Dental Solutions - Page 2
Non-metal Fillings
Composites if placed with exacting technique (rubber dam isolation and modern bonding agents) get as close as we have ever been able to restore the tooth to its original strength in the most conservative fashion. The composites are a very hard "plastic" that bonds (micromechanically fuse) to the tooth to hold the tooth together. Amalgams have multiple disadvantages. Amalgam is a metal which expands and contracts with hot, cold and biting. Therefore, with every meal the teeth are being weakened and over time and depending on the size of the filling the tooth becomes susceptible to fracturing. Amalgam also contains mercury which is a very toxic element. The literature is very unclear as to the amount of mercury that is released from amalgams and the long term effects on the entire body.
Crowns
Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place by South Dakota Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jeff Loftus, fully cup over the portion of a tooth which lies at and above the gum line. Crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth. A dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface.
Bridges
A Bridge is a custom device anchored to neighboring teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. When a lost tooth is replaced with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one are prepared as crowns to serve as abutments to hold the prosthetic (replacement) tooth in place. Crowns and bridges are most commonly prepared from high quality materials such as semiprecious or precious metals, porcelain, or a fused combination of the two. Aesthetics, function, and tissue compatibility are considered when selecting the material most suitable for you.
Bonding
The application of tooth colored filling material (composite) to the teeth has been a dental technique for many years. Recent advances have increased the strength, durability, and longevity of these restorations. Bonding material can be molded and shaped to achieve outstanding results including tooth lightening, closing spaces between teeth, making teeth appear straighter, and repairing chips and cracks. When polished it gives the appearance of natural tooth structure.
Teeth Whitening
People with stained or discolored teeth may just need a whitening procedure in order to restore their smile. Teeth Whitening is a safe and effective way to brighten stained, discolored or dull teeth. Even a stubborn single tooth that is noticeably duller or less white than your other teeth can be individually brighten. Teeth bleaching products, which contain peroxides, actually change your natural tooth color anywhere from five to seven -- but even up to twelve -- shades brighter. You too can have the white smile you have always dreamed about!
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Dr. Jeff Loftus, DDS, LVI Dentist - Providing services in Smile Makeovers, TMJ Treatment and Cosmetic Dentistry to the area of Rapid City, South Dakota (SD).
Rapid City SD cosmetic dentistry
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