Improving the Health of Each Patient
One of the goals at Clackamas Smiles Family Dental is to improve the health of each patient who seeks dental care. Through our attention to detail, Dr. Suess and his team encourage patients to strive for healthy, functional, and beautiful teeth.
For those with poor or failing dental work, Dr. Suess offer options in a language that is easy to understand. Even patients discouraged by embarrassing dental problems are pleased to find there may be several ways to overcome those concerns.
Dental Bridges
One of the worst side effects of missing teeth is an increased risk of gum disease. Dental bridges help reduce this risk by replacing missing teeth by attaching artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth. Fitting a dental bridge usually takes two appointments to complete. Dr. Suess will first prepare the teeth on either side of the space, then precisely fit and construct the bridge to guarantee the correct bite.
In order to make sure that a bridge will fit your individual needs, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab. Between appointments, a temporary bridge will be provided for protection.
A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. Good dental care of these teeth is critically important, as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support. If you are looking for the best dentist in Clackamas Oregon dental bridges, please contact us today to get started.
Dental Implants and Dentures
Dental implants are a convenient and popular way to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are fixtures of titanium, which are surgically placed into your jaw bone.
The implant acts as an anchor for a crown or denture to fit over. They also support crowns, bridges, and dentures.
While dentures and removable partials are usually loose and unstable, implants provide you with dental replacements that are natural looking and very functional. Implants look and feel better than their removable counterparts and offer the same force for biting as bridges that are fixed. Best of all, they will last a lifetime if properly maintained.
Adding dental implants underneath dentures can significantly improve their comfort and function. Depending on your personal needs, there are different types of dentures to choose from.
The alignment of your jaw will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges shrink due to teeth extraction. All types of dentures will experience wear over time, and will need to be replaced or realigned in order to maintain proper jaw alignment. Regular dental examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for any changes or potential gum disease.
Root Canal Therapy
No treatment can replace the benefits of a natural tooth. However, your tooth may need root canal (endodontic) treatment for it to remain a healthy part of your mouth from a Clackamas dentist.
A tooth is made of pulp (also known as nerve tissue) on the inside and enamel and dentin on the outside. A root canal is necessary when the pulp develops an infection.
The infection can have a variety of causes, including a crack in the tooth, repeated dental work, or deep decay. Without treatment, pulp infection can result in pain or lead to an abscess.
A root canal is a treatment that will save your damaged tooth. In this situation, a tooth is restored by removing the infected nerve tissue, treating any remaining infection, and filling the empty root canals with medicated dental materials. Antibiotic treatment may also be required in conjunction with root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy usually involves one office visit for Dr. Suess to complete. Afterward, it is essential that you return to have a crown or other restoration placed over the tooth to protect it. For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, but any pain can be relieved with over the counter or prescription medications as needed.