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If you’ve run into oral health issues, our skilled dentists offer honest advice and masterful treatment to get you back to smiling again. From the smallest cavity to infected or missing teeth, we can repair the damage that is keeping your form optimal health and a carefree smile. We’ll only suggest necessary treatment and our compassionate, communicative approach will ensure that you feel comfortable with our care every step of the way.
At Smiles of Mathews, we offer both composite and amalgam fillings. While both treatments repair cavities and help preserve and protect the natural structure of your teeth, there are a few key differences. Composite fillings are done with tooth-colored resin material that bond seamlessly to teeth making them less likely to pop loose. The material used is not affected by temperature or prone to expanding and contracting, making them very safe for the structure of the tooth. Amalgam is made out of a blend of metals that are durable; however, over time, the metal in these fillings can expand and contract with changes in temperature, putting pressure on the tooth and causing it to crack. Additionally, amalgam fillings do not bond directly to the tooth, which can weaken the tooth structure and cause further damage. Not to mention, these amalgam fillings are grey in color, making them very visible against your white tooth!
There are many different situations that would require you to need a Crown. Our dentists use crowns if the original tooth is cracked, chipped, or broken; if it requires a filling that's too large for the tooth to support; if it has too much decay or is too worn; or if it's extremely discolored or misshapen. These crowns cover the entire top portion of the tooth; similar to a full face helmet. This helps protect the tooth to extend the life of that tooth for many many years. This is important because NOTHING is better than your natural teeth. If we can save that tooth, that is what we do!
Bridges consist of two crowns connected by a floating crown called a 'pontic'. These restorations not only help protect the teeth that are being crowned, but also replace a missing tooth! Bridges are one way to fill any spaces in your smile! Crowns and bridges are mostly made in a two visit process. The doctor will prep the tooth for the crown/bridge, make an impression for the lab to make your crown/bridge and send it off to be made. In two to three weeks that crown/bridge will be back in our office for us to deliver to you! Now dont worry, we do make a temporary crown/bridge for you to have in the meantime!
If your tooth is infected, we offer gentle, efficient root canal therapy to get you out of pain and back to smiling again. During root canal therapy, the pulp of your tooth is gently cleaned out, and the canal is disinfected then filled with state-of-the-art sealing material. The sealer we use is biocompatible, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. This makes for faster healing and a strong protective seal against bacteria. Do you have a painful toothache, sensitivity to hot and cold foods or beverages, or grayish discoloration? These are symptoms of a tooth infection, so don’t hesitate to call us and schedule a consultation! The sooner you get professional treatment, the healthier your mouth will be.
