Restorative Care

CROWNS: When a tooth is fractured, has a large old filling, or is severely damaged by decay, or has had a rooth removed (root canal), your dentist may recommend the placement of a crown. Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your smile. They also allow your teeth to maintain proper function and prevent shifting of other teeth should you loose one to decay or trauma.

Types of crowns include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain-fused-to-metal crown (precious & non-precious) and the all-metal crown. Fortunately, Dr. DuCoin can repair your damaged tooth and fit you with a new, all tooth-colored tooth in just one visit taking less than 2 hours! He uses state of the art equipment to scan your tooth, send those dimentions to a milling machine that carves a replica of your tooth in beautiful all porcelain to match your existing teeth, then inserts the crown over your repaired tooth. No one can tell its not your own.

Fitting a crown the old-fahioned way required at least two visits to the dentist's office and the wearing of a temporary crown that would sometimes come loose.

BRIDGES: Few incidents have greater impact on dental health and personal appearance than tooth loss. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can drift out of position, which can lead to a change in the bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay and gum disease. When tooth loss occurs, your dentist may recommend the placement of a bridge. A bridge is one or more replacement teeth anchored by one or more crowns on each side. Dr. DuCoin will properly place the bridge so that it is comfortable, beautiful, and functions as your natural teeth.

It is a field of dentistry that treats the root canal system. When decay extends to the pulp or the nerve inside the tooth, the person almost always experiences spontaneous throbbing pain. The pain increases at night and is aggravated with cold & sweet foods. The Dentist relieves the pain and pressure symptoms by treating the root canal system which houses the tooth nerve or pulp.

Treatment begins with profound anesthesia. The tooth nerve is accessed by drilling into the tooth, the infected nerve is removed, canals are cleaned and filled with a bio-inert material.

Following a root canal treatment, the tooth is fragile due to insults from decay and mechanical instrumentation and is prone to fracture. Overtime color changes are also observed. To protect the tooth from fracture your dentist will advise a crown. Sometimes depending upon the amount of tooth structure that is lost, a post ( a metal or a glass fiber pin ) will need to be placed for added retention of the crown. To learn more please call our office today.

Dental implants are substitutes for the roots of missing teeth. They act as an anchor for a replacement tooth or crown or a set of replacement teeth. Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants has been used for treating missing teeth for more than 50 years and is recognized as an effective treatment choice.

People of all ages may be the eligible for dental implants, due to missing one or more teeth because of injury, disease or decay. They are especially practical for patients who can no longer wear removable dentures. Dr. DuCoin can determine if you are a candidate for dental implants after a careful evaluation of your dental and medical history.

There are many shapes, sizes and brands of implants available. Dr. DuCoin is credentialed by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and knows which implant is the right one for you.

Treatment time can vary greatly depending on your needs. Each situation needs a separate evaluation; Dr. DuCoin will be able to give you an approximate timetable.

Over time, people's teeth tend to naturally deteriorate. When a tooth has deteriorated substantially, it often needs to be extracted; and when multiple teeth are extracted, dentures may be the most appropriate solution. Dentures can create a natural and healthy looking set of teeth. In addition, a properly fitting set of dentures can greatly enhance your smile and sense of self-esteem.

Complete and Partial Dentures

Complete dentures are used when few original teeth remain. The dentist begins by removing any remaining teeth so the dentures can be fitted. He or she then makes a mold of the gums and sends it to a dental lab where customized dentures are constructed. Partial dentures are prepared in much the same way as a complete set and are utilized when only a few teeth are missing.

Immediate Dentures

These Dentures allows patients to have their Dentures on the same day their teeth are removed. This prevents the embarrassment of being without teeth. As the extraction sites heal & the bone remodels, the denture will require adjustments & relining to make it fit better. At the end of a year when the healing is complete your dentist may advise you to get a new denture.

Over Dentures

If the roots of a patient's remaining teeth are strong, the dentist may suggest over-dentures. Over- dentures fit on top of the remaining natural teeth in the mouth. With over-dentures, the remaining teeth are re-sculpted and covered with metal caps to stop future decay. The advantage of over-dentures is that they do not have to be relined as frequently as a complete set of dentures because they cause less recession of the jawbone and gums. In addition, over- dentures create less occlusion (bite) problems than complete dentures.

Once Your Dentures Have Been Placed

At first, your dentures will feel uncomfortable because the gums and tissue are not accustomed to being in contact with man-made relining material. Once placed, dentures should be worn continually for the first few days to reduce the amount of swelling that may occur in the mouth. This swelling typically subsides in two to three days. Until patients adjust to their new set of teeth, the dentures may feel loose and awkward while chewing food. Eating soft food may be necessary for the first few days. Reading aloud helps to overcome any speech impediments that may occur from the new dentures. Typically, lower dentures take longer to get used to than upper dentures. The underlying jawbone may take several months to completely heal and become accustomed to the dentures. Once this occurs, the dentist removes the dentures and creates a permanent lining for your teeth (a denture lining is the soft material that cushions the contact between the denture and the gum tissues).

The Life of your Dentures

Although dentures typically last about five years, they can last longer with proper care and cleaning. Dentures should be cleaned daily with a normal or specially-made denture toothpaste. Once the swelling has reduced, it is advisable to leave one or both dentures out at night to allow the gum tissues to breathe. In order to prevent dentures from warping, they should be left in water overnight. Over time, the lining of the dentures may change, owing to the wear and tear of daily use. In the case of tissue/bone shrinkage, worn down teeth, or breakage, dentures may come loose and need to be remade.