Cosmetic Dentistry

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Tooth Colored Fillings | Crowns | Fixed Bridges | Porcelain Veneers

Tooth Colored Fillings

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The concept of a “filling” is replacing and restoring your tooth structure that is damaged due to decay or fracture with a material. We will replace old, broken-down amalgam/metal fillings that contain traces of mercury with white fillings (composites) to restore your smile and teeth to a more natural look and feel.

With today’s advancements, no longer will you have to suffer the embarrassment of unsightly silver/mercury fillings or metal margins of the past. Eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with new-age, state-of-the-art, tooth-colored resin or porcelain materials.

Crowns

A crown is a custom-made covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it is often less durable.

At Bangor Dental Associates, Dr. Spekhardt and Dr. Lukas use CEREC® technology to create ceramic crowns in-office, in one single visit.

The treatment plan for a patient receiving a CEREC crown involves:

  1. Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
  2. Creating a 3D image of the tooth with the aid of the CEREC camera.
  3. Designing the crown on the monitor of the CEREC acquisition unit.
  4. The CEREC milling unit creates the restoration out of a ceramic block.
  5. The crown is cemented into place.

This process is completed in just one visit! After the procedure, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.

Fixed Bridges

A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. A bridge may be necessary to:

  • Prevent shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.
  • Restore chewing and speaking abilities
  • Safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.

A fixed bridge is the most popular type of bridge to replace a missing tooth. It consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place. While bridges are highly durable and made to last many years, they may need to be repaired or re-cemented due to normal wear.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers are customized from porcelain material that is bonded to your teeth. Veneers are a great alternative to otherwise painful dental procedures to improve the appearance of your smile.

Common problems that veneers are used for:

  • Spaces between the teeth
  • Broken or chipped teeth
  • Unsightly, stained or discolored teeth
  • Permanently stained or discolored teeth
  • Crooked or misshapen teeth

Veneers are a great aesthetic solution to your smile that may even help you avoid orthodontic treatment. Subtle changes to your smile can be achieved with veneers, and in most cases, veneer application is completed in only two office visits.