Restorative Dentistry in Cave Creek AZ

Dentures act as a replacement for entire sets of teeth on the upper and lower gums, but dental implants are a more specific technique that replaces an individual tooth. If you have lost only a few teeth due to dental work, or mishap, a dental implant is an excellent substitute.

It should be noted that dental implants, while a durable solution, may also require some extra care. A dental implant essentially affixes a titanium screw into the gums and bone, to which the implant itself is attached. One of the properties of titanium, aside from being an incredibly tough metal, is that it does not provoke a response from the immune system. Extra care should be taken to ensure the gums around the implant are kept clean. If bacteria get into the sensitive gum area around the screw, it could lead to infection.

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A dental crown is a cap that fits over a damaged tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength, as well as improve its appearance. Crowns are made of various materials, including metal, ceramic, resin, or porcelain-fused-to-metal.

When a crown is needed, our dentist in Cave Creek AZ will first prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping it to fit inside the crown. Then, they will take an impression of the tooth and send it to a lab where the crown will be made. Once it is ready, they will fit the crown over the tooth and bond it in place.

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A dental bridge in Cave Creek, AZ, is a fixed dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth by bridging the gap between adjacent natural teeth or dental implants. The bridge consists of artificial teeth, known as pontics, anchored in place by dental crowns attached to the healthy teeth on either side of the gap or by dental implants.

Dental bridges are custom-made to match the natural color and contour of the patient's teeth, restoring their ability to chew and speak properly while maintaining the surrounding teeth' alignment. By filling the space left by missing teeth, dental bridges help improve both the function and appearance of the patient's smile, enhancing their overall oral health and confidence.

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Dentures or "false teeth" as they are more commonly known have been a reliable oral tool for centuries.

Regular dentures are a full replacement of both sets of teeth, both upper and lower. Partial dentures are any number of configurations for people that may still have some functioning teeth remaining that they wish to keep. This includes some back teeth, front teeth, or any other combination.

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Some people may have either a "gummy" or a "toothy" smile. All this means is that the ratio of how much gum appears versus teeth may be off-balance compared to what most people are used to seeing. A "gum lift" is a surgical technique originally used strictly for gum health reasons to reshape gum tissue or the bone underneath on which the gum was fixed.

Today, a gum lift is used to sculpt the way the gums appear in the mouth. This creates proportions that are more normal and evens out any irregularities in the gum distribution for a more symmetrical smile.

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A filling is a restorative treatment that is used to repair a tooth that has been damaged by decay or trauma. The dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then fill the hole with a material such as silver amalgam, composite resin, porcelain, gold alloy, or glass ionomer. Fillings are a standard procedure that dentists perform regularly.

Tooth-colored fillings are dental fillings that restore and mimic the natural appearance of tooth structure. In addition to restoring teeth that have fractured or decayed, tooth-colored fillings may also be used cosmetically to change the size, color, and shape of teeth.

A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain placed over the front of a tooth to improve its appearance. Dental veneers are custom-made for each patient and are bonded to the tooth’s front surface using special cement. They are used to correct cosmetic issues such as chipped or cracked teeth, gaps between teeth, stained teeth, and misaligned teeth.

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