Dental Crowns
Dental crowns or “caps” are hollow custom fabricated artificial teeth that are cemented over a tooth that is heavily restored with a large filling due to decay or fracture. It is used to re-establish the function, appearance and shape of a tooth. Crowns are also recommended on teeth that have been root canal treated. Crowns can be fabricated in many materials such as gold, porcelain or a combination of metal and porcelain. A crown can help protect a tooth from further damage and fracture.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth can cause the remaining teeth in your mouth to shift, drift, rotate or over erupt into the empty spaces. Gaps between teeth can also cause decreased biting efficiency and can place extra stress and pressure on the remaining teeth adjacent to the gap. Dental bridges can help prevent this from happening. Bridges consist of two or more crowns that are cemented on the natural teeth surrounding the empty space and a replacement tooth or pontic that is attached to the crowns. The pontic fills the gap and acts as a tooth. Like crowns, bridges can be fabricated out of gold, porcelain of a combination of porcelain and metal.
Partial and Complete Dentures
Dentures, sometimes referred to as “plates” are used to replace teeth and gums. There are two types of dentures, a partial denture and a complete denture. Partial dentures have one or more artificial teeth and are held into place by clasps that fit around natural teeth in the mouth. Complete dentures act as a replacement for all the natural teeth in the mouth in the top arch, bottom arch or both.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are used in the replacement of one or more missing teeth. Implants are an alternative to bridges and complete or partial dentures. A dental implant acts as an artificial root made of titanium metal and is surgically placed under the gum into the jawbone. Following of healing phase of approximately 3 months the implant becomes integrated within the bone. Once healing is completed a post or abutment is then connected to the implant. The abutment then acts as the fixture in which a crown can be screwed into place or cemented. Implants can be used to support a bridge and complete or partial dentures. Stewart Baybayan Family Dentistry is able to provide dental implant treatment from the surgical placement of the implant to the final crown restoration. In special cases when an implant cannot be placed at our office we work closely with an oral surgeon in our community to provide our patients with the individualized care specially fit for their needs.