General Dentistry
Don't let the fear of a root canal prevent you from addressing tooth pain or pressure. Dr. Duong uses modern tools and techniques, such as Single Tooth Anesthesia, to make root canal discomfort a thing of the past! A root canal is actually a conservative treatment option that may save your tooth from extraction. In addition, Dr. Duong often performs this simple, comfortable procedure in a single office visit.
The pulp, or nerve, inside a tooth has canals that lead to the root of the tooth. These canals provide a valuable service and help keep teeth healthy and strong. A tooth fracture, deep cavity, or other trauma can damage the canals and make them vulnerable to infection. Dr. Duong performs root canals to eradicate early-stage infection, eliminate pain and pressure, and preserve teeth.
Root Canals
Somewhere between the ages of 15 to 25 years, most people's third molars begin to erupt through the gum line at the very back of their mouths. However, the modern jaw shape often can't accommodate wisdom teeth, leading to either of two unhealthy conditions: crowding of existing permanent teeth, or impaction – the incoming molars get stuck in place. Since few people’s jaws can accommodate these large third molars, we typically examine our 11 and 12-year-old patients to predict the upcoming developmental positioning of the wisdom teeth, recommending extraction prior to 17 to 19 years of age.
While extraction may not sound like a lot of fun, it's far better than the typical alternatives. Crowded teeth can misalign your bite, cause jaw pain, and lead to gum disease, causing dental problems for the rest of your life. Partially-erupted wisdom teeth allow bacteria and germs to multiply, leading to infection or cyst formation; tumors may even grow on a trapped wisdom tooth. Impacted or partially-erupted wisdom teeth may force entry, pushing up in whichever direction they find the most give: sideways, vertically, backward, forward. They can become stuck while still fully encased in the jawbone (called a bony impaction), or prior to erupting through the gums (called a soft tissue impaction). Such impaction can cause pain, swelling, and infection. The good news is that extraction is a simple, routine surgical procedure that can usually be performed comfortably in one office visit.
Wisdom Teeth Extractions
If you're self-conscious about cracked, broken, decayed, or worn teeth, we can bring back your healthy, natural-looking smile with dental crowns, also called caps. A crown can return structure, strength, and function to a tooth with extensive decay or damage. Designed to fit snugly and function as a healthy tooth, a crown will protect your tooth from further damage and preserve the jaw's correct natural alignment.
We use precious metal, porcelain pressed (or fused) to metal, or all- porcelain crowns. Our precise color-matching system allows us to find the right shade of porcelain to blend with your natural tooth color. Porcelain crowns are also extremely durable and long lasting, and these benefits make them popular with dentists as well as patients.
Typically, we can design, fit, and place your crowns in just a couple of short appointments. Once a crown is placed, you can care for it as you do your natural teeth. Conscientious brushing twice a day and daily flossing will protect the base of your crown from bacterial growth. Be sure to see us at least two times each year for professional cleanings and a preventive exam, too.
Missing teeth alter your appearance, lessen your self-esteem, and compromise whole-body health. Dentures and partials can restore smiles and rejuvenate oral wellness.
Dentures contain prosthetic teeth on a natural-looking, gum-colored base. We will assess your smile and may recommend upper, lower, or a full set of dentures to renew oral vitality. Dentures will recreate your natural smile and let you enjoy the benefits of a complete set of teeth. Typically, dentures are secured with adhesive, but we may suggest dental implants for maximum stability.
A partial denture, or partial, restores smiles that have some healthy teeth remaining. Missing teeth leave gaps. A partial contains one or more prosthetic teeth to fill gaps and complete smiles. We will use metal clasps to attach your removable partial to healthy neighboring teeth.
Dentures and Partials
A bridge not only fills the gap, but it also prevents repositioning of remaining teeth. It can also correct a misaligned bite, improve chewing function and speech articulation, and provide internal structure for the face to give you a more youthful appearance.
First of all, a bridge is a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) that attaches on one or both sides to teeth prepared with dental crowns. A fixed bridge is joined onto the neighboring abutment teeth (crowned teeth) and consists of three basic units: the false tooth or teeth (called a pontic) and two abutment crowns. The style of bridge we suggest will depend upon the strength and health of the abutment teeth, as well as the location of the gap in relation to the rest of your dentition. If healthy adjacent abutment teeth aren't available, a surgically-implanted metal post, known as a dental implant, may offer a solid alternative. For a bridge that replaces many teeth, we may recommend a removable partial denture or implant-supported prosthesis.
Crown and Bridgework
Tooth decay affects people of all ages. Left untreated, decay only worsens and may compromise overall health. Decayed teeth can be restores with tooth-colored composite resin fillings.
Because composite resins are not made of metal, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color to match your natural teeth. This means only you and your dentist will know you have fillings. Another pro is that the tooth/composite bond actually supports the remaining tooth structure, deterring breakage and insulating against temperature changes. Best of all, composite resins allow us to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact than amalgams. We believe in conservative dentistry – the more natural tooth structure you keep, the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future.
Some patients experience mild and temporary post-placement sensitivity from composite resin fillings. The only caution we usually mention is that coffee, tea, and other staining foods and beverages may discolor your composites.
Inlays or onlays may be suggested, if your tooth's decay is too large for a filling but doesn't require a full crown. Inlays and onlays are made of porcelain or composite resin to strengthen and protect teeth while blending seamlessly with your existing smile.