A veneer is a thin layer of restorative material placed over a tooth
surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth, or to protect a
damaged tooth surface. There are two types of material used in a
veneer, composite and porcelain. A porcelain veneer may be indirectly
fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory, and later
bonded to the tooth, typically using a resin cement.
The advantages of using a veneer to restore a tooth are many. Very
good aesthetics can be obtained, with minimal tooth preparation (i.e.
drilling). Normally a reduction of around 0.5 mm is required for a
porcelain veneer on a labial tooth surface. It can be very difficult to
match the shade of an individual veneer to the remaining teeth, hence
the tendency to place several veneers.
Veneers may be used cosmetically to resurface teeth such as to make
them appear more straight and possess a more pleasing alignment.
This may be a quick way to improve the appearance of malposed teeth
without need to use orthodontics.
Crowns & Bridges
A crown, or full-coverage restoration is a prosthetic tooth designed by a
dentist and usually created by a lab technician. Crowns can be either
metal, porcelain fused to metal, (PFM) or all porcelain/ceramic.
A damaged tooth may be difficult or impossible to restore to correct form
and function using a direct dental restorative material such as amalgam
or dental composite, since these materials are placed in the damaged
tooth and carved to shape by the dentist in the mouth, and thus have
limited strength. In such cases, the tooth may require an indirect
restoration made outside the mouth by a dental technician, who can
work to produce a customised tooth shape in the chosen material that
will fit the patient's damaged tooth exactly, somewhat like a thimble fits
over a finger to protect it. Crowns can also be used to support
bridgework which replaces missing teeth adjacent to the crowned teeth
and may be required in cases of very severe staining or where the
visible form of teeth need to be realigned without the use of
orthodontics.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement and is used in
prosthetic dentistry. There are several types. A typical implant consists
of a titanium screw, with a roughened surface. This surface is treated
either by plasma spraying, etching or sandblasting to increase the
integration potential of the implant. Once in the bone, a cover screw is
placed and the operation site is allowed to heal for a few months for
integration to occur.
After some months the implant is uncovered and a healing abutment
and temporary crown is placed onto the implant. This encourages the
gum to grow in the right scalloped shape to approximate a natural
tooth's gums and allows assessment of the final aesthetics of the
restored tooth. Once this has occurred a permanent crown will be
constructed and placed on the implant.
Full Mouth Reconstruction / Rehabilitation
This is the restoration of each tooth in the mouth usually done when
teeth are worn down, broken down, or missing. Tooth appearance and
occlusal (bite) problems are present and pronounced. Usually crowns,
bridges and veneers will correct these types of problems.
Cosmetic Bonding
The dental bonding procedure utilizes a composite resin and is used for
a variety of structural as well as cosmetic purposes. One can draw a
parallel between dental bonding materials and a sculptor's clay. By
using dental composite resin bonding your dentist can restore chipped
or broken teeth, fill in gaps and reshape or recolor your smile.
Bleaching to Whiten Teeth (see Whitening link)
Dentures & Partials
Dentures, or, more accurately, removable complete dentures are
full-mouth false teeth, which are used when a patient has no teeth left
on either the mandibular arch, the maxillary arch, or both. Patients can
become entirely edentulous (without teeth) either due to ineffective oral
hygiene or trauma. Removable complete dentures, can help give the
edentulous patient better masticatory (chewing) abilities, as well as
enhance the esthetic appeal of their lips in specific and their entire face
in general.
Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing only some
of their teeth on a particular arch. Fixed partial dentures, better known
as crowns and bridges, are also for patients missing only some of their
teeth, but these are more expensive than removable appliances, and
they are contraindicated in certain instances.
Non-surgical periodontal treatment , also known as scaling and root
planing
Root planing and scaling is one of the most effective ways to treat gum
disease before it becomes severe. Root planing and scaling cleans
between the gums and the teeth down to the roots. Dr. Faught may
need to use a local anesthetic to numb your gums and the roots of your
teeth.
Some dentists will use an ultrasound tool for the planing and scaling. It
is less uncomfortable than a standard scraping tool, but not all dentists
have this type of tool.
Dr. Faught may place antibiotic fibers into the pockets between your
teeth and gums. The antibiotic will help speed healing and prevent
infection. The dentist will remove the fibers about 1 week after the
procedure.
Dental Practice Round Rock.
Our Office
2608 Sunrise Road
Round Rock, Texas
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(512) 255-3761
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