General Dental Care

The most commonly used filling is called a composite filling.  It is tooth colored and because it actually bonds to the tooth, the preparation is much more conservative than a silver filling. The decay is removed, and a bonding agent is applied to make the filling stick to the tooth. The composite is placed and then cured with a special light.

Although Dr. Turner predominantly places composite filling, she will occasionally place the silver fillings, called amalgam, if a patient so desires.

When a person’s tooth is compromised or damaged due to excessive wear, chipping, large fillings or root canals, the best course of treatment is to place a crown or cap over the tooth. Years ago, crowns were gold in color, but with newer, stronger and more esthetic materials available, crowns today can look just like a natural tooth. It usually takes two appointments to get fitted for a dental crown.  The first appointment is to get the tooth shaped, and impression made, and to be fitted for a temporary crown. On the next visit, the temporary crown is removed. The permanent crown is adjusted and cemented.

Dental bridges, also known as fixed partial dentures, are devises that replace missing teeth and fill in spaces in the mouth. Essentially, the teeth next to the spaces are prepared for crowns. Attached to these crowns are the pontics, false teeth that replace the missing teeth.  The crowns and pontics are made connected together and then cemented in the mouth. The devise is not removable, except by a dental professional.

A denture is made when a person is missing all of the natural teeth. It is usually made of pink acrylic to match the shade of the gums, and then has teeth that are either made of porcelain or acrylic. An upper denture is fitted over the palate.  A lower denture is horse shoe shaped.

A conventional denture is made after all of the teeth have been removed. An immediate denture is inserted at the same time the teeth are extracted.

Dentures can last many years, but over time can become loose and need to be relined. After many years and normal changes in the mouth and jaws along with the gums receding, the dentures should be replaced.  Regular dental check ups are still important even for people wearing dentures to check for any changes, abnormal conditions or diseases in the mouth.

When someone is missing multiple teeth, one of the options of restoring the spaces is a removable partial denture, also called “a partial”. It is similar to a denture, in that it is taken in and out of the mouth.  It is held on by clasps or special attachments.

Endodontic procedure, also known as a root canal, is a dental procedure to remove the bad life supply in the tooth.  In the center of the tooth is the pulp.  The pulp consists of the blood supply for the tooth and also the nerve.  The pulp can become irreversibly inflamed, diseased and infected by a number of causes.  They include trauma to the tooth, cracks, fractures, deep fillings, and multiple procedures on the same tooth. In order to save the tooth, a root canal is performed.  A small hole is placed in the tooth to gain access to the pulp.  The pulp is removed and a special filling material is placed in the canals.  The tooth is no longer alive, but it is still functional in the mouth.  Many times, once a tooth has a root canal, it also should have a crown placed over it.

Sometimes it is necessary to remove a tooth from the mouth. It may be because the tooth is cracked in a way that it cannot be saved; it may have a severe amount of decay; it may have very bad bone loss due to periodontal disease.  If you and Dr. Turner decide that an extraction is necessary, you will be given an local anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding area. Sometimes the tooth can be taken out in one piece.  Sometimes it is too broken down and needs to be sectioned. Although you will feel some pressure, you shouldn’t feel any pain.

 While a dental crown is fitted to a tooth with an existing root structure, a dental implant crown replaces an entire tooth or teeth, including the root. Unlike a dental crown that sits above the gumline, an implant is placed into the jawbone, and a dental implant crown is then attached by a screw. The implant is below the gum line and not visible. Dental implant crowns are incredibly durable and can last a long time, but you still need to take care of them, making sure the gum around the implant is always clean. Even though it has an artificial root structure and tooth, infection can still occur, and the implant may need to be removed. A significant difference between a crown and an implant crown is that implants don’t damage your healthy teeth or affect their functionality.

In-office tooth whitening, also known as dental bleaching, is a popular esthetic procedure and can be performed using a wide range of techniques and application protocols.

Periodontal disease is a condition that affects many people. The main cause of periodontal disease is plaque and tartar that are left of the teeth for an extended period of time. This causes inflammation, bleeding, and recession of the gums as well as bone loss.  Special instruments are used the clean the pockets around the teeth that are created when gum disease is active. This is sometimes called a “deep cleaning”. If the periodontal disease becomes too extensive, the patient may need to see a periodontist to have surgery on the gingiva and bone to create a healthier mouth.