Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are one of the most common types of restorative treatments used to improve the appearance and functionality of teeth affected by damage or decay. The filling materials help to even out the tooth surface for more efficient biting and chewing. These restorations can last for many years, and help keep the tooth looking and functioning at its best.
Composite fillings are made of a glass or quartz filler within a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored material. Also known as "filled resins," composites are often used in small to mid-size restorations, as they provide strength, durability, and resistance to fracture. These white composite fillings bond to the tooth, making the teeth stronger than the amalgam (silver) fillings many patients once had. Additionally, the shade of composite fillings are made to closely match your actual teeth so the signs of dental work are hidden.
Dental Reconstruction
Dental reconstruction is the only effective option for tooth loss. Reconstructive procedures allow Dr. Barbara McClatchie to restore your mouth in more ways than one. When considering tooth loss, it’s important not to underestimate all the effects it can have on the body and mind. When left unreplaced, the lost tooth (or multiple teeth) can cause a number of undesirable problems, from chronic pain to premature aging. Tooth loss, even when minor, can lead to the following:
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An out-of-balance bite
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Altered eating habits
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Inwardly sagging cheeks
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Bone resorption
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Facial collapse
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Mental and emotional stress
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Social anxiety
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Altered self-esteem
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Headaches
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Jaw problems
At our dental office in Columbus, Ohio, we take into account all of these negative effects caused by tooth loss. With the impact of tooth loss in mind, we work with each and every patient to choose the most beneficial service for replacement.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, please contact us to help reconstruct your very best smile. Dr. McClatchie believes in The Pankey Institute principle that each and every patient is as unique as their own fingerprint.
Dental Implants
If you have lost teeth due to trauma or periodontal disease, it is likely they can be replaced with dental implants. Dental implants are used in solutions for replacing single or multiple missing teeth. Dental implants are designed to give you the strength, stability, resilience, and support of your natural teeth.
Dental implants are replacements for both the tooth and root structure. They are made to provide the support that is needed in your mouth. The implants are placed surgically in the upper and lower jawbone of your mouth. When attached, they will look and feel natural. Implants are a great way to enhance and restore your smile.
Dr. Barbara McClatchie is a student of The Pankey Institute, a world renowned facility of restorative education. The Pankey Institute is dedicated to the principles of life-long dental health and tooth preservation.
Dr. McClatchie’s goal is to protect, heal, and preserve your teeth. When damage does exists, she will restore them to wholeness with good form, function, and esthetics. All too often teeth don’t survive their owners care, and this neglect equals loss. All patients of Dr. McClatchie at Complete Health Dentistry of Columbus are not just passive receivers of treatment, they are full partners in the restoration of dental health, always working to co-create treatment plans based on their individual desires and abilities.
It is important not to underestimate the value of any tooth, as the position and function of each tooth is important. Losing one, even in the back of your mouth, can be detrimental to your health. A lost tooth can cause multiple problems if left un-replaced. Your bite (chewing forces) may shift causing other teeth to move, creating new spaces, and pushing front teeth out of alignment. The more teeth that are lost, the more your facial features may collapse, causing wrinkles and premature aging.
Crowns
A major advantage to choosing crowns is they can be created to look exactly like the teeth they are replacing, or an even more aesthetically-pleasing version. Porcelain crowns are available in a wide variety of shades in order to perfectly color-match them to your existing teeth. Dr. McClatchie works with great labs that offer customized shading, to get the ideal match! This will provide the most natural look, so there is little evidence that you have undergone any dental work at all. Because porcelain crowns are the most cosmetically attractive, they are usually used for the front teeth. For back teeth, Dr. McClatchie often utilizes zirconia (white) crowns due to their strength.
All-porcelain crowns are also a much better choice for anyone with a metal allergy. Since these crowns contain no form of metal at all, the wearer should experience no adverse reactions. Porcelain crowns are generally durable and long lasting. They require no more care than the rest of your teeth – just a simple regimen of regular brushing and flossing. However, if you tend to grind your teeth or clench your jaw during sleep, you may require fitting for a mouth guard to prevent the excess pressure, potentially causing your crown to crack.
Bridges
A fixed-bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth. This procedure involves creating either a crown for the tooth or an implant on either side of the missing tooth, and then placing a pontic (false tooth) in between. Removable bridges are often more affordable and more convenient than permanent fixed structures, while offering nearly the same support and reliability. Removable bridges are held in place with metal clasps or precision attachments.
The healthiest thing to do when you lose a tooth is to have it replaced. Otherwise, you risk problems with biting, chewing and speaking, headaches, and muscle pain. If you don't replace a missing tooth, both the adjacent tooth and the tooth opposing the space can change position by leaning, rotating, or extruding into this open space. Damaged and missing teeth can also lead to other dental conditions such as gum disease, infection, and further tooth loss.