Dental Implants
Implants are made of titanium and have special coatings that encourage the fusing of human bone. The top of each implant has an internal screw channel so that crowns, bridges, and or dentures can be screwed in place.
Crowns & Bridgework
Crowns & Bridgework
A crown completely covers a tooth above the gum line. This is in contrast to a dental veneer, which only covers a tooth’s front surface and needs a natural tooth structure to support it. Therefore, if a tooth is missing a significant amount of structure above the gum line, a crown would be the restoration of choice.
Crowns strengthen damaged teeth, allowing them to function normally again. When crafted from today’s high-tech porcelains (dental ceramics), crowns are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. They can even be designed to improve upon a tooth’s original appearance.
There are other materials besides porcelain that we can use to make dental crowns, depending on what qualities are most important. For durability, cast gold can’t be beaten. However, this is not always the most aesthetic choice — especially towards the front of the mouth. Other possibilities include porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns (PFM), which have a metal interior for strength and a porcelain exterior for a more natural appearance, and all-porcelain crowns with zirconia, representing the strongest ceramic. We would be happy to discuss the pros and cons of these various options with you.
Crowning or Capping a Tooth
Crowning or capping a tooth will usually take two to three visits. At the first visit, your tooth is prepared to receive its new crown. First, it is shaped to fit inside the new covering. This will involve some drilling to give the tooth a uniform shape. The tooth and the surrounding area will be numbed beforehand. If there is very little tooth structure left to begin with, the tooth may have to be built up with filling material, rather than filed down, to support the crown.
After the tooth is prepared, impressions of your teeth are taken, either digitally or with reliable, putty-like impression materials, and sent to the dental laboratory. There, the impressions will be used to make models of your teeth for the creation of a crown. The models will serve as guides to the highly skilled lab technicians, who will ensure that your new crown is designed to enhance your smile and function well within your bite.
Before you leave the office, a temporary crown will be attached to your tooth to protect it until the permanent crown is ready. At the second visit, your permanent crown will be attached to your tooth with either a resin that hardens when exposed to a special light source, or a type of permanent cement.
Creating a Bridge
Crowns can also be used to create a lifelike replacement for a missing tooth. This is done with bridgework, which spans the space of the missing tooth and requires at least three crowns. Two of those crowns will be placed over healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth; these healthy teeth are referred to as abutment teeth. The two crowned abutment teeth become supports for a third crown placed in between them; that third crown is referred to as a pontic. If more than one tooth is missing, more crowns will be needed to bridge the gap in between the abutment teeth.
The number of abutment teeth necessary to replace missing teeth is influenced by the number of missing teeth, the size, and length of the abutment tooth roots, the amount of bone support each abutment tooth has, as well as where in the mouth the missing tooth is located. For example, if you have three missing teeth, four abutment teeth may be necessary, thereby creating a seven-tooth bridge. Engineering and designing the bridge requires an understanding of how to replace teeth, as well as the biology of the supporting gum and bone tissue.
Caring for Your Crowns & Bridgework
Crowns and bridgework require the same conscientious care as your natural teeth. Be sure to brush and floss between all of your teeth — restored and natural — every day to reduce the buildup of dental plaque. When you have crowns, it is even more important to maintain your regular schedule of cleanings at the dental office. Avoid using your teeth as tools (to open packages, for example). If you have a grinding habit, wearing a nightguard would be a good idea to protect your teeth and your investment.
Related Services:
General Dentistry
Looking for top-notch dental care in Louisville? Look no further than Davis Dental Center! Our expert team is ready to provide you with comprehensive general dentistry care.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Your search for exceptional cosmetic dentistry in Louisville ends at Davis Dental Center! Our dedicated team specializes in all aspects of cosmetic dental care.
iTero® Digital Dentistry
Begin your journey toward a radiant smile and healthier gums with Gingivitis Treatment.
Fluoride Treatment
Looking for a preventive defense against tooth decay? Fluoride treatment might be right for you.
