When a filling for your teeth is required, Dr. Tse and his team will go over your many options to restore the tooth with the best aesthetically appropriate, tooth-colored and bonded restorations. We can often closely match the shape and color to the nearby teeth, protecting your teeth while ensuring the look of your smile.
Dr. Tse will also monitor any dental fillings you may have received over the years for signs of failure. Sometimes, after years of use, old fillings can begin to break down along the edges which can result in decay or even weakening of the structure around the tooth.
Though nothing is as good as your natural tooth, some decayed teeth may need a root canal or endodontic treatment to remain healthy inside of your mouth.
A tooth is made up of enamel and dentin on the outside which covers the nerve tissue, called pulp, on the inside of the tooth. When that pulp or nerve inside of the tooth becomes infected, then a root canal is necessary. These infections can be caused by cracks, repeated dental treatments, or decay that has gone untreated too long. Sometimes the tooth can have damaged pulp inside even if there are no visible signs on its outside. If left untreated, a pulp infection could lead to an abscess or more pain.
Root canal treatment consists of restoring the tooth by removing the infected nerve tissue, treating the infections, and then filling up the empty root canal with medicated dental materials, which restores the tooth to full function. Sometimes antibiotic treatment may be required.
Root canal therapy can take one to three visits for Dr. Tse to complete successfully, depending on the individual situation. After the root canal, it is also essential that a crown or other restoration be put over the tooth to protect it fully.
At Short Pump Family Dentistry one of our goals is to provide you with dental work that is imperceptible and looks great. We work hard to replace any existing fillings or crowns with restorations that feel and look just like your existing teeth.
Crowns are used to support damage to your teeth and to fix any functional problems like chewing. Dental crowns can be constructed from many materials, like ceramic, gold, or porcelain bonded to another material. The fitting of a dental crown usually requires at least two visits. On the first visit, Dr. Tse will remove any decay and shape the tooth as needed. Then he will fit the tooth with a temporary crown. On the next visit, Dr. Tse will remove the temporary crown and replace it with a permanent one. Once this crown is adjusted, it may be necessary to cement it into place, and then you will leave with a new beautiful tooth!
Teeth play a huge roll in our daily lives through speaking, chewing and also maintaining the correct alignment of your mouth. Loss of teeth doesn’t necessarily just happen as you age, so if you are at risk of tooth loss or it has already begun, those teeth need to be replaced to maintain the correct function of your mouth and jaw. Missing teeth can put additional stress on remaining teeth and result in a variety of very harmful issues.
The good news is that there are many options for fixing tooth loss, such as dental implants, dental bridges, and full or partial dentures.
A dental bridge is used to replace your missing teeth by attaching artificial teeth to the adjacent or abutment teeth. This fixed bridge is made by placing crowns on the abutment teeth for support or by bonding a fake tooth, or pontic, directly to the adjacent teeth. Bridges can be made of many different materials including porcelain, gold, or a combination of the two.
The fitting of a dental bridge takes just a couple of appointments at Short Pump Family Dentistry. Dr. Tse first prepares teeth on either side of the place where the missing tooth is, by taking away a small bit of enamel and dentin. As dental bridges must be precisely constructed to make sure that a correct bite is created, impressions of the teeth are made and sent off to a lab. A temporary bridge will be placed in your mouth to protect the teeth until the procedure is finished.
It is very important to make sure that a healthy regimen of flossing and brushing is adhered to in order to keep the bridge and its neighboring teeth clean and healthy.
Dental implants are another way to replace any missing or lost teeth. These implants can provide support for dentures, crowns and bridges and they take the place of the tooth roots as well.
Implants, which are usually made of titanium, are surgically placed into the bone of the jaw through surgery. The implant then provides an anchor for a denture or crown to fit over. When a crown is put over an implant, it blends almost seamlessly with the existing teeth and most people cannot even tell it is an implant.
Implants can look and feel better than dentures or removable partial dentures, and they offer better ability to chew than even a fixed bridge. Also, if implants are properly maintained, they will last a lifetime.
Dentures can be used to replace missing teeth depending on a patient’s needs. Partial dentures attach to your existing teeth with clasps to affix them in place. Partial dentures are created out of replacement teeth which are then attached to gum-colored plastic bases connected by a thin metal frame. Again, your natural teeth are then used to support these removable dentures options. Overdentures can offer a better fit and more stability. Overdentures are typically placed over the dental implants and snap onto them.
As the alignment of the jaw changes slowly over time, the gum and bone ridges can shrink with teeth being extracted. Dentures do experience wear just like normal teeth over time, as well. They may need to be realigned or even replaced to maintain the proper alignment of the jaw. Making sure that regular dental exams are scheduled is very important for dentures wearers, so that dentist in Short Pump Virginia Dr. Tse can check for any potential issue of signs of gum disease.
Laughing gas is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose to help you relax.
Laughing gas is one sedation dentistry option your Dr. Tse, your dentist in Short Pump, Virginia may offer to help make you more comfortable during certain procedures. It is not intended to put you to sleep. You will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions Dr. Tse may have. The dentist will ask you to breathe normally through your nose, and within a few short minutes, you should start to feel the effects of the laughing gas. You may feel light-headed or a tingling in your arms and legs. Some people say their arms and legs feel heavy. Ultimately, you should feel calm and comfortable. The effects of laughing gas wear off very soon after the mask is removed.
At Short Pump Family Dentistry, we stop at nothing less than excellence when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Therefore, our restorative dentistry options include top quality implant restorations. We can top your dental implant with a custom crown, natural-looking bridge or other restoration, depending on your unique set of needs and goals. We aim to provide sustainable and comfortable solutions for patients with missing teeth – after all, your smile is one of your most powerful assets.
Call (804) 326-5426 today to schedule an appointment for high-quality restorative dental treatments in Richmond.