Crowns

A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it is often less durable.

Bridges

Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth and literally “bridges” the gap where one or more teeth used to be. Bridges can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and are attached to surrounding teeth for support. Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference in chewing and speaking. Bridges can help restore your smile and increase function.

The success of a bridge depends on the how strong the existing teeth are under the bridge so it’s very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

This process generally consists of a minimum of 2-3 visits over a three to four week period.

Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.

Teaching your child good oral hygiene habits early can lead to a lifelong healthy smile, but did you know that just because babies don’t have any visible teeth, doesn’t mean they can’t get cavities? A baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in the jaws at birth. And those baby teeth that begin coming through the gums around 6 months help set the stage for future smiles by keeping space in the jaw for adult teeth.

Baby Teeth Matter

When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded. That’s why starting infants off with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades to come. The ADA recommends that parents take children to a dentist no later than their first birthday and then at intervals recommended by their dentist.

Start Early

Your child’s baby teeth are at risk for decay as soon as they first appear—which is typically around age 6 months. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. It most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected. In some cases, infants and toddlers experience decay so severe that their teeth cannot be saved and need to be removed.

The good news is that tooth decay is preventable! Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are 3-years-old. As your child grows, their jaws also grow, making room for their permanent teeth.

More Information

• Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth

  Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth. As soon as teeth appear, decay can occur. A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about 6 months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.

  For children younger than 3 years, caregivers should begin brushing their children’s teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by their dentist. Supervise your children’s brushing to ensure that they use of the appropriate amount of toothpaste.

  For children 3 to 6 years of age, caregivers should dispense no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by their dentist. Supervise your children’s brushing to minimize swallowing of toothpaste.

  Until you’re comfortable that your child can brush on his or her own(usually around 7-8 years old), continue to brush your child's teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin flossing their teeth daily.

• Teething

  Teething is one of the first rituals of life. Although newborns usually have no visible teeth, most baby teeth begin to appear generally about six months after birth. During the first few years of your child’s life, all 20 baby teeth will push through the gums and most children will have their full set of these teeth in place by age 3. A baby’s front four teeth usually erupt or push through the gums at about six months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months. As their teeth erupt, some babies may become fussy, sleepless and irritable, lose their appetite or drool more than usual. Diarrhea, rashes and a fever are not normal symptoms for a teething baby. If your infant has a fever or diarrhea while teething or continues to be cranky and uncomfortable, call your physician.

• Flouride

  Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, including oceans, rivers and lakes. Fluoride is also added to some community tap water, toothpastes and mouth rinses. Infants and toddlers who do not receive an adequate amount of fluoride may be at an increased risk for tooth decay since fluoride helps make tooth enamel more resistant to decay. It also helps repair weakened enamel. Bottled water may not contain fluoride; therefore, children who regularly drink bottled water or unfluoridated tap water may be missing the benefits of fluoride. If you are not sure if your tap water has fluoride, contact your local or state health department or water supplier.

  Note: Discuss your child’s fluoride needs with your dentist or pediatrician. They may recommend a fluoride supplement if you live in an area where the community water is not fluoridated.

• Pacifiers

  Infants and young children may suck on thumbs, other fingers or pacifiers. Pacifiers dipped in sugar, honey, juice or sweetened drinks, can lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay can also begin when cavity-causing bacteria pass from saliva in a mother or caregiver’s mouth to the infant. When the mother or caregiver puts the baby’s feeding spoon in her mouth, or cleans a pacifier in her mouth, the bacteria can be passed to the baby.

• Malocclusion (Irregular Bite)

  Malocclusion, or an irregular bite, is a condition in which the teeth are crowded, crooked or out of alignment, or the jaws don’t meet properly. This may become particularly noticeable between the ages of 6 and 12, when a child’s permanent teeth are coming in. If not treated early, a bad bite can make it difficult to keep teeth and gums clean where teeth are crooked or crowded, increasing the risk for cavities and gum disease.

  Bad bites can also:

  • Affect proper development of the jaws.
  • Make the protruding teeth at risk for chips and fractures.
  • Affect eating and speaking.
  • Make some teeth more likely to wear abnormally or faster than those that are properly aligned.

  
  

• Healthy Habits

  Here are some tips to keep your child's mouth healthy:

  • Place only formula, milk or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks.
  • Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed.
  • Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday and discourage frequent or prolonged use of sippy cups.
  • Serve nutritious snacks and limit sweets to mealtimes.
  • Always try to read food labels and choose foods and beverages that are low in added sugars. Also, select beverages, such as water, that hydrate and contribute to good nutrition.

