Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth.

Bridges are sometimes referred to as fixed partial dentures, because they are semi-permanent and are bonded to existing teeth or implants. Some bridges are removable and can be cleaned by the wearer; others need to be removed by a dentist.

Porcelain, gold alloys or combinations of materials are usually used to make bridge appliances.

Appliances called implant bridges are attached to an area below the gum tissue, or the bone.

Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth.

Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth.

Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.

A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. An impression is made of the existing tooth. The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. In some cases, a temporary crown is applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented in place.

Crowns are sometimes confused with veneers, but they are quite different. Veneers are typically applied only to relatively small areas.

With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration.

Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.

Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures.

Before development of dental implants, dentures were the only alternative to replacing a missing tooth or teeth.

Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene.

Implants are so well designed that they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Implants are usually made of a synthetic yet biocompatible material like metal or ceramic.

Surgery is necessary to prepare the area for an implant and place the implant in the mouth. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to take hold and for bone tissue to build up and anchor the device. In some cases, metal posts are inserted into the implant during a follow-up procedure to connect the tooth.

Because implants require surgery, patients are administered anesthesia and, if necessary, antibiotics to stave off infection following the procedure.

Like any restoration, implants require diligent oral hygiene and proper care to ensure they last a long time.

When something is difficult, we often say it's like pulling teeth -- but in reality, a tooth extraction is a routine procedure that helps prevent more serious dental problems.
The most common tooth extractions are wisdom teeth extractions, but your dentist may also remove a tooth if it's coming in at an angle, threatening the position of other healthy teeth or contributing to overcrowding in the mouth.

In some cases, a broken tooth may also need to be extracted, as well as teeth with significant tooth decay that cannot be treated by a root canal. Patients with advanced gum disease may be considered for an extraction as well. While it's your dentist's goal to do everything to save your tooth, in the end, removing a potentially harmful tooth can spare you time, money and discomfort.

Feeling a little anxious about a tooth extraction is understandable -- although an extraction is one of the most straightforward oral surgery procedures, it is still surgery. One way to relieve your jitters is to learn what's involved in a tooth extraction, so don't feel shy about asking your dentist plenty of questions.

Your dentist may give you more details, but in general, a tooth extraction goes like this: To start, you'll receive a local anesthetic to numb the tooth, jawbone and surrounding gums. Using a sterilized dental tool, your dentist, or oral surgeon, will first rock the tooth back and forth, and then rotate it to widen the socket for easier extraction. Because your pain receptors have been numbed, you may sense a dull pressure during this process, but shouldn't feel any pain. When the tooth is fully detached, your dentist will remove it and cover the exposed gum with a small piece of gauze.

Unlike some dental procedures, most tooth extractions are complete in a matter of minutes, so you don't have to worry about sitting in the dental chair for long.

After your extraction, your dentist or dental hygienist will explain what you can do to help ensure that you heal properly. Be sure to follow your dentist's guidelines to a "t" -- they can help you avoid complications and discomfort.

In most cases, your dentist will advise you to bite gently on gauze for 30 minutes to an hour. Additional instructions may include:

• Applying ice to the jaw area if you experience swelling
• Continuing to brush, but avoiding the area surrounding the extraction
• Gently rinsing your mouth with water
• Taking an antibiotic or pain reliever, if needed
• Avoiding smoking or using a straw for at least 24 hours

You may also be advised to stay away from certain foods and strenuous activity for the first few days. The good news is with proper care, your mouth should start to feel normal again in 1-2 weeks.

However, keep in mind that any discomfort you feel should improve, not increase, with every new day. If you start to experience a dull, throbbing pain in the extraction site 3-4 days following, contact your dentist immediately. Your dentist can determine whether you have dry socket, a condition that sometimes affects women, smokers and patients over the age of 30.

If you suspect that one of your teeth may need to be extracted, don't waste time guessing -- your dentist is the only one who can give you a definite answer.

Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root.

All teeth have between one and four root canals.

Many tooth problems involve infections that spread to the pulp, which is the inner chamber of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves and other tissues. When the infection becomes worse, it can begin affecting the roots. A traumatic injury to a tooth can also compromise the pulp, leading to similar problems.

A diseased inner tooth brings a host of problems; pain and sensitivity are some of the first indications of a problem; but inside, a spreading infection can cause small pockets of puss to develop, leading to an abscess.

Root canal therapy is a remarkable treatment with a very high rate of success, and involves removing the diseased tissue, halting the spread of infection and restoring the healthy portion of the tooth. In fact, root canal therapy is designed to save a problem tooth; before the procedure was developed and gained acceptance, the only alternative for treating a diseased tooth was extraction.

