with tooth-colored resin
· To change the shape of a tooth
· To repair small chips or cracks in teeth
· To cover up minor discolorations
· To protect the root of a tooth after it's been exposed by receding gums
Why not Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding cannot be used on teeth that are exposed to heavy pressure from biting or chewing.
Dental bonding is not indicated for covering large areas of decay or major damage such as tooth fracture.
Dental bridges are crowns that are attached to one another to literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Bridges are used to replace the missing teeth and they span the space where the teeth are missing and are cemented to natural teeth or implants that border the empty space. The teeth or implants that serve as the anchors for the bridge are called “abutments” while the replacement teeth are called “pontics”. Bridges are made out of the same material as crowns - metal alloys, porcelain, ceramics, acrylics or combination of materials.
Why Dental Bridges?
· Restore your smile
· Restore the ability to properly chew and speak
· Maintain the shape of your face
· Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
· Prevent overloading remaining teeth which could lead to further tooth wear, fracture or tooth loss
·Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position into the empty spaces which could lead to gum disease and/or temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) disorders.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that covers a tooth to improve the tooth’s appearance, shape, size and alignment while strengthening the tooth. Crowns can be made out of metal alloys, porcelain, ceramics or acrylics. The metal alloys are stronger than porcelain so porcelain fused to metal alloys are commonly used to create a crown that is both strong and natural looking. Dental crowns are permanently cemented to a tooth are do not removable.
The advantages of crowns include:
Size, shape, texture, and color can be controlled (custom-made)
Restore aesthetics and function to broken, cracked, or filled back teeth
Can be used on damaged or broken teeth
Although porcelain crowns require the reduction of more tooth structure than veneers, they are generally stronger than veneers.
Why dental crowns?
· Replace a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth remaining
· Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
· Restore a fractured tooth
· Attach a bridge
· Cover a dental implant
· Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
· Cover a tooth that had a root canal
A dental implant is actually a replacement for the root or roots of a tooth. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once surgically placed. They are used to secure crowns (the parts of teeth seen in the mouth), bridgework or dentures by a variety of means. They are made of titanium, which is lightweight, strong and biocompatible, which means that it is not rejected by the body. Titanium and titanium alloys are the most widely used metals in both dental and other bone implants, such as orthopedic joint replacements. Dental implants have the highest success rate of any implanted surgical device.
Why Dental Implant Restorations?
-Dental Implants Preserve Bone
-Dental Implants Preserve Adjacent Teeth
-Dental Implant Restorations are permanently attached
-Dental Implants Have Long-Term Success
Porcelain veneers are thin overlays or coverings of porcelain that are the thickness of a fingernail or a half a millimeter thick that are bonded onto the front of teeth to create a beautiful result. Porcelain mimics tooth structure better than any other restorative material, resists wear and stains, and can last for many years because it is harder than enamel. Our expert dental lab can adjust the color and translucency to re-create the look of any tooth.
The amount of tooth preparation is minimal and the teeth are not damaged or “ground down”. The photo below shows the thinness of veneers and the comparison between a prepared and unprepared tooth.
Why Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers solve many problems. They are great for restoring worn or chipped teeth. They can be used to lengthen teeth or close diastemas or spaces between teeth.
They can be used to cover stained teeth, particularly tetracycline stained teeth. While whitening works for many other types of stains, with porcelain veneers you have the ability to control the exact shade while also altering the shapes of the teeth
A root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the damaged area of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and disinfecting it and then filling and sealing it. The common causes affecting the pulp are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma. The term "root canal" comes from cleaning of the canals inside the tooth's root.
Why a Root Canal?
Your enamel normally protects your teeth, but any major breach in it could necessitate a root canal. Teeth affected by advanced tooth decay or large cavities may need a root canal before any other restoration can take place. Severe damage to a tooth due to an accident or injury can also lead to a root canal. A large crack or break allows pathogens to invade the nerves and pulp deep inside the tooth, and many dentists recommend a root canal to avoid this painful condition.
Some symptoms that indicate that you may need a root canal are:
· Frequent tooth and gum pain
· A large visible cavity that compromises the integrity of the tooth
· Extreme sensitivity to heat, cold and pressure
· A foul taste or odor near the afflicted tooth even after brushing your teeth
· Pus that drains into your mouth
· Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and jaw near the affected tooth
Scaling and root planning, also referred to as a deep cleaning, is one of the most common yet effective ways to treat gum disease. It is usually the first phase in treating periodontal disease.
Scaling is the process of removal of plaque, tartar (calculus), biofilm, toxins and bacteria from a periodontal pocket that is present between a tooth and the gums.
Root planing is process of smoothing the root surfaces of teeth so that gum tissue can more firmly reattach to roots that are clean and smooth to prevent tooth loss and sensitivity problems. The procedure makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces.
Scaling and root planning is a non-surgical therapy in which dental instruments are used to mechanically remove the unwanted debris and smooth the tooth surface. Typically, local anesthesia is used for the patient’s comfort. As a result, the mouth is divided into quadrants and halves necessitating two or four visits to complete treatment.
In a single one hour office visit you can noticeably brighten your smile.
Your smile is the way you greet the world. Why not put your best self forward with the confidence of a more beautiful smile?
When it comes to whitening, your dentist is your best resource. Only dental professionals have access to the professional-strength whitening of Philips Zoom.
Zoom is the #1 patient-requested professional whitening treatment. In fact, over 10 million patients have already used Zoom to achieve brighter, healthier smiles.
Sometimes, dental care is more involved than a simple cleaning and checkup. There are a number of patients who have dental problems throughout their mouths that must be treated comprehensively with a vision of a final result that improves both function and esthetics.
At Santos and Mroczek Family Dentistry, our skilled and gentle dentists discuss the unique needs and concerns with their patients to plan a course of treatment that's just right them to address their specific dental problems.
These patients may exhibit multiple missing teeth, numerous teeth with large fillings that are failing or exhibiting decay, cracked or broken teeth, or badly worn teeth due to bruxism (teeth grinding) or other habits.
There is also a group of patients who were born with conditions such as Ectodermal Dysplasia, Ameliogenesis, or Dentinogenisis Imperfecta that will need extensive restoration of their teeth. These patients may also be candidates for a full mouth reconstruction.
As the name implies, full mouth reconstruction refers to rebuilding and/or replacing all of the teeth in a patient’s mouth. Full mouth reconstructions combine esthetics with the science of restorative dentistry to improve the health, function, and beauty of the mouth.
Dr. Santos and Dr. Mroczek have a combined 50 years of dental experience and can help you or your loved one achieve the smile you've always wanted. Please call for a free consultation.