Partial Crowns: Inlays and Onlays

If you have decayed or broken teeth, don’t wait any longer to schedule an appointment with the Oyster Bay Family Dentists. Although we provide general dental services, our speciality is prosthodontics, the placement of prosthetic teeth. Sometimes, a tooth is too damaged to be repaired with a simple filling, but when large parts of it are still intact, we may give it a partial crown.

Partial crowns are usually placed on molars or premolars, the wide teeth in back. These teeth grind food and have deep indentations in between their pointy bits, called cusps. It is easy for food debris to get trapped in the indentations, where it would become infected and decay. The acid produced by oral bacteria would damage the enamel, causing the patient pain, and if it continues, the infection may reach the pulp chamber. The cusps surrounding the indentation may also be damaged, whether through decay or being broken off in an accident.

When a patient is suffering from tooth decay, we’ll remove the damaged enamel after numbing them with a local anesthetic. Once the infected material has been removed, we can take an impression of the patient’s mouth that will be used to mill the partial crown. A partial crown that nestles into the indentation is called an inlay, while a partial crown that substitutes for cusps is called an onlay. The custom-fitted partial crown is cemented onto the tooth, allowing the patient to eat normally again. It will need to be cared for through regular brushing and flossing, but can last for over a decade.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Cracked Teeth

The prosthodontists at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists provide patients with lots of options for repairing damaged teeth. Sometimes a crack is merely a cosmetic issue, and sometimes it is painful and puts the tooth at risk for infection. Regardless, we’ll conduct a thorough assessment and implement a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing solution.

The smallest cracks are known as “craze lines.” These can be bonded over or covered with veneers, which are also common solutions when a small portion of enamel has chipped off. They are not usually indicative of a major health concern. However, a large crack creates an avenue through which bacteria may enter the dental pulp. In these cases, a patient would require root canal therapy, which would conclude with the crown being sealed. If a crack goes deep into the tooth’s inner layers or is wide, it may necessitate the replacement of the crown. When a vertical crack reaches the root of a tooth, the tooth will have to be extracted and replaced.

If a person frequently develops cracks in their enamel, they may be grinding their jaws in their sleep. These patients can benefit from the use of custom-fitted night guards. Patients are also advised to never use their front teeth for chewing or as tools, and to refrain from chewing ice.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Crowns Restore Smiles

Dental crowns are a common way to restore damaged teeth.  The Oyster Bay Family Dentists use crowns to repair teeth that have been chipped or have a significant amount of decay.  Our natural-looking crowns fit right over a damaged tooth like a little cap. These crowns restore function to a patient’s teeth and blend perfectly with their smile. 

The process for installing a crown can usually be completed in two visits.  To prepare the tooth your dentist will remove any decay, and may need to reshape the remaining tooth to ensure a great fit for the new crown.  Once the tooth has been prepared, your dentist will take an impression of the area.  This impression is sent to a dental lab where the crown is fabricated.  Ask us about temporary options to wear while your new crown is being made.  Once your custom crown is made, the crown will be cemented into place by your dentist at a second appointment.  Our crowns blend right into your natural smile and can last a lifetime!

To learn more about restorative crowns and all the services we provide, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

Intrinsic Staining

The Oyster Bay Family Dentists provide technologically advanced services for removing dental stains, but there is an important distinction to be made between stains that are extrinsic to the tooth and those that are intrinsic. Extrinsic stains caused by things such as smoking and drinking dark fluids and only affect the outermost layers of the teeth. They can be removed through bleaching. But intrinsic stains are caused by overexposure to fluoride, use of tetracycline antibiotics, or pulp inflammation, and sometimes require a different approach.

Of course, an intrinsic stain can still be masked with a veneer or bonding. But pulp inflammation indicates that a tooth is injured or infected. We will use the advanced imaging devices in our office to detect whether there is an infection within the tooth or at its root. A root canal may be necessary to remove the inflamed tissues, after which the crown may be either filled and sealed or replaced entirely. Our doctors are highly skilled prosthodontists, so if a crown does need to be replaced, patients may rest assured the new one will be cosmetically pleasing.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit OysterBayDentists.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Acid Reflux and Tooth Sensitivity

As skilled prosthodontists, Dr. VeyVoda and Dr. West supply patients in the Oyster Bay area with replacement partial and full teeth. But as dentists who care deeply about their patients, they also want people to know how to avoid tooth damage in the first place. One source of enamel erosion which people often have less awareness of is acid reflux.

Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter that keeps hydrochloric acid in the stomach opens during swallowing. If this occurs at least twice a week, the patient is said to have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Acid reflux is commonly (but misleadingly) called heartburn because of the painful cysts it creates in the esophagus, but tooth enamel isn’t strong enough to withstand hydrochloric acid, either. People with GERD commonly suffer from pitted, discolored, sensitive teeth, particularly in their upper palate. If erosion reaches an advanced state, the patient could be at a higher risk for dental infections and find that their teeth back teeth’s grinding surfaces have lost their function.

Badly damaged teeth can be replaced with a number of methods, including partial and full crowns. But patients can prevent damage by reducing their intake of foods that are high in acid, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol, and by maintaining better posture.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit OysterBayDentists.com and fill out a contact sheet.