What are silver-mercury fillings?
For over 100 years, dentists have been using silver-mercury amalgam fillings to restore decayed or broken teeth. The only other alternative was gold.
At Kneib Dentistry, there is a new and economical way to restore teeth using tooth-colored resin fillings. The resin is made up of glass particles in a plastic matrix. Dr. Kneib bonds the putty-like material to the tooth with a high-intensity light. This hardens the material and allows it to be shaped and polished for immediate use.
Once completed, your tooth has a natural appearance and is actually stronger than before due to the strength of the adhesive agent used to bond the resin to the tooth. Resin restorations not only look better, but they are stronger and longer lasting than the old silver-amalgam fillings. Resin restorations can range from $150 to $350 per tooth.
Tooth bleaching involves the placement of a bleaching solution on the teeth to eliminate stains and discoloration. The solution is held in place by a custom-made, see-through tray that fits over the teeth - much like a mouthpiece worn by a professional boxer.
Bleaching is a safe, effective, and relatively easy means of producing a whiter smile.
Two bleaching methods are available at Kneib Dentistry: Power Bleaching with a Laser, done at our office, and At-Home-Bleaching, which provides for home use (not to be confused with over-the-counter bleaching products, which is available through local drug stores or area suppliers).
The difference between the two is the strength of the whitening agent and the time it takes to get effective results. Power bleaching usually takes a single visit while home bleaching may take up to four weeks of regular use.
Sensitive teeth, or those that are chipped, eroded or weakened by cavities, should be repaired or protected before they are bleached. The ideal scenario would be to have your teeth cleaned and examined before any bleaching!
Bonding by Dr. Kneib can yield dramatic results in a single office visit. Bonding essentially hides any natural flaws through the placement of a thin plastic coating on the front surface of the teeth.
After treating the tooth's surface, Dr. Kneib applies a putty-like bonding material that is then sculpted, shaped, and colored to suit your needs. A high-intensity light causes the plastic to harden, after which the new surface is smoothed and polished.
Bonding can lighten stains, close gaps, and even alter crooked or malformed teeth. At Kneib Dentistry, we can even utilize it to change the shape or color of a single tooth or, if necessary, to remake your entire smile.
What are tooth-colored restorations?
For over 100 years, dentistry has restored teeth primarily with a material made of mercury and silver. It has done its job well, although we have had to live with its weaknesses. Those weaknesses consist of cracked teeth due to the expansion of the material and restorations turning black as the silver in the material corrodes.
We have many ways to provide tooth-colored restorations at Kneib Dentistry. We can use adhesives to bond tooth parts that look and act like teeth. We can provide a bright, healthy, and strong smile with these exciting new techniques in adhesion dentistry.
How does the appearance of my teeth affect me?
The appearance of the teeth has a dramatic effect on both the person's attractiveness to others and on their own self-image and self-esteem. Studies have shown that a person's appearance will have a strong effect on their social and career success by influencing how others perceive them.
While the appearance of the teeth is one of the most important contributors to facial beauty, it is also probably the most often neglected when improvements to appearance are sought. A person with low self-esteem connected to their facial appearance can often be greatly helped by dental procedures.
Dental makeovers at Kneib Dentistry have become more common, less invasive, and more effective in correcting deformities and dental problems. The effect of these procedures can be nothing short of dramatic both in terms of appearance and also in terms of correcting, at least partially, personality deficiencies caused by poor self-image. Ugly teeth are no longer a matter of fate; they are now becoming a matter of choice.
What are porcelain veneers?
When teeth require significant changes in their shape or contour, veneers may be the answer. By placing veneers, small or misshapen teeth can be built up to regain a more natural appearance, spaces between teeth can be closed by making the teeth wider, and teeth that are too short can be lengthened.
The veneer is actually a thin piece of porcelain similar in size to a fingernail. Once it is "bonded" onto the tooth, it becomes extremely strong. Dr. Kneib also blends the veneer in with the remaining tooth structure so that it is unnoticeable to the naked eye. Once in place, it looks, feels, and functions just like a regular tooth.
At Kneib Dentistry, we can use porcelain veneers to change the shape and color of a single tooth or, if necessary, revamp an entire smile. Porcelain veneers can also be used to correct teeth that have been worn from clenching and grinding.
What are cosmetic dental crowns?
Teeth are often restored with fillings of silver or composite plastics. These materials can often accomplish the aim of replacing the part of the tooth that has been lost in a strong and good-looking manner.
However, there comes a point when the damage to the tooth has removed too much structure to hold a filling. The restoration must be done by a technique that will attach to the remaining tooth, stand up under heavier use and meet more elaborate cosmetic requirements.
The crown is the dental restoration that can strengthen and restore the entire top of a tooth. The crown can also be part of the attachment of a fixed bridge for the replacement of teeth. The tooth is strengthened because it is covered from the outside with a casting of metal or ceramic that will wrap up and splint the tooth.
The chewing of the tooth can be improved because it can be reshaped to match more efficiently with the opposing teeth. A crown can improve cosmetics by the use of modern ceramic processes that produce translucency and color that is more natural than has ever been possible.
A high-quality porcelain crown that we fully recommend is Ivoclar Vivident's e.Max crown. The benefits of the product include high strength, high durability, and esthetic appeal all in one. For more information visit our crown service page or ask about it when you come to visit us.
After One-Visit-Crown
