"Change a smile, change a life"
A very large percentage of the work that dentists do in the 21st century is requested by our patients to help the appearance of their teeth and face. In the year 2001, dentistry is very much artistic in nature, versus the old role of healing toothaches and pain.
Esthetic dentistry is often a team effort, working with orthodontists, periodontists and oral surgeons to achieve beautiful smiles. Every day we are asked to help make our patients' teeth whiter, fill in spaces between their teeth, restore broken or discolored teeth, or rebuild worn down teeth that cause an aged appearance.
We absolutely believe that many times we are able to change a life by changing a smile.
Bonding helps us daily in correcting tooth defects through the use of tooth-colored materials known as composite resins and laminate veneers. It often provides a simple solution to problems that once would have required the use of much more extensive techniques. Some forms of bonding also have value as a means of preventing dental disease, such as tooth decay.
In many cases, bonding can be used to treat teeth that are fractured or chipped, too widely spaced, malformed or badly stained from the use of certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline, during tooth development. In addition to improving your appearance, bonding can help bolster your outlook and may increase your chances for better dental health.
The method used to repair teeth is determined by the size of the problem affecting the tooth. When the problem affects a small part of the tooth, the defect is filled in with one of a number of restorative materials, most of which are tooth-colored.
When the problem in the tooth is more extensive, a crown is often the treatment of choice. The purpose of a crown is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. They are used to support a large filling when there isn't enough tooth remaining, to attach a bridge to protect weak teeth from fracturing, to restore fractured teeth, to cover badly shaped or discolored teeth, or to cover a dental implant.
There are as many kinds of crowns as there are brands of automobiles. Both the "look" and function of your crowns are considered when choosing the materials most suitable for you. We consider the tooth location, the position of the gum tissue, the amount of tooth that shows when you smile, the color or shade of the tooth, and the function of the tooth.
Teeth may need to be replaced for a variety of reasons. Appearance is improved and your self-esteem is enhanced when you can smile without fear of showing missing teeth. Unreplaced teeth allow the remaining teeth to shift so that upper and lower teeth no longer mesh together correctly. Missing teeth can also cause chewing to be impaired and create stress on the jaw and other teeth. There are three primary forms of tooth replacement: implants, bridges and dentures.
Implants are artificial tooth supports surgically set in the jaw. They can be used in conjunction with bridges, dentures and crowns to replace any number of missing teeth. Adults who have healthy gums, adequate bone to support the implant and commitment to meticulous oral hygiene are candidates for implants. Implants usually require one or two outpatient or office surgeries and take from three to nine months to complete.
Bridges are tooth replacements that are attached to adjoining natural teeth. They work best for people who have only a few missing teeth. Bridges require that the adjoining teeth be healthy and have adequate gum and root support. Two or three visits are normally required for bridges.
Dentures are sets of artificial teeth set into plastic frameworks that rest directly on the gums. Partial dentures are used for people with several teeth missing and whose teeth aren't able to support a bridge. Complete dentures are used for those who have lost all of their upper or lower teeth. Three to five visits are typically required to obtain gum impressions and fit the dentures properly. Several more visits may be necessary to make minor adjustments.
Martin Dentistry
Timothy R. Martin, DDS • Kevin W. Martin, DDS
Pinnacle Professional Park at 1599 Fort Henry Drive
Kingsport, Tennessee 37664
(423) 247-8172 • martindentistry.net
