Dental Cleaning & Exams

A dental filling is typically needed when there is a cavity or decay in a tooth. Cavities are caused by bacteria that produce acid, which erodes the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth, creating a hole or "cavity." If left untreated, the decay can progress and eventually cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

Numb the area with anesthetic to put the tooth to sleep, remove the decay with a dental drill, clean the cavity for full removal of debris and bacteria, apply the filling material, and shape and polish

White dental fillings, or composite fillings, are the current best option for many patients. They are made of tooth colored resin which is more esthetic than the older, silver amalgam fillings

Different dental offices have different insurance plans, but most times, a percentage of the filling is covered by insurance.

It usually takes 30 minutes to an hour for the entire procedure of a dental filling.

Yes, dental fillings are considered safe. The materials used for dental fillings have been extensively tested and approved by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dental fillings can range from 250-600$ depending on the amount of tooth surfaces

Dental fillings can fall out although this is not common. Some reasons for this is wear a tear, a cavity beneath the existing filling, or age of the filling

Yes, over time fillings can break down. Composite, or tooth colored fillings, should last 5-10 years depending on oral hygiene, chewing habits, location and size of filling

A crown is needed instead of a filling when there is a large fracture on the tooth, the tooth has extensive decay taking up over ½ the tooth, or for cosmetic reasons

A dental bridge is a type of tooth replacement therapy that replaces a tooth by adjusting the teeth next to the missing tooth. It consists of one or more artificial teeth, called pontics, that are anchored in place by attaching them to adjacent natural teeth. The adjacent teeth that support the bridge are called abutments.

A form of tooth replacement therapy that does not require surgery, like an implant, and it stays in your mouth as a fixed tooth replacement rather than a removable tooth replacement.

There are several types of dental bridges, including traditional bridges, cantilever bridges, and Maryland bridges. Traditional bridges are the most common and involve creating a crown for the abutment teeth on either side of the gap and placing the pontic between them. Cantilever bridges are used when there is only one adjacent tooth to support the pontic, while Maryland bridges use a metal or porcelain framework bonded to the backs of adjacent teeth with resin.

The teeth next to the missing teeth are anesthetized so that nothing is felt during the duration of the procedure, these teeth are prepared and a temporary is put in that same day.

The lifespan of a dental bridge depends on several factors, including the quality of the materials used, the patient's oral hygiene habits, and the forces that the bridge is subjected to over time. With proper care and maintenance, a dental bridge can last for 5 to 15 years or even longer.

A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth, so getting used to having a tooth in a spot that used to be empty can take about a week as the surrounding structures like your tongue, cheek, and other teeth get used to having a new tooth in the mouth.

A dental bridge can usually be completed in 2 appointments, the first appointment is a bit longer, about 2 hours and this is to prepare the teeth next to the missing tooth and make a temporary. The next appointment is 3 weeks later when the final bridge is placed in the mouth with final cement.

A dental crown is a type of dental restoration that is used to cover or cap a damaged or weakened tooth. It is typically made of porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination of these materials and is custom-made to fit over the affected tooth.

Dental crowns are commonly used for a patient to repair teeth that have been damaged by decay, trauma, or other factors that have caused the tooth to become weakened or fractured. The crown helps to strengthen the tooth and restore its function, shape, and appearance.

If you have missing tooth structure, decay, trauma, or esthetic concerns, a crown could be good for you.

Yes, you can floss with a crown on both sides.

A crown is placed by removing the temporary crown, fitting in the final crown, and checking all the parameters of the crown including the contacts, contours, and esthetics of the crown. If everything looks perfect, the crown will be cemented or bonded on with permanent dental material.

Yes, the crown will be the ideal shape of that specific tooth in your mouth, and the shade will match the other teeth in your mouth to make it appear as if the tooth is a natural tooth rather than a crown.

The process of getting a dental crown typically involves two appointments and is done by preparing the tooth by removing any decay or damage and shaping it to accommodate the crown. An impression is then taken of the prepared tooth and sent to a dental laboratory where the crown is fabricated. Once the crown is ready, it is cemented onto the tooth, restoring its function and appearance.

Usually anywhere from 5-20 years. The lifespan is multifactorial and depends on the type of material used, the location of the crown in your mouth, oral hygiene habits, and the amount of wear and tear.

A crown covers the tooth in its entirety, whereas a veneer is more like a contact lens for the tooth. The decision on to use a crown vs a veneer depends on the specific situation of the patient.

Both are types of dental restorations used to treat decayed or damaged teeth but differ in their scope and application. A dental filling is typically used to treat small to moderate cavities that only affect a portion of the tooth and a dental crown is for a larger restoration that is used to cover and protect damaged or weakened tooth.

A dental crown is usually between 1600-2000 depending on the extent of the procedure and a patient’s insurance plan.

A temporary crown is usually on for 2-3 weeks and must be delicately taken care of.

Dentures are a tooth replacement therapy that can be taken in and out. Full dentures replace all teeth on an arch (the top or bottom) and partial dentures are used when some teeth are missing but a patient still has some teeth remaining. Both are removable options that the patient can take in and out. These are tissue and bone supported. Full and partial dentures can be used with or without dental implants to add retention.

To replace missing teeth as a removable appliance

Someone who has complete or partial tooth loss.

Impressions and records are made to allow for the fabrication of the denture. This usually takes 3-5 appointments or more for completion.

Complete dentures, partial dentures, immediate dentures, overdentures, implant-supported dentures

The price can range depending on how many teeth are being replaced and if dental implants are being used. They usually start around 1500$ and go up from there.

Dentures are kept in place by retention from the underlying bone and tissue, sometimes the other teeth or dental implants.

Eating and talking is different with dentures than it is with your natural teeth since there are no nerves in the dentures, but the dentures do provide much more support than missing teeth.

3 minutes for both arches and the bite for a wellness scan. 5 minutes for a crown preparation because the prepared tooth must be scanned to capture all parts of it.

Our iTero is used for wellness scans on every patient, so we have their records, it is also used for patient education to show how the teeth are aligned or come together, Invisalign, restorative treatment.