A Committment to Modern Dental Care in a Fun Caring Environment
Restore Your Smile
402.362.3222
Improve Your Smile
Main Page
622 Burlington Ave.
Medical History
Meet The Staff
Restoring Your Smile
Research has shown that almost everybody has a 95% chance of experiencing some tooth decay. When tooth decay does occur, it is highly important to remove the decay, clean the tooth and repair the tooth with some type of restoration. In addition, lost or missing teeth need to be replaced to protect your overall oral health.
Silver Fillings
An inexpensive way to restore a small amount of tooth decay
A silver (or amalgam) filling is a mixture of approximately 50% silver/tin and 50% mercury. After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this gray colored material is packed into the tooth and shaped.
The advantages are that silver fillings have been used for more than 125 years. They are quickly placed, making them relatively inexpensive and they are relatively durable.
The disadvantages are that silver fillings to not bond to the tooth structure. This requires the preparation to be "undercut", creating a chamber that is smaller at the surface of the tooth and wider inside. This undercut keeps the filling from falling out of the tooth. The problem is that the creation of this undercut requires the removal of more healthy tooth structure than is necessary. This weakens the tooth and predisposes if to fracture when biting on hard items. Since fillings will break down from normal wear, they will eventually need to be replaced, and this will require the removal of even more healthy tooth structure.
The alternative is a composite (white) filling. These fillings limit the removal of healthy tissue and pose no known environmental risk. In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are a much better restoration.
Composite Fillings
A composite filling is a tooth colored quartz-like material. After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this material is layered into the tooth. Each layer is hardened and cured with highly intensive visible light, and the final surface is shaped and polished to the match the tooth. The final restoration is virtually invisible.
The advantages of composite fillings is that they are more than just attractive. They are stronger because they bond directly to the surface of the tooth. They protect the tooth from fracturing because they don't require the severe undercut of a mercury filling.
The disadvantage is the cost. This is due to the fact that the composite material is more expensive and the restoration is more difficult and time consuming to place. However, this initial higher investment is offset in the long run by the health benefits and reduced likelihood of restoring potentially fractured teeth.
The alternatives include inlays/onlays, which offer excellent long term durability. In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are the only alternative.
Crowns
A crown (often called a cap) covers the tooth and restores it to it's original shape and size. Decay is removed and cleaned from the tooth and a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared surface. This mold is used to create a model of the tooth which is then sent to a special laboratory that will create a gold or porcelain (tooth colored) crown. The crown is then cemented onto the prepared surface of the tooth.
The advantage is that crowns are incredibly strong due to the fact that they are created in a laboratory. This protects and strengthens the remaining tooth structure. In the hands of a skilled dentist, a crown will fit almost perfectly onto the prepared surface of the tooth, reducing the size of the seam between the crown and the tooth. This helps keep decay from eventually occurring under the crown. Crowns should be placed before a tooth is so decayed that it may fracture. This often helps prevent the expense of root canal therapy in the future. It can also prevent the possibility that a fractured tooth may need to be removed, requiring the expense of a bridge or implant to replace the missing tooth.
Crowns have few disadvantages. They are highly durable, but they will eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced due to normal wear. Occasionally, a tooth may still need root canal therapy after being crowned. However, this indicates that the interior of the tooth was already infected and would have eventually needed root canal therapy anyway.
In the event that a tooth is so decayed or fractured that it needs to be removed, the best alternatives to a crown are bridges and implants that replace the missing tooth.
Fixed Bridges
A Great Way to replace missing teeth
A bridge is a single appliance that is generally attached to two teeth on each side of the space where a tooth is missing. An artificial tooth attached in the middle of the bridge fills in the gap where the missing tooth was. The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared for crowns and a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared area. This mold is used to create a gold or porcelain bridge in a special laboratory. The bridge is then cemented onto the prepared surface of the teeth, effectively creating the appearance of a "new" tooth.
In some instances, a resin-bonded bridge may be used. In this case, the two teeth on each side of the gap are not prepared for crowns. Instead, the bridge consists of a false tooth with metal brackets on the back of each side of the gap. The brackets are attached to the backs of the real teeth on each side.
The advantage is that unlike dentures, a fixed bridge is never removed. It is stable in the mouth and works very similar to natural teeth. By filling the gap and stopping the movement of other teeth, a fixed bridge is an excellent investment, providing better chewing ability, heading off jaw joint problems and saving money that might otherwise be spent on future dental treatment.
Fixed bridges are excellent restorations and have few disadvantages. They are highly durable, but they will eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced due to normal wear.
In the event that the use of a fixed bridge is not feasible, the best alternative is a dental implant.
Root Canal Therapy
Protect and keep a sick or dying tooth
Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber that contains the nerves and blood supply for the tooth. When the pulp becomes infected due to decay or injury to the tooth, the pulp must be removed from the center of the tooth and the canals of each root. Once the infected pulp is removed, the remaining chamber is filled with a rubber-based material to seal it off.
All teeth that have had root canal therapy must be protected with a tooth-like artificial crown. This is because teeth that have had the pulp removed are more susceptible to fracture.
Root canal therapy is an excellent way to save a tooth that would otherwise die and need to be removed. If a tooth is sick, there are no disadvantages to root canal therapy. On rare occasions, however, root canal therapy may need to be redone to ensure that all of the infection has been removed.
The only real alternative is to remove the sick tooth. However, this will require a dental implant or bridge to fill the empty space and prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth. These solutions will ultimately cost more than the root canal therapy, and they will never equal the quality of keeping your natural tooth.
