SERVICES AND PROCEDURES

Rehabilitating Full Dental Function

Dental problems are common throughout in all the world. Poor dental hygiene, genetics, mouth traumas and aging are just some of the factors that can contribute to teeth and gum problems. Restorative dentistry is a collection of dental treatments and dental prosthetics designed to rehabilitate damaged teeth and gums. You may be a great candidate for restorative dentistry if you are unhappy with one or more of the following issues:

• Missing teeth
• Chipped teeth
• Cracked teeth
• Worn teeth
• Yellowed, discolored teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Inflamed, infected gums
• Recessed gums

You may feel too embarrassed to smile and laugh freely as a result of these dental problems. The constant feeling of repressing your joy can be a heavy burden to live with every day. With restorative dentistry you can enjoy the confidence and improved self-esteem that comes with an outstanding smile.

Not only are these problems cosmetically undesirable, they can also affect the function and health of your teeth and gums. Cosmetics and function are not mutually exclusive in dentistry. We fully understand this relationship between aesthetics and function, and we approach your care comprehensively to improve all aspects of your smile and dental health.

A Comprehensive Approach to Restoring Your Smile

As a extensively experienced dentists, Dr. Shimizu can determine the right combination of restorative treatments to rehabilitate your smile and dental health.

Possible dentistry treatments may include:

• Dental implants
• Dental crowns
• Dental Bridges
• Porcelain veneers
• Porcelain fillings

These are just some of the possibilities. We have wide-ranging skills that allow us to provide the right combination of treatments for your specific dental issues.

Crowns

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.

Soft, moldable material is used to make a precise “impression” of the tooth to be crowned and nearby teeth. A dental technician uses the impression to make the crown the exact height needed. A temporary crown made of plastic or metal is put over the tooth until the crown is made. When the porcelain crown is fitted, small adjustments are made to ensure you retain your natural bite. Depending on the strength of the tooth underneath, with good dental hygiene, a crown can last for many years.

Bridges

Dental bridges are natural-looking dental appliances used to replace one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made out of three pieces that fit into the open space between teeth, “bridging” the gap. Most bridges are made of a pontic tooth (or false tooth), held together by two crowns (a “cap” that covers the tooth, approximating its normal size and shape). This combination is then attached (cemented) to the abutment teeth (the surrounding teeth on each side of the gap).

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.

 

Dentures

Dentures are designed to replace missing teeth and are worn by millions of citizens. Technological advancements have resulted indentures that are lightweight and mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Most dentures are made from a combination of metals and synthetic material such as acrylic resin.

Types of dentures

Dentures are generally classified as partial or full. Partial dentures are designed to replace a small section of teeth, and help prevent existing healthy natural teeth from shifting position; full dentures generally replace an entire set of teeth such as upper and lower dentures.

Many candidates for conventional dentures (also called “immediate” dentures) are able to wear the appliances immediately following removal of affected natural teeth.

Before immediate dentures are worn, a mold of the patient’s mouth – specifically the jaws – must be made in order for the dentures to be customized for the individual.

Partial dentures, also sometimes called “overdentures,” are designed to fit over a small section of implants or natural teeth. Partial dentures are characteristic by their pinkish gum-like plastic bases, on to which replacement teeth are attached. Small clasps are used to attach the denture to existing teeth. Some clasps, which can be more expensive, are made of a natural-looking material that is hard-to-detect.

In some cases, a crown will be installed on an existing healthy tooth to facilitate a better hold for the clasp.

How are dentures made?

Denture candidates can expect to have their appliances fitted after about five visits. The process takes about a month.

During the first visit after diagnosis, your mouth and jaw are measured and an impression is made. The impression is critical for ensuring proper bite relationship, as well as the proper relationship of the appliance to the size of your face.

After the impression is made, a temporary set of dentures may be applied so the patient can ensure that the fit, color and shape are suitable.

Getting used to your denture

New dentures do take some time getting used to. Wearers can expect this period of adjustment to last as long as two months.

