Our Services
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Bonding
Dental bonding can produce amazing improvements by fixing chips in your teeth. Bonding is covering the front surface of teeth with durable plastic to either change the tooth’s color or shape, or to rebuild broken teeth. Bonding is similar to veneers, however, tooth covered resin material is used instead of porcelain for a lower cost alternative to improve your smile. Bonding is great for children who have chipped front teeth and for adults who need an alternative for veneers.
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Cosmetic Contouring
Cosmetic contouring (tooth reshaping) is a cosmetic dentistry technique that removes small amounts of tooth enamel (the outer covering of the tooth) in order to change the shape, length, or surface of one or more teeth. Even a few millimeters of reduction in the right places can really improve the appearance of teeth. The process is often combined with bonding, a cosmetic dentistry treatment that uses tooth-colored composite material to sculpt and shape the teeth.
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Crowns
A crown can strengthen your tooth, reduce sensitivity, and improve its appearance.
Have you ever found yourself favoring one side or the other while chewing? Have you ever felt embarrassed to smile? Or have you had sensitivity in a particular tooth that just won’t go away? These are just some of the situations where a crown could be the solution to improving your oral health and your smile. Talk with us to see if a crown may be right for you. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over one of your exiting teeth or a dental implant. Crowns are custom made to look and feel just like one of your natural teeth. We may recommend a crown to:
- Rebuild a tooth that is decayed, worn, or broken.
- Strengthen a tooth that has cracks, large fillings, or has had a root canal treatment.
- Improve the size, shape, and color of a discovered or irregularly shaped tooth.
- Be connected to a dental implant to replace a missing tooth.
Types of Dental Crowns
With the advances of modern dentistry, there are now many materials used to make crowns. There are three general categories of dental crowns, including all ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, or all metal. No type of crown is superior in all respects, with each having advantages and drawbacks. We will help you decide which material is best for you.All Ceramic Crowns
With superior esthetics, an all-porcelain crown can most easily be made to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. Historically, all ceramic crowns were not strong enough for the chewing forces of back teeth, but with recent improvements in the strength of ceramics, these types of crowns can also be used on back teeth.Porcelain Fused to Metal Dental Crowns
Porcelain fused to metal crowns have a tooth-colored porcelain cap over a metal base. These types of crowns are both cosmetic and strong. Very little or none of the metal base shows, but adds strength to the crown.All Metal Crowns
Often referred to as a gold crown, these crowns are actually made from a dental alloy – a mixture of metals that contains a certain percentage of gold. These crowns are gold or silver colored, and are therefore not typically used for front teeth where esthetics are of high importance. Gold crowns are very strong and may be recommended for back molars that mut withstand the most chewing forces. They may also be recommended for people who clench or grind their teeth on a regular basis.Your permanent dental crown is custom made for you in a dental laboratory by specialized technicians. Typically, two weeks are needed to deliver your records to the lab, hand make your individual crown, and return the final product to our office. We do this to ensure that you’re receiving the highest quality, highest strength, and most esthetic permanent crown.The cost of a dental crown varies depending the material is made from, and if these is additional dental work needed to complete the crown. Insurance coverage for a crown can range from 0% to 100%. Your specific coverage depends on your insurance company and individual plan. To find out what percentage may be covered by your insurance plan, refer to the information provided to you when you enrolled, or call the 1-800 number on the back of your card to ask a representative. If you need help obtaining this information, a Kimberly Dental front desk staff member would be happy to help you. -
Full and Partial Dentures
Whether you’re missing some or all of your natural teeth, you can derive many benefits from replacing them with full or partial dentures. Replacement teeth help fill out your smile by giving support to your cheeks and lips. Replacement teeth create a more youthful, vibrant appearance by holding up facial muscles and aiding in speaking, chewing, swallowing, and smiling.
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Cosmetic Fillings
For years dentists have been using silver and other metals for teeth fillings. Today, we use a composite filling that is tooth-colored along with the metal materials to restore decayed teeth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes. These fillings are also more aesthetically pleasing.
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Implant Restorations
The third and last step of a dental implant procedure is called implant restoration—the placement of a permanent dental crown. Once the oral surgeon has determined that the titanium implant has properly fused to the jawbone, a dental crown—custom-designed to blend in with your natural teeth—will be affixed to the top of the implant.
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Veneers
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked.
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Teeth Whitening
Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco, medication, illness, or due to genetics. Pleases ask your dentist if you would be a good candidate for teeth whitening at your next appointment.
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Sealants
Dental sealants are plastic resins that bond and harden in the deep grooves on your tooth’s surface. When a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth and are less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, brushing your teeth becomes easier and more effective. Sealants are typically applied to children’s teeth after their permanent teeth have erupted as a preventative measure against tooth decay.
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Root Canal
A root canal is a term used to describe the natural cavity in the center of the tooth. This area contains a soft area known as the pulp chamber that houses the nerves. If this area becomes irritated or infected due to cavities, trauma or decay, root canal therapy is necessary. If left untreated, the infection can cause an abscess, which can lead to swelling of the face and neck and bone loss around the roots of teeth.
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Extractions
A dental extraction is the removal of teeth from the dental alveolus (socket) in the alveolar bone. Extractions are performed for a variety of reasons, but most commonly to remove teeth which have become un-restorable through tooth decay, periodontal disease or dental trauma. Sometimes wisdom teeth are impacted (stuck and unable to grow normally in the mouth) and may cause recurrent infections of the gum. In orthodontics, if the teeth are crowded, sound teeth may be extracted (often bicuspids) to create space so the rest of the teeth can be straightened.
Although tooth extraction is a routine dental procedure, it is common for patients to have anxiety about having their tooth removed. We are mindful of this, and will help you to be comfortable for your appointment. If you prefer to be sedated for your tooth removal, talk with us, We may suggest the use of nitrous oxide, medications, or general anesthesia with a specialist.Replacing teeth is an individual decision. It will depend on where the tooth is located in your mouth, the condition of your remaining teeth, and your personal oral health goals and expectations. Potential negative consequences of leaving a gap where a tooth used to be include:- Shifting – Teeth tend to shift forward over time. If you have lost a tooth, there may be tilting or shifting of the teeth behind it into the space left behind. Also, the tooth above or below the empty space may shift down or up, becoming out of line with your bite. In advanced cases, this may make chewing more difficult, and dental treatment more complex. This also means that your once straight teeth could become crooked and misaligned, which can be frustrating, especially if you went through treatment with braces to straighten them.
- Nutrition – You use your teeth for biting, grinding, and chewing food every day. Each tooth serves a purpose when you eat. The more teeth you are missing, the more difficult it is to eat the foods you love.
- Appearance – Missing teeth, especially those in the front, could make you unhappy with the appearance of your smile.
The cost of an extraction varies depending on the complexity of the procedure. Insurance coverage for extractions can range from 0% to 100%. Your specific coverage depends on your insurance company and individual plan.
To find out what percentage may be covered by your insurance plan, refer to the information provided to you when you enrolled, or call the 1-800 number on the back of your card to ask a representative. If you need help obtaining this information, a front desk staff member would be happy to help you. -
Scaling and Root Planing
Periodontal Disease starts when plaque and tartar accumulate at the base of your teeth and affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. The bacteria in the plaque leads to an infection in the gums (gingival) called Gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early state of periodontal disease where gums may become red, swollen, and bleed easily. If left untreated, the infection can spread through the oral cavity and into the rest of the body. The spread of bacteria may cause infection, delayed healing and generalized illness. Because of the bacterial infection associated with Periodontitis, tooth abscesses are also common.
Call 920-788-1263 to learn more about our services!