restorative and cosmetic care

Dental Crowns

To repair cracked, broken, or decayed teeth, our Blue Dog team can use dental crowns. Customized to restore your smile’s aesthetics and function, a crown will protect your tooth from further damage. Dr. Smith will use this restorative dentistry technique to fully restore dental implants, to complete root canal therapy, to fully repair an injured tooth, or for cosmetics.

VENEERS

Patients who have numerous cracks, chips, stains, or gaps in their smile may find porcelain veneers are the solution to all of their cosmetic concerns. Placed onto the front facing surfaces of teeth, porcelain veneers conceal and correct a wide array of smile flaws instantly. Best of all, the high quality porcelain is durable and stain resistant offering patients long lasting results. If you’re interested in finding out more about porcelain veneers or other cosmetic procedures, contact Dr. Smith and her team today

Composite tooth colored fillings (Amalgam-Free Practice)

Blue Dog Family Dentistry offers durable and discreet composite fillings for treating your cavities. Composite fillings blend with the natural color of your teeth unlike old-school amalgam fillings which the have the dark, visible metal. The amalgam metal expands and contracts and over time causes fractures on the tooth surface. Composite tooth colored fillings are resistant to temperature changes and support the tooth’s natural structure. If you need help with one or more of your cavities, call Blue Dog Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment.

Dental Implants

Among adults from 35 to 44-years-old, 69 percent have lost at least one permanent tooth. There are many options to replace that missing tooth or multiple teeth, but the prosthetic that most closely mimics nature’s design is the dental implant. Dental implants are a substitute tooth root. The implant is placed directly into the jawbone where it forms an anchor. Once the implant integrates within the bone, the implant is restored, giving it the look and feel of a real tooth. With the highest success rate of all tooth replacement options, implants can last a lifetime with proper care.

We restore implants at Blue Dog Family Dentistry. We can fabricate single implant crowns or bridges, but there is a very good option for patients without teeth. For those looking for options other than a traditional denture, a locator denture can be made that snaps on and off the implants and has a much better grip than a traditional denture. We also do Hybrid Dentures, also known as Diem dentures. They are high quality dentures that can only be removed by the dentist. Call us for a consult to discuss your options!

Dental Bridges

Tooth loss is very common for a myriad of reasons. If you have a gap caused by a missing tooth, you may be able to fill the space with what is known as a bridge. This permanent bridge not only fills the gap, but can prevent your remaining teeth from shifting into a position that is unattractive or detrimental to the way your bottom and top rows of teeth fit together.

A bridge is made up of one to three false teeth in a row, attached to a gum-colored base.  A fixed bridge is permanently joined onto the neighboring crowned teeth. With proper care, a fixed bridge may last 6 to 10 years.

Dentures and Partial Dentures

“Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.” Missing teeth can make you self-conscious of your appearance, affect your speech, and impact your quality of life, mainly from not being able to eat proper foods.

If you have lost all of your teeth to decay, gum disease, trauma, or other causes, full dentures can beautifully renew your smile. Dentures are made of natural-looking prosthetic teeth inserted in a gum-colored base, they can replace full upper or lower rows of teeth. Many denture wearers rely on natural suction or over-the-counter adhesive to hold their replacement teeth in the proper position. Dentures do not function as well as our natural teeth but for a more secure option, Dr. Smith may recommend having dental implants placed to improve the retention of the denture. You can speak to her about these options at your initial visit.

A partial denture, or partial, contains as many artificial teeth as needed to replace gaps left by missing teeth. Clasps hold the partial in place and allows you to fill in the areas where you may be missing teeth while also preventing existing teeth from shifting out of place.

Restorative and Cosmetic Care

Despite our best efforts to care for our mouth, there are times in our lives when damage to our smile warrants restorative measures. If issues within the gums, teeth, or other parts of the mouth are not addressed in a timely manner, extensive damage may occur. Fortunately, we are here to help guide you to optimal oral health. Whether you have developed a cavity or lost or injured a tooth, our team can you help you reclaim your strong, beautiful smile with a wide variety of dental restorative solutions. Contact Us today to schedule your appointment or to learn more about our extensive list of restorative dentistry services. From our conveniently located office in Hardin Valley, Dr. Smith and her staff welcome families from throughout the surrounding areas.