Randall LaFrom, DDS and Associates presents:
With that in mind, we have dedicated this section of our web site
towards providing definitions, explanations and insight as to the procedures and
concepts behind why they are done.
Amalgams
Silver fillings have been around for about 100 years. They are the metal type of
fillings and have proven to hold up for years and are an easily placed filling material.
Typically, they are also the least expensive.
Bleaching
Teeth can often be whitened by the several new techniques of "bleaching"
available today. One of the common methods used is the "in-office" method
where a strong bleaching agent is placed over the isolated teeth and a special light
is used to assist the bleaching material lighten the teeth. This method is generally
more controlled and probably better for people who have tetracycline stains or streaks
on their teeth. The "home" techniques involve making custom trays which
fit into the mouth and these are then filled with bleaching materials. When worn
for a few hours a day, noticeable results are seen generally within a few days to
a couple weeks. Results vary from individual to individual and it is probably best
to check with your dentist to help decide which method works best for you. Some of
the factors involved include the intensity of the stains, whether or not you have
fillings or crowns on your front teeth as well as what may have caused the stains.
Composites
Composite, or white plastic fillings, are used when esthetics is a concern. While
the currently available materials used for composites may not be quite as strong
as silver fillings on the chewing surfaces, they do excellently in the grooves, and
dramatically lower the development of cavities. Composites are typically placed in
the cavities in the front teeth. Many of the newer composites are boasting longevity
comparable to the metal fillings and they have less stress and risk of fracture to
the tooth since they are bonded to the teeth. We use a special light which hardens
(or "cures") the material, allowing us more time to form the material and
make sure the color is just right prior to the material setting.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns are placed over a tooth when a large portion of the tooth is lost or decayed
or has broken off and there is a risk for further fracture or undue stress. Usually,
when a filling is more than half of the size of the tooth, the tooth is weakened.
If the filling would comprise a significant portion of the tooth, often the tooth
can fracture under the stresses of chewing and therefore, placing a crown over the
tooth protects the chewing surface and prevents that from happening. Crowns that
are white (sometimes called "caps") are made of porcelain and are usually
placed in areas of esthetic concern. Gold crowns might be placed in the molar region
or when there is heavy grinding that might damage the opposing teeth. A bridge is
generally placed when a tooth is missing and there are teeth on either side to support
a connecting piece to restore function and esthetics to the area.
Dentures
Dentures are false teeth. They are typically made from impressions (molds) that are
taken of the inside of the mouth and they are made of a type of plastic or porcelain
that duplicates the shape, size and function of the teeth. When only some teeth are
replaced, it is called a "partial denture". Some people stil refer to these
as upper or lower "plates".
Implants
Dental implants, simply put, are typically titanium posts that are imbedded into
the jawbone and then plastic or porcelain teeth are placed over the portion of the
implant that sticks out of the gums. They usually take several months to complete
since the bone must fuse to the posts before any kind of pressure can be put on the
implant itself. They can be used when there are no support teeth available to put
a bridge in, or when only a single tooth is missing and you don't wish to impinge
on the adjacent teeth by putting crowns over those to help fill in the gap. Implants
can be time consuming and costly, however, the benefits are definitely there for
selected individuals. We advise that you discuss your options thoroughly before
deciding either way on implants.
Lasers
This area of dentistry is evolving continuously. The benefits of using a laser in
dentistry become more and more evident as research studies the many uses. Initially
the laser was used primarily for soft tissue treatment. This would be for gum surgery
or tissue healing or doing biopsies or tissue removal. Now it has expanded it's
usage for desensitizing teeth and the removal of small fillings and cavities. The
benefits are that it can often be used without anesthetic. The disadvantages are,
the laser is costly and can only be used in a limited "hard-tissue" treatments.
Because of the angle of the laser tip and the method of delivery, it has not quite
gotten to the point where it will out cut a standard handpiece.
Micro-abrasion
A new area of dentistry has evolved, primarily from a new technique using a mini-sand
blaster which sprays a focused high pressure spray of aluminum oxide. We can actually
do small fillings and remove old composite fillings actually quite easily and comfortably,
often without any anesthetic using this instrument. It is referred to as the "Soft-Prep".
There are other brands of micro-abrasion machines out there, but this is the one
we use.
Root Canals
A root canal is typically done whenever the decay or injury to the tooth invades
the inner part of the tooth where the pulp is. This is where the nerve and the blood
supply are located. When a root canal is done, the inner portion of the pulp is removed,
along with any infection that may have invaded the inside walls of the tooth. Then
a sealer material is placed with a rubbery plastic to fill the hole so that new infection
can't get into the tooth. Generally, by removing the nerve and blood supply to the
tooth, it can potentially weaken a tooth and therefore, it is common to protect the
integrity of the tooth by placing a crown over the tooth.
Sealants
Sealants used to be considered for childrens teeth only. Now we are finding that
adults too, can benefit from sealants. Sealants are plastic coatings that are placed
on the etched surface in the deep grooves of teeth - typically on the back molars
and sometimes on pre-molars. It helps prevent sugars and bacteria from getting into
those deep fissures and cause decay.
TMJ
The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) is a very unique and fragile joint. Because of
the numbers of tendons, ligaments and muscles that are used to hold it in position,
it is subject to trauma and stress. As a result, headaches, jaw soreness and and
neckaches can all be related to problems related to the TMJ. Sometimes the small
disc that separates the lower jawbone from the socket where it rests gets displaced
and a bite splint may be used among other therapies to "reposition" the
jaw into the proper alignment.
There is a wealth of knowledge available to the general public on more detailed description
of dental procedures from both the California Dental Association (CDA) as well as the American Dental Association
(ADA)
This information was provided by Dr. Randall LaFrom and Associates for your benefit.