Dental Sealants
Dental Sealants are a simple, effective, and affordable way to help reduce the risk of cavities.
Gingivitis Treatment
Begin your journey toward a radiant smile and healthier gums with Gingivitis Treatment.
Dental Bridges
A bridge is placed to correct teeth that sit on either side of a gap. A dental bridge can restore your smile, while also maintaining your face shape.
Root Canal
A root canal, also called endodontic treatment or therapy is a dental procedure to help save a tooth with inflamed or infected pulp tissue. If you are having pain while chewing, swollen gums, or sensitivity, you may need this procedure.
Invisalign
Tooth Extractions
While many of us do our best to keep our teeth healthy, sometimes a tooth needs to be taken out to keep you healthy. In these cases, an extraction is necessary.
Teeth Cleaning
At Davis Dental, we believe that getting your teeth cleaned every 6 months keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
Dentures
Tooth loss is challenging on many levels. Not only can it affect what you eat and how you chew leading to more serious health concerns, but it can also make you feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.
Active Promotion
Emergency Dentistry
You never know when a dental emergency will happen. Thankfully, Davis Dental Center is Louisville’s most trusted Dental Emergency team. We have a team of dental experts to serve you.
All On X Dental Implants
With All on X implants/dentures, patients can enjoy the full functionality and appearance of natural teeth. Payment Plans Available. *some restrictions apply
Facial Trauma
Whether the facial injuries are to the teeth, bone structures, or the facial soft tissues; you can trust that the care you'll receive at Davis Dental Center will be understanding, compassionate, and expertly qualified to restore your smile to its healthy and natural state.
Sedation Dentistry
Davis Dental Center has the credentials necessary to perform conscious sedation dentistry.
TMD
If you experience ongoing pain in the area near your ear, your jaw, or the muscles on the side of your face, possibly accompanied by a clicking or popping sound or restricted jaw movement, you may be suffering from TMD — an abbreviation for Temporomandibular disorders.
Periodontal Therapy
It is not a given that we must lose teeth as we age. If we maintain good oral hygiene and have regular professional cleanings and oral examinations, chances are we can keep our natural teeth for life.
Oral Cancer Screening
Although oral cancer may not get as much attention as some more widely-known types of cancer, that doesn't mean it's any less deadly. In fact, it is estimated that in the United States, oral cancer is responsible for killing one person every hour, every day.
Crowns & Bridgework
Dentistry is an art as well as a science; dental crowns offer a perfect example of this. A dental crown or “cap” is a covering that fits over a damaged, decayed, or unattractive tooth. It can even replace a tooth entirely as part of dental bridgework.
Dental Bonding
We are proud of the ways in which dentistry can restore broken or decayed teeth to full beauty and function. One of the easiest and least expensive ways of doing this is with dental bonding.
Clear Aligners
Straighten your teeth with a clear alternative to metal braces. (For Example: Invisalign®)
Clear aligners are a removable, discreet orthodontic treatment. They consist of a series of trays that you wear for several weeks at a time. As your teeth gently move into position, you start using the next set of trays.
Botox and Dermal Fillers
Botox and Dermal Fillings, can also be used to treat some TMJ/TMD issues.
Dentures
Tooth loss is challenging on many levels. Not only can it affect what you eat and how you chew leading to more serious health concerns, it can also make you feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.
Extractions
While many of us do our best to keep our teeth healthy, sometimes a tooth needs to be taken out to keep you healthy. In these cases, an extraction is necessary.
Fillings
Dental fillings are the most conservative way to restore smaller areas of tooth decay. In a dental expert's hands, these types of restorations can be made to conserve as much of your natural tooth as possible while providing a restoration that is almost indistinguishable from the natural tooth. Both resin and porcelain fillings can be adhesively bonded to your natural tooth to add strength.
Teeth Whitening
Let our team help you determine what whitening process is right for you, based on the current color and condition of your teeth.
Veneers
Our veneers are designed to look and fit naturally over your teeth. Remember, veneers are a permanent dental solution.