  
  

Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Dentures can make it easier to eat and speak than you could without teeth.

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When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.

Partial Dentures

Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases. Depending on your needs, Drs. Hinton, Marler and Armstrong will design a partial denture for you. A partial denture may have a metal framework and clasps that connect to your teeth, or they can have other connectors that are more natural looking. Crowns on your natural teeth are sometimes needed to improve the fit of a removable partial denture. Consult with your dentist to find out which type is right for you.

More Information

• What to Expect
  • In the beginning, your new denture/partial may feel awkward or bulky. This is normal, and you will eventually become accustomed to wearing it.
  • Inserting and removing the denture/partial will require some practice. Drs. Hinton, Marler and Armstrong will help show you how before you leave our office.
  • Follow all instructions given by Drs. Hinton, Marler and Armstrong. Your denture should fit into place with relative ease. Never force the partial denture into position by biting down. This could bend or break the clasps.
  • Your dentist will give you specific instruction about how long the denture/partial should be worn and when it should be removed.
  • Initially, you may be asked to wear your denture/partial all the time. Although this may be uncomfortable at first, it's the quickest way to identify areas that may need adjustment.
  • If the denture/partial puts too much pressure on a particular area, that spot will become sore. Drs. Hinton, Marler and Armstrong will adjust the denture/partial to fit more comfortably. After making adjustments, Drs. Hinton, Marler, and Armstrong will probably recommend that you take the partial denture out of your mouth before going to bed and replace it in the morning.
  • Eating should become a more pleasant experience with dentures/partials. Start out by eating soft foods that are cut into small pieces. Chew on both sides of the mouth to keep even pressure on both sides. Avoid foods that are extremely sticky or hard. You may want to avoid chewing gum during the adjustment period.
  • Dentures/Partials can also help improve your speech. With time, you will become accustomed to speaking properly with your denture/partial.

• Caring for your Denture/Partial
  • Your dentures/partials should be brushed daily to remove food particles and plaque. Brushing also can help keep the teeth from staining.
  • With partials, you need to still use a fluoride toothpaste for your natural teeth. They need to be taken care of, brushing twice a day and flossing.
  • Complete denture wearers still need practice good hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.
  • When cleaning a denture/partial, it’s a good idea to stand over a folded towel or a sink of water just in case you accidentally drop the denture.
  • Rinse your dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris.
  • Use a soft bristle toothbrush or a brush that is designed for cleaning dentures because it has bristles that are arranged to fit the shape of the denture. Also, use a non-abrasive cleanser to gently brush all the surfaces of the dentures so they don't get scratched. Drs. Hinton, Marler and Armstrong can recommend a denture cleaner. Look for denture cleaners with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Don’t chew, swallow, or gargle with denture cleansers.
  • Always thoroughly rinse the denture before placing it in your mouth.
  • When you’re not wearing your dentures or partials, put them in a safe place covered in water to keep them from warping.
  • Occasionally, denture wearers may use adhesives. Adhesives come in many forms: creams, powders, pads/wafers, strips or liquids. If you use one of these products, read the instructions, and use them exactly as directed. We can recommend appropriate cleansers and adhesives; look for products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Products with the ADA Seal have been evaluated for safety and effectiveness.

• Adjustments

  Over time, adjusting the denture may be necessary. As you age, your mouth naturally changes, which can affect the fit of the denture. Your bone and gum ridges can recede or shrink, resulting in a poorly fitting denture.

  Dentures that do not fit properly should be adjusted by Drs. Hinton, Marler and Armstrong. Poorly fitting dentures can cause various problems, including sores or infections. You can do serious harm to your denture and to your health by trying to adjust or repair your denture. See Drs. Hinton, Marler and Armstrong if your denture becomes loose, and maintain your regular visits, too.

Bonding is a popular treatment option because it provides a successful attachment between the filling material, a tooth colored composite resin, and the tooth’s original enamel and dentin. It looks like the original tooth and functions like it as well.The procedure is called bonding because the material bonds to the tooth.

What is Bonding Used for?

Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. The composite resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth. Most often, bonding is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It also can be used to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer or to change the shape or color of teeth.

Sometimes, bonding also is used as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings, or to protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede.