Category: Dental Bonding

Now, Getting Ready for College – Elena’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Elena came to Eggert Family Dentistry at the age of 15 as a referral from our orthodontic colleague, Dr. DeVoe.  Dr. DeVoe wanted Dr. Elizabeth Eggert to evaluate restorative options for Elena because she is congenitally missing (was born without) one of her lateral front teeth and her lateral incisor on the other size is undersized.  Dr. DeVoe anticipated that Elena would want a solution for her smile after her braces were removed.   

A congenitally missing tooth is one of the most common dental developmental abnormalities.  In fact, roughly 20% of adults have at least one tooth that never developed.  Why is that number so high? Well, we’ve all heard of that person who didn’t develop all, if any, wisdom teeth.  If you take wisdom teeth out of the picture, the percentage of adults with congenitally missing teeth drops to only 5%.  Other permanent teeth we often see missing are second premolars, upper lateral incisors, and lower central incisors.

A wisdom tooth that never develops would typically be thought of as a good thing – one less tooth to remove!  However, being a person with a missing front tooth can be quite a different story.  Teenage years are difficult enough without having to worry about your smile.  With the emotional roller coaster of being a teen, we need to give our children any excuse to smile and no reason not to!

What was recommended?

Dr. Elizabeth had some options for Elena for replacing her missing tooth.  One option was to use a “flipper,” which is a removable partial denture that contains one or more artificial teeth.  A flipper is often made from denture acrylic and can blend in well with your smile.  The flipper is custom made using an impression or digital scan of your mouth.  Flippers can be uncomfortable to wear and they do come in and out of the mouth, which can be inconvenient.

To replace missing teeth, you can also consider a bridge.  A traditional bridge uses the neighboring teeth as anchors to “fill in the gap.”  Since Elena was still growing and developing, a traditional bridge wasn’t Dr. Elizabeth’s first choice.  A more conservative option for Elena’s age was to consider a composite bonded bridge, which still stays fixed in the mouth like a traditional bridge, but is much more conservative for neighboring teeth and can more easily be altered with growth, if needed.

Another common method to replace missing teeth is to use a dental implant.  With a dental implant, a small post, usually made of titanium, is placed into the jaw bone and serves as a substitute for the root of the tooth.  Then, through a series of attachments, a tooth is added to the implant.  Again, because of Elena’s age, a dental implant wasn’t indicated…yet, anyway.  

Dr. Elizabeth discussed pros and cons with Elena and her mom of these options and emphasized that something would have to be done to last through Elena’s teenage and early adulthood, even though a dental implant may be the best long-term approach.

What did Elena want?

For the undersized lateral on her right side, composite bonding was done to change the shape and size of the tooth.  A porcelain veneer could have been done, but with Elena’s age, the composite material can more easily be changed, if needed, for future growth and development.  As an adult, Elena could choose to convert her composite bonding to a porcelain veneer for ideal color match.  After much discussion, Elena and her mom decided that for her missing tooth on her left side, Elena would use a flipper during the day and an orthodontic retainer at night.

Then what happened?

Throughout Elena’s high school career, she found it was inconvenient for her to wear her flipper and she also didn’t wear her retainer much so her teeth moved somewhat.  In thinking of her life after high school, Elena wanted to review her options.  Elena and her dad came to consult with Dr. Elizabeth she told Dr. Elizabeth, “I am interested in a bridge now.”  Once again, Dr. Elizabeth reviewed Elena’s options in regards to how the most conservative approach would still be preferred.  Dr. Elizabeth recommended that Elena complete a composite bonded bridge.  Dr. Elizabeth would be able to artistically create a “fake” tooth and attach it her surrounding teeth.  This choice is good for the esthetics and will buy Elena some time until she is older and can make some alternate decisions, if needed.   

What does she think?

When asked how Elena felt about getting the procedures done, she said “I was looking forward to my tooth looking like a normal sized tooth.”  She also said that her mom had a bridge done and so she was not worried about it.  “I like it a lot and it looks good.  It doesn’t feel weird to my bite.  It does not feel weird when I chew or eat.”  She is really happy to have her palate free!  She would recommend that anyone needing the same or similar treatment done go for it.  She says, “I like it!  It’s nice to have a normal smile where all my teeth are a normal size.”

Congratulations on your amazing results Elena and thank you for putting your trust in us!  We are delighted to help you move into your college years!

What Are the Types of Dental Fillings, and What Are the Differences?

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

The earliest dental fillings date back between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. Since the first fillings were created, dental fillings have been used to help millions of people preserve their teeth. 

What Are of Dental Fillings Made of? 

Dental fillings can be made from a combination of materials, including metal, plastic, glass, and other materials. The most common types of dental fillings are:

  • Composite fillings: Composite fillings – also called filled resins – are a combination of plastic, glass or quartz fillers and can be colored to match the surrounding teeth. They bond to the existing tooth to provide extra support, and they don’t require as much of the tooth to be removed. Composite fillings hold up well, often at least 5 to 10 years, often longer!
  • Amalgam fillings: “Silver” fillings, are really amalgam fillings, and are made of a mix of metals including mercury.  Many people have had amalgam fillings hold up at least 10 to 15 years in their mouths, but  in order to make space to hold the filling, amalgam fillings require more of the natural tooth to be removed and therefore, the overall tooth strength is decreased. Amalgams are generally not requested today because of their unsightly nature. 
  • Gold: Gold fillings can last a long time, often 15 to 20 years. Gold was a more popular choice before composite fillings were available. In today’s market, however, the cost of gold has made it impractical to use this material, not to mention the need for 2 appointments to complete a the filling. 
  • Ceramic: Ceramic or porcelain fillings often last more than 15 years, and they are more resistant to staining than the composite resin materials. With our CEREC restoration system, a ceramic filling can be completed in one appointment. 
  • Glass ionomer: Glass ionomer is a combination of acrylic and glass. It is typically used for fillings below the gum line or for fillings on kids. This material releases fluoride so it can help prevent further tooth decay. Glass ionomer usually lasts less than five years, but it a lot more moisture tolerant during placement so it can be a great material for certain situations. 

