Services
Our Services
CEREC
CEREC is the short term for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction. CEREC uses CAD/CAM (computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing) technology to take digital impressions quickly and generate a precisely fitted restoration.
CEREC allows us to create a restoration the same day of your dental visit. This not only saves you time but money as there is only one visit needed. We will design, fabricate and place your CEREC restoration at your appointment. CEREC can be used for a variety of restorations such as full coverage crowns, implant crowns, ¾ crowns and onlays.
Crowns
There are times when decay is just too large or deep for a regular filling. In these cases, Dental Crowns are recommended. A dental crown is an all porcelain or gold restoration that covers the entire tooth. From the top to the sides, this “cap” gives your tooth the strength and longevity needed for better oral health and restored chewing power.
The preparation for a crown is simple, the decay/cavity is removed and then replaced with a composite buildup material. The tooth is then prepared by reducing the sides and top of the tooth to make space and room for the crown. A digital impression is then taken. In most cases we can prepare a CEREC crown same day at our office. But in the rare cases where we are unable, we will send the impression to our lab and they will fabricate the crown. In the meantime, we will place a temporary on the tooth and remove it once the new crown is delivered. The new crown is cemented, adjusted to your bite and will look and feel like a real tooth.
Dental Bridge
A Dental Bridge is a series of crowns, fused together to bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is a great solution when there is one to two missing teeth. The adjacent teeth are prepared for crowns where the they will anchor the bridge. The crowns in the middle of the bridge (where the missing teeth are) are called pontics, which are the crowns that will fill in where the missing teeth are, hence a bridge. In most cases a dental implant is a more ideal restoration for a single missing tooth, but in some cases a bridge is the best solution dependent on various factors.
Benefits of a Dental Bridge
• Prevents other teeth from drifting down or over into missing spaces
• Allows for more biting force
• Restores our smile
• Restores Normal Speaking and Chewing
Composite Fillings/Bonding
Composite fillings, also known as tooth colored fillings or white fillings, are not only durable but are almost unnoticeable in the mouth. The plastic resin material for the filling comes in a soft moldable state, allowing us to place it in the prepared area and sculpt it to look like your natural tooth.
Before placement, the tooth is prepared, decay/cavity is removed, then cleaned with solution prior to bonding. Once the tooth has been etched or cleaned, the composite material is placed and molded to the anatomy of the tooth, it is then cured (hardened) by an ultraviolet light. After making minor adjustments to the filling after it is placed, you are able to eat/drink immediately. Composite Fillings allow us to restore, repair and protect your teeth without the need for metal mercury fillings. See an example on our before after photos page. Click here.
Veneers
Veneers are a great cosmetic solution if you are trying fix minor chips and cracks as well as gaps and larger imperfections. A veneer is thin porcelain shell that is bonded to the prepared tooth. The tooth requires very little preparation to place the Veneer. After the tooth is prepped, an impression is taken and sent to the lab for fabrication. A temporary veneer is placed on the tooth while awaiting the final restoration. After 2-3 weeks, the temporaries are removed and the finished veneers are placed. The natural look of a veneer is that of a natural tooth and is very difficult tell the difference between the veneer and the surrounding natural teeth. See examples here.
Dental Cleanings
At Augustine Dental, we offer full service professional dental cleanings. Whether it is a normal 6 month cleaning, exam and x-rays or a periodontal “deep” cleaning, we are your one stop for all of your Oral Health Management. In some cases, you might require a deeper cleaning such as a debridement or periodontal cleaning. A debridement is typically warranted if it has been a couple years since your last regular cleaning where there is more buildup and calculus on the teeth. A periodontal cleaning is a deeper cleaning that requires us to go below the gum line to remove extensive plaque and tartar buildup. In many cases there can be extensive bone loss if you do not keep up with your regular periodontal cleanings.
We do our very best to educate our patients on their current oral health and what we need to do as your health provider to optimize your visit. We will always discuss treatment prior to any work and allow you to understand what we are doing before we do it.
Dental Implant
A Dental Implant is commonly used when there is one or multiple teeth missing in an arch. We typically work with an oral surgeon or periodontist who will place the implant. The implant itself is a titanium fixture that is placed in the jaw bone and a healing cap is placed. The healing process take 2-4 months. During the healing process, osseointegration begins to take place, this is where the implant fuses with the bone and
secures the implant in the jaw. After integration, an impression coping is placed on the implant and an impression is taken to fabricate the implant crown. Once fabricated, the healing cap is removed and the implant crowns is placed on the implant. In most cases, a dental implant is one of the best ways to restore a missing tooth. It looks and feels like a normal tooth. It is important to note that not all individuals are candidates for implants, but the vast majority are.