Root canal therapy usually entails one to three visits. During the first visit, a small hole is drilled through the top of the tooth and into the inner chamber. Diseased tissue is removed, the inner chamber cleansed and disinfected, and the tiny canals reshaped. The cleansed chamber and canals are filled with an elastic material and medication designed to prevent infection. If necessary, the drilled hole is temporarily filled until a permanent seal is made with a crown.

Most patients who have root canal experience little or no discomfort or pain, and enjoy a restored tooth that can last almost as long as it’s healthy original.

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked.

Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking.

Veneers are usually made by a dental lab technician working from a model provided by the dentist. Veneers are usually irreversible because it is necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.

Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers.

Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.

During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth, and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.

During the final "bonding" visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers are placed on the tooth surface with water or glycerin on the teeth to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to match the color of your teeth. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser, causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement.

During a two-week period of adjustment that follows, you may notice the change of size and shape in your teeth. It is important to brush and floss daily. You will return for a follow-up appointment after the adjustment period for a follow-up appointment. Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. It is not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth.

Invisalign® is invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you are wearing them. Invisalign is great for adults and teenagers.

• Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without metal braces.
• Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets
• Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide.

• You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
• As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the their final position
• You will visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
• Total treatment time averages 9 - 15 months and the average number of aligners during treatment is 18 - 30, but both will vary from case to case.

The aligners are made through a combination of our expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.

For further information, visit invisalign website: http://www.invisalign.com

Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco.
Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.

One type of stain-caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis-actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don't help. Another type of stain-one that can be more easily attached by brushing, flossing and rinsing-is caused by external factors such as foods.

More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains.

Some commercially available "whitening toothpastes" can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's enamel.

Whitening agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products also are not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case).

Professional whitening performed by our office is considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely.

1. Zoom: 1 hour laser treatment
2. Customized take home trays
3. Oral B whitening strips

Composite resin consists of glass or quartz filler added to a resin medium, which produces a tooth-colored filling. The invention of composite resin offers a substitute to the amalgam dental fillings we've grown so accustomed to. This plastic and glass mixture contains no metal and can be shaped to resemble a real tooth. Onlookers usually can't tell that a tooth has even been filled!
For years, amalgam was the only option for filling teeth. Those who wanted natural-looking restorations had to opt for more expensive cosmetic treatments, such as crowns. Composite resin enables dentists to cosmetically treat dental cavities without using invasive procedures.

As you might imagine, patients often choose composite resin for aesthetic purposes. But dentists have other reasons to promote composite resin as a dental filling material. While amalgam fillings require a larger section of the tooth to be removed, dentists only need to drill away the diseased part of the tooth to place composite resin. This preserves the existing tooth structure for years to come.

Amalgam tends to expand and contract with heat, causing teeth to crack. Composite is actually bonded to the tooth, however, and can withstand the pressure from chewing rather well. Composite resin also supports the tooth structure, insulates it from extreme temperatures, and remains sturdy when used for small to medium dental fillings.

Dentures have been a staple in tooth replacement for years, and they continue to improve the dental health of millions of missing teeth sufferers. Whether you need a full or partial denture, tooth replacement is a must to preserve your dental health! Dentures have come a long way over the years! Flexible dentures have been created with your comfort in mind, and modern dentures now look more like your natural teeth than ever! And with our tips on proper denture care, you can preserve the life of your dentures for years to come!

Do you have questions or concerns about your mouth, teeth, or smile? Would you prefer to discuss your cosmetic or general dentistry needs with a doctor before having an exam and x-rays? If so, schedule a consultation visit. At this visit you will have the opportunity to discuss your questions and concerns. We will take digital photographs of your smile and your teeth. Together, you and the doctor will view the photos and devise a custom treatment plan to achieve your goals. After your customized treatment plan is created, your personal treatment consultant will discuss fees for treatment and convenient financial options with you. Your treatment consultant will work with you to schedule treatment as you move forward to achieve your dental goals.

By the time you complete your consultation visit, you will feel as though you are already a part of our patient family. You will also have an assistant you know by name who will walk you through treatment and be available to you via e-mail or phone to answer any future questions or concerns. Ardent Smile patients like that they see the same faces each time they return for appointments.