Some denture wearers need to wear their dentures without removing them for a certain period of time. This allows your dentist to make the critical initial adjustments for proper fit, and to identify any pressure points that may be causing discomfort.

Care of your denture

Dentures today are made from very advanced materials designed to give you a natural appearance.

However, keep in mind that just like your teeth, dentures should be cared for with diligence. This means daily brushing and regular visits to your dentist for minor adjustments.

Just like natural teeth, dentures need to be cleansed of plaque, food particles and other debris. Keeping your dentures in top shape will also help keep the soft tissues of your mouth healthy; an unclean or malformed denture can cause infections and irritation.

Remember to rinse and brush your dentures after every meal, and soak them in denture solution overnight. This also allows your gums to breathe while you sleep.

Dental implants

Dental implants can improve a patients’ overall health, while helping them gain the confidence that comes from a well-functioning smile that looks good and feels natural.

There are many benefits to replacing missing teeth with dental implants, chiefly that they:

• Maintain the integrity of bone structure after tooth loss
• Preserve the health of adjacent teeth, since there is no need for bridgework
• Replace loose-fitting dentures
• Distribute bite forces evenly throughout the mouth
• Function and feel like natural teeth
• Improve speaking ability when bulky dentures are eliminated
• Improve facial appearance by preventing bone loss

Why Dental Implants?

Losing a tooth can be devastating, not only because it affects the way you look, but also because it can lead to other physical problems that may affect your health and prevent you from smiling with confidence. It is vitally important to replace missing teeth with dental implants promptly in order to prevent health consequences such as:

• Bone loss
• Shifting and drifting of the teeth
• Alteration in the bite as a result of shifting teeth
• Jaw joint problems
• Difficulty in chewing properly
• Additional stress on the remaining teeth

Root canal

Inside of each of your teeth is a pulp chamber in which can be found the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue that help the roots of your teeth grow during development. When the pulp in this chamber becomes infected – known as an abscess tooth –  it becomes necessary to remove the infection in order to prevent tooth loss and other potentially serious consequences. The procedure to remove infection is known as root canal therapy or, more commonly, a root canal, and it is a safe, effective, and quick way to preserve the quality and appearance of your smile.

Symptoms of Tooth Infection

Symptoms that indicate a root canal may be necessary include:

• Throbbing toothache
• Pain when chewing or biting
• Heightened sensitivity to heat and cold
• Persistent bad breath
• Swelling of lymph nodes in the neck
• Facial swelling
• Fever

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you likely have an abscessed tooth. Left untreated, the infection can spread to the jaw and throughout the face, resulting in systemic infection. An untreated tooth abscess can also result in tooth loss, necessitating advanced restorative services to preserve the quality and function of the smile.

ALLOW YOU TO BE AN ACTIVE  PARTNER IN YOUR DENTAL TREATMENT BY ENABLING YOU TO SEE WHAT WE SEE INSIDE YOUR MOUTH. WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR DENTAL CONDITIONS. THE IMAGES ARE DISPLAYED ON A SCREEN, SO YOU BE ABLE TO SEE PROBLEMS SUCH A BROKEN FILLINGS, CRAKED TEETH, PLAQUE DESPOSIT. CAVITIES NEXT TO FILLINGS, ETC..

Is a form of X-ray imaging, where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film. Advantages include time efficiency through bypassing chemical processing and the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Also less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography.

It is an electronic device used in the implementation of local anesthetics, prior to a dental procedure, which has the careful dispense the proportions of product already calculated. Manages the amount of anesthesia required, and dispenses the volume and speed with which it is injected. In this way avoids the unnecessary pain and discomfort to the patient.

In our office, we practice the highest standard of infection control possible.  For our safety as well as yours, much of what we use here is disposable ( gloves, face mask, sirynges , etc. )  All surfaces (chairs, drawer handles, countertops, x-ray units, etc.) are cleaned with a powerful disinfectant that kills all strains of germs and bacteria and any item(s) containing blood or saliva are disposed in labeled sharp containers and bio-hazard waste baskets.