Research has shown that almost everybody has a 95% chance of experiencing some tooth decay. When tooth decay does occur, it is highly important to remove the decay, clean the tooth and repair the tooth with some type of restoration. In addition, lost or missing teeth need to be replaced to protect your overall oral health.
Silver Fillings
An inexpensive way to restore a small amount of tooth decay
A silver (or amalgam) filling is a mixture of approximately 50% silver/tin and 50% mercury. After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this gray colored material is packed into the tooth and shaped.
The advantages are that silver fillings have been used for more than 125 years. They are quickly placed, making them relatively inexpensive and they are relatively durable.
The disadvantages are that silver fillings to not bond to the tooth structure. This requires the preparation to be "undercut", creating a chamber that is smaller at the surface of the tooth and wider inside. This undercut keeps the filling from falling out of the tooth. The problem is that the creation of this undercut requires the removal of more healthy tooth structure than is necessary. This weakens the tooth and predisposes if to fracture when biting on hard items. Since fillings will break down from normal wear, they will eventually need to be replaced, and this will require the removal of even more healthy tooth structure.
The alternative is a composite (white) filling. These fillings limit the removal of healthy tissue and pose no known environmental risk. In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are a much better restoration.
Composite Fillings
A composite filling is a tooth colored quartz-like material. After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this material is layered into the tooth. Each layer is hardened and cured with highly intensive visible light, and the final surface is shaped and polished to the match the tooth. The final restoration is virtually invisible.
The advantages of composite fillings is that they are more than just attractive. They are stronger because they bond directly to the surface of the tooth. They protect the tooth from fracturing because they don't require the severe undercut of a mercury filling.
The disadvantage is the cost. This is due to the fact that the composite material is more expensive and the restoration is more difficult and time consuming to place. However, this initial higher investment is offset in the long run by the health benefits and reduced likelihood of restoring potentially fractured teeth.
The alternatives include inlays/onlays, which offer excellent long term durability. In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are the only alternative.
Crowns
A crown (often called a cap) covers the tooth and restores it to it's original shape and size. Decay is removed and cleaned from the tooth and a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared surface. This mold is used to create a model of the tooth which is then sent to a special laboratory that will create a gold or porcelain (tooth colored) crown. The crown is then cemented onto the prepared surface of the tooth.
The advantage is that crowns are incredibly strong due to the fact that they are created in a laboratory. This protects and strengthens the remaining tooth structure. In the hands of a skilled dentist, a crown will fit almost perfectly onto the prepared surface of the tooth, reducing the size of the seam between the crown and the tooth. This helps keep decay from eventually occurring under the crown. Crowns should be placed before a tooth is so decayed that it may fracture. This often helps prevent the expense of root canal therapy in the future. It can also prevent the possibility that a fractured tooth may need to be removed, requiring the expense of a bridge or implant to replace the missing tooth.
Crowns have few disadvantages. They are highly durable, but they will eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced due to normal wear. Occasionally, a tooth may still need root canal therapy after being crowned. However, this indicates that the interior of the tooth was already infected and would have eventually needed root canal therapy anyway.
In the event that a tooth is so decayed or fractured that it needs to be removed, the best alternatives to a crown are bridges and implants that replace the missing tooth.
Fixed Bridges
A Great Way to replace missing teeth
A bridge is a single appliance that is generally attached to two teeth on each side of the space where a tooth is missing. An artificial tooth attached in the middle of the bridge fills in the gap where the missing tooth was. The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared for crowns and a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared area. This mold is used to create a gold or porcelain bridge in a special laboratory. The bridge is then cemented onto the prepared surface of the teeth, effectively creating the appearance of a "new" tooth.
In some instances, a resin-bonded bridge may be used. In this case, the two teeth on each side of the gap are not prepared for crowns. Instead, the bridge consists of a false tooth with metal brackets on the back of each side of the gap. The brackets are attached to the backs of the real teeth on each side.
The advantage is that unlike dentures, a fixed bridge is never removed. It is stable in the mouth and works very similar to natural teeth. By filling the gap and stopping the movement of other teeth, a fixed bridge is an excellent investment, providing better chewing ability, heading off jaw joint problems and saving money that might otherwise be spent on future dental treatment.
Fixed bridges are excellent restorations and have few disadvantages. They are highly durable, but they will eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced due to normal wear.
In the event that the use of a fixed bridge is not feasible, the best alternative is a dental implant.
Root Canal Therapy
Protect and keep a sick or dying tooth
Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber that contains the nerves and blood supply for the tooth. When the pulp becomes infected due to decay or injury to the tooth, the pulp must be removed from the center of the tooth and the canals of each root. Once the infected pulp is removed, the remaining chamber is filled with a rubber-based material to seal it off.
All teeth that have had root canal therapy must be protected with a tooth-like artificial crown. This is because teeth that have had the pulp removed are more susceptible to fracture.
Root canal therapy is an excellent way to save a tooth that would otherwise die and need to be removed. If a tooth is sick, there are no disadvantages to root canal therapy. On rare occasions, however, root canal therapy may need to be redone to ensure that all of the infection has been removed.
The only real alternative is to remove the sick tooth. However, this will require a dental implant or bridge to fill the empty space and prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth. These solutions will ultimately cost more than the root canal therapy, and they will never equal the quality of keeping your natural tooth.
Hours