• Oral cancer kills one person every hour of every day in North America
  
• Oral cancer has three times as many victims as cervical cancer
  
• You are at an increased risk of developing oral cancer if you smoke, drink alcohol, and/or are over 40
  
• Nearly half of oral cancer patients are expected to die within 5 years of diagnosis, but it is 80 to 90% survivable if diagnosed early
  
• Unfortunately, only 35% of oral cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages
  
• Fortunately, the VELscope System can help your dentist detect oral mucosal abnormalities that may not be visible or apparent to the naked eye, such as oral cancer or pre-malignant dysplasia
  

Ask your dentist for your oral mucosal exam with the VELscope System today… It’s quick, painless, and it may save your life!

Preventative care is the most important dental care there is. Attending regularly scheduled cleaning and exam appointments with current x-rays are important to monitor your oral health. The American Medical Association and American Dental Association have linked oral health and systematic diseases; such as heart disease, diabetes, lower birth weight babies, and respiratory infections, making your oral health more important. In addition, preventative visits are imperative for early detection of periodontal disease, oral cancers and tooth decay. While most people attend two preventative visits per year, it is not uncommon for some people to need additional care due to unusual bleeding, heavier build-up or periodontal conditions.

Although most insurance companies will only pay for two preventative treatments per year, insurance benefits should not dictate your treatment.

Have you ever been told that you grind your teeth? Tooth grinding (bruxium) is an oral habit which involves clenching or grinding of the teeth. It is not uncommon in our society. Most often, this habit goes unnoticed by the person. Bruxium can occur during the day or the night.

• Tooth wears
• Fractures of teeth or fillings
• Grinding noises noticed by a sleeping partner
• Facial muscle pain or jaw fatigue
• Locking, cracking or clicking of the jaw
• Headaches
• Tooth mobility
• Sensitive teeth

• We can make you aware of the habit and suggest behavioral therapies to stop bruxium.
• A removable intraoral appliance can be custom-made called a night guard or bruxium splint. The mouth guard protects the teeth from clenching and grinding the teeth together.

Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied in the dental office on chewing surfaces of the back teeth, a prime spot for cavities. Sealants act as a barrier to prevent bacteria and food from collecting in the grooves and pits of teeth.

Sealants are best treated to permanent first molars which erupt at around the age of 6 and second molars that erupt around the age of 12. It is important to have the sealant applied as soon as the tooth has fully come in. They are also indicated on pre-molars if there are deep pits and fissures present.

Before the sealant material is applied, the tooth surface is prepared by using a dental solution which cleans the surface and helps the sealant to stick to the tooth by penetrating the enamel.

Sealants may last several years once applied, but should always be examined at the child’s routine check-up. Even if the sealant becomes lost, the material that has penetrated the enamel will still provide protection. Sealants are easily replaced if lost.

Sealants are nearly 100% effective in preventing tooth decay in the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Fluoride helps fight decay on the smooth surfaces of the teeth.

We use a technique called “digital radiography” which utilizes an electronic sensor (instead of X-ray film) to capture an electronic dental image that can be viewed almost immediately on a computer screen. One of the biggest benefits of this innovation is the substantial reduction in radiation exposure—up to 90% less in comparison to traditional X-rays. It’s definitely a better health option.

With the use of a miniature camera that is capable of capturing color images inside your mouth, you will see exactly what is being done during an office visit on an overhead monitor. By being able to view the problems in your mouth, you can be more aware and involved in your treatment plan.

X-rays will be taken of your teeth to see the bone level around the teeth and to look for caked up colonies of bacteria or calculus under your gums. An instrument called a periodontal probe is used to gently measure the depth of the sulcus (the shallow v-shaped crevice between your teeth and gums). A healthy sulcus depth is usually three millimeters or less. The periodontal probe is also used to study the topography or contour of the bone under your gums. Healthy gum tissue does not bleed. Bleeding upon probing, indicates you have a problem called inflammation which is caused by bacteria. Inflammation causes the sulcus to deepen into a pocket. Generally, the more severe the inflammatory disease, the deeper the pocket.

Your periodontal risk factors as determined by your history, x-rays and probing will dictate how aggressively and quickly your dentist works to eliminate inflammation in your mouth and limit it's effects on your total body health. Because periodontal disease can cycle up and down in intensity over time, your dentist will also set up a monitoring program based on your risk factors and your body's response to your initial therapy.

Our hygienists use an ultrasonic scaling device that emits a very controlled, high-pressure stream of water to remove plaque from your teeth. Faster and far more comfortable than traditional methods of cleaning teeth, you’ll be sold the first time you visit one of our hygienists.

Our goal is to help you to minimize the risk of emergency treatment. This is why we commit a generous amount of time designing a Treatment Plan that will help you to offset the possibility of unforeseen pain or tooth breakage. If you need to get in touch with us after hours, our emergency phone number is 215-390-6810.