Dental Porcelain Crown (Cap):
Porcelain crowns have completely replaced the old metal substructure crowns allowing for strength and the most outrageous aesthetic. These new crowns are made with a super strong substructure called zirconium. This allow us to create crowns that more durable and do not transmit a grayish hue caused by a metal substructure.
Why Dental Porcelain Crowns?
When more tooth structure is lost due to tooth decay or trauma a crown is sometimes necessary to restore teeth. Additionally teeth treated with root canal therapy often need a crown to give the tooth back its strength. Crowns are created to fit over a tooth that has been prepared to receive it. These porcelain or ceramic crowns are so life like that it is often impossible to distinguish a natural tooth from a crown.
During treatment for a crown:
This procedure typically involves two visits. Each visit is approximately 1-1.5 hours
First Visit:
The area to be treated is anesthetized. The tooth is prepared to receive the crown. Next, impressions are made of the tooth in addition to the opposing teeth. A temporary crown is made and is cemented on the tooth. This temporary seals the tooth and will be fully functional until the definitive crown is fabricated. Sticky foods should be avoided in the area of the temporary as these tend to dislodge the temporary.
Fabrication of the crown takes approximately ten business days and can be expedited if necessary.
Second Visit:
At the second visit the temporary is removed. The tooth or teeth to receive the crowns are cleaned and disinfected along with the crown to be cemented. Radiographs are sometimes taken to verify seating of the crown. After the seating is verified the bite is adjusted, the crown is permanently cemented.
Dental Porcelain Bridge:
What is a dental Bridge?
A bridge is used to replace a missing tooth when a dental implant is not an option. A bridge consists of a pontic (the filler or false tooth) which attaches to teeth in front of the missing tooth and behind the missing tooth. The attachment teeth are referred to as abutments.
Why a Bridge?
Missing teeth can effect the mouth as a whole. Spaces left from missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift These shifted teeth can cause problems with the way the upper and lower teeth fit together causing an uncomfortable bite. This can cause jaw pain and can also make cleaning areas difficult which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Non-Metalic Bridges
The newest bridges no longer need to incorporate metallic substructures and can be made out of ultra strong porcelain materials. These materials are more biocompatible and much more beautiful.
Dental Bonding:
Bonding also referred to as composite, is one of dentistry’s most conservative procedures. It allows us to add tooth colored composite material to repair chipped or worn teeth. Bonding can also be used to change the shape, close tooth gaps and to whiten teeth or mask internal stains caused during tooth development. In most instances no natural tooth is removed to achieve the desired goal.
Treatment:
Bonding can be accomplished in one visit. The amount of time for the procedure depends on the extent of bonding needed and the number of teeth involved. For the most part bonding is quick with a simple repair to a tooth taking only 30 minutes. If the bonding is more involved and encompasses the entire smile it can take as much as 3 hours.
Most often anesthetics are not necessary during treatment. The teeth to be treated are cleaned and disinfected. Bonding, the sculpt-able composite material (bonding) is applied and is shaped using different instruments and sable brushes to achieve the desired shape. This material is than cured with a special light and this is followed by further shaping and polishing.
Advantages:
- Bonding is an additive procedure which means that no natural tooth structure is needed to be removed.
- Bonding is a quick procedure that can produce beautiful natural healthy smiles.
- Bonding or composite material is an extremely biocompatible material that is not harmful to gum tissues in the mouth.
Disadvantages:
- Bonding material is more porous than natural tooth structure or veneers which makes it more susceptible to stain.
- Bonding is susceptible to chipping and may require more maintenance than dental veneers.
Composite Filling:
What is a composite filling?
A composite filling is a tooth colored material that when bonded to the tooth restores the form of the tooth and seals the tooth to prevent further damage. This material is extremely biocompatible
Why a composite filling?
A filling or a cavity is done when a tooth has decay or an old filling needs to be replaced due to leakage or recurrent decay.
Advantages of composite fillings over Amalgam (silver fillings):
The greatest advantage of composite fillings is the fact that they are made completely of non-toxic materials that are biocompatible in the mouth. Composite fillings are much more aesthetic and once completed they look like natural teeth. Silver fillings do not bond to teeth, which means that healthy tooth structure is often removed to ensure that the filling is retained in the tooth. Composite filling actually bond to teeth which allows Dr. Sellinger to only remove tooth structure that has decay.
During treatment for a composite filling:
This procedure is completed in one visit. The length of treatment varies based on how many filling are done and the complexity. Typically a single filling can be completed in 30-45 min.
Treatment:
Dr. Sellinger will anesthetize the tooth to be worked on. Next the decay or old filling is removed from the tooth. Than a tooth colored filling is placed in the cavity and the filling is sculpted to duplicate the anatomy of the original tooth. The filling is hardened with a curing light.
In cases where the decay is deep a liner is placed in the cavity before the filling is placed. The liner is placed to protect the nerve. If the decay or recurrent decay is worse it may affect the nerve and in this case a root canal may be necessary to restore the tooth.
After Treatment:
In some cases depending on how deep the cavity was, you may experience some post-operative sensitivity. This may be experienced while drinking cold beverages and in some cases breathing in cold air. This sensitivity should not persist more than a few days and is alleviated with an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil. If the sensitivity persists more than a few days your doctor should be notified and an evaluation of the area should be done
Inlay/Onlay:
An inlay or onlay is a restoration which replaces a portion of missing tooth structure due to tooth decay or trauma to the tooth. Typically inlays or onlays are used if more tooth structure is missing than a filling can bear but a crown is not necessary
Treatment for an inlay or onlay:
This procedure requires two visits. Each visits lasts about 45 min to an hour.
First Visit:
At the first visit the doctor will anesthetize the tooth to ensure that the procedure is painless. The tooth is prepared to receive the restoration and an impression is made of the prepared tooth. Next a temporary restoration is made. This temporary seals the tooth until the final inlay can be cemented. The temporary can be used to eat, but it is recommended that sticky foods be avoided on the side that the temporary is on to prevent the temporary from dislodging.
Second Visit:
At the second visit the temporary is removed. And the inlay is tried in and the bite is adjusted. After the inlay is fit to the mouth it is cemented into the tooth.
After Treatment:
Typically after the first or second visits soreness or sensitivity is normal. This can last for a few days after treatment. If you do experience sensitivity, an over the counter NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil alleviates this.
Immediately after the inlay is cemented and after the numbness wears off, normal eating can resume.
Dentures/Removable Partial Denture:
Dentures or partial dentures are an alternative treatment option to replace missing teeth. Theses days implant have basically replaced the need for dentures or partial dentures. Even with today’s technology, dentures or partial dentures may be the only treatment option for some patients. Dr. Sellinger takes great pride in his ability to make a denture or Partial denture that not only fits accurately and is comfortable but is aesthetically pleasing and life-like.