During your initial exam we will:

• Examine diagnostic x-rays which are essential for the detection of any decay, tumors, cysts, or bone loss.
• Perform an oral cancer screening to carefully evaluate your mouth for any abnormalities, and check the lymph nodes that drain your head and neck.
• Thoroughly evaluate your gums and the bone around your teeth for any signs of gum disease.
• Evaluate your existing dental condition

Fillings are used to repair teeth that are cracked, chipped, or have decay (cavities).  They can also be used for filling spaces between teeth and making teeth look straighter or whiter.  The two most widely used filling materials today are composite and amalgam.

Composite (tooth colored): Best used for small to mid-sized fillings that are required to withstand light to moderate chewing pressure.

Advantages:    The filling material is bonded to the tooth so we don’t have to remove as much of your natural tooth.  They can be used to fill in small dents, chips, or cracks in teeth, and can be closely matched to your natural tooth color

Disadvantages:  Composite fillings cost more than amalgam fillings. They take longer to place than amalgam fillings (sometimes twice as long), and they are subject to stain or discoloration over time

Amalgam **(silver colored): Best used for back teeth for strength and durability, where the chewing forces are the greatest.

Advantages:    Amalgam fillings are highly resistant to wear, they are less expensive than composite fillings, and they can withstand greater chewing forces.

Disadvantages:  Your tooth may have short term sensitivity to hot and cold, and they are not as natural looking as tooth colored fillings.

**Research has shown that the mercury used in amalgam fillings combines with other metals to render it stable and safe for use in filling teeth.

Dental restorations are not permanent and may someday have to be replaced, however, they are very durable, and will last many years, giving you a long lasting, beautiful smile.

A crown is a protective shell that normally covers the entire tooth. 

Crowns are used when:

• a tooth is cracked
• a tooth already has a large filling with decay
• part of the tooth is broken off
• and are almost always required on a tooth that has had a root canal, to keep it from breaking apart.

Most crowns are tooth colored, look natural, and sometimes look even better that the original tooth did.

A dental bridge is an excellent way to replace missing teeth and restore your smile.  This type of appliance is cemented in, and consists of at least two crowns that are placed over your natural teeth, holding a false tooth in place, filling in the gap caused by the missing tooth.  This procedure can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. 

Reasons for a bridge:

• Fill in spaces caused by missing teeth
• Prevents the teeth in that area from drifting or tilting out of position
• Prevents your face from sinking in causing you to look much older
• To restore chewing capability

A denture is a removable dental appliance used to replace missing teeth. These are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile.

There are two types of dentures:

Complete- Used when all of the teeth are missing in an arch. 

Partial - Used to fill in spaces created by missing teeth, when some natural teeth still remain in an arch. 

There are different types of both complete and partial dentures.  Dr. Kavanagh will be happy to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of these with you.

Reasons for dentures or partials:

• Improves chewing capability, speech and digestion
• Prevents your face from sinking in causing you to look much older
• Enhances your smile
• Prevents remaining natural teeth from drifing or tilting out of position