Is It Time to Replace Your Dental Fillings? 

Like all dental work, dental fillings need to be revisited and replaced with time. When you visit Eggert Family Dentistry, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff can help determine whether it’s time to replace your fillings. 

If you think it may be time to replace a dental filling, call our office at 651-482-8412 to schedule an appointment. 

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3 Ways to Fix a Chipped Tooth

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

A chipped tooth is no laughing matter. Depending on the severity of the break, a chipped tooth can be embarrassing and extremely painful. At Eggert Family Dentistry, we have three options for repairing a chipped tooth: bonding, veneers and crowns. Let’s take a closer look at each of these three options.

Dental Bonding

One of the biggest perks of dental bonding is the ease of the process. Dental bonding can be completed in a single appointment. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff apply a putty-like composite resin to your tooth and then sculpt and shape it before curing and hardening the material with an intense blue light. Once polished, composite bonded restorations have a smooth and shiny finish, blending in well with the natural teeth.

Dental bonding is an effective way to repair and reshape a cracked tooth and is also used to correct gaps in teeth or cover up stains. Dental bonding usually lasts for 5-10 years and is a cost-effective solution that helps restore your natural smile.

Check out Lia’s story about her experience with dental bonding here!

Veneers

Sarah's Smile After

Veneers are a stunning option for cracked teeth as well as stained, gaping, and misaligned teeth. They consist of a thin porcelain shell that covers your existing tooth. Applying veneers is a little more labor-intensive process than dental bonding and requires 2-3 visits to complete. At your first visit, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will discuss the result they hope to achieve with the veneers. Then, they prepare your teeth for the custom porcelain overlay and take an impression of your prepared teeth. This impression is then sent to a dental lab where your veneers are fabricated. In the meantime, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will fit you with an attractive temporary solution. The veneer preparation process takes 2-3 weeks. Once your custom veneers are created, you will come back into our office where we will polish your teeth and bond your veneers in place. We work hard to make sure they feel like natural teeth and that you love the results.

Take a look at Katie’s story to learn how porcelain veneers transformed her smile!

Crowns

A crown is an excellent option for repairing a severely cracked or damaged tooth. Commonly made from 100% porcelain, crowns restore the integrity of a damaged tooth more than dental bonding or porcelain veneers because they “cap” or fully encompass the entire tooth. They facilitate chewing and can be color-matched to the rest of your teeth for a flawless appearance.

Creating and placing your custom crown will take 1-2 visits with Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff. A local anesthetic will ensure your comfort while your tooth is prepared for the crown. In many cases, we can take a CEREC scan of your tooth and fabricate your custom crown in our office the same day! Sometimes, however, a lab fabricated crown may still be the better choice for your situation. If that is the case, we will take an impression of your tooth and surrounding teeth and send this impression into one of our trusted labs where they will fabricate your custom crown. This process usually takes 2 weeks. In the meantime, we will fashion a temporary crown for you to wear.

When we fit your crown, we use a cement bonding agent to ensure that your crown stays securely in place. Crowns usually last 10-20 years with proper care.

Read Mary’s story to learn how crowns dramatically improved her smile!

Do you have a chipped tooth that needs to be repaired? Give us a call at 651.482.8412 to make an appointment and discuss your options!

Which Cosmetic Dentistry Procedure is Right for My Teen?

By Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

During the adolescent years, kids typically struggle with their self-image. This can be compounded for teens who are forced to deal with chipped, misaligned, discolored or gapped teeth. Fortunately, at Eggert Family Dentistry, we offer some great cosmetic dentistry options that can help restore your teen’s teeth and go a long way towards increasing their self-confidence.

Teeth Whitening

When it comes to teeth whitening and bleaching, Eggert Family Dentistry offers some excellent options. We supply professional-grade strips and whitening trays that are more effective and gentler on your teeth and gums than their over-the-counter counterparts. We also offer the Zoom Whitening procedure. Performed in a single, two-hour appointment, we apply a professional whitening gel to your teen’s teeth and activate that gel with an LED light which allows the gel to penetrate into the teeth. We then educate both you and your child on follow-up care and sensitivity management.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are ultra-thin porcelain shells that cover the front of teeth. Veneers dramatically transform chipped, misaligned, discolored or worn down teeth into that award-winning smile. They can also be used to close unsightly gaps for a smile your teen will be proud to share. Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff custom create dental veneers that compliment your child’s skin tone, facial features and personality and feel just like their natural teeth. This process takes two to three visits and the results are long-lasting.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding, also known as composite veneers, is also effective in restoring chipped, misaligned, discolored or worn teeth just like dental veneers. Some differences do apply for these different restorations, however. For example, dental bonding can be completed in a single appointment. Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff apply a putty-like composite resin to your teen’s tooth, sculpt and shape it before curing and hardening the material with an intense blue light. Once polished, composite veneers have a smooth and shiny finish, blending in well with the natural teeth.  Dental bonding is popular since it is a more cost-effective option than dental veneers. However, the results typically only last or look their best for 5-10 years. But, that makes it a perfect option for getting your teen through their growing years when the body and jaw are still changing.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we are changing lives one smile at a time, which is why our motto is “Dentistry for a Lifetime of Smiles.” If you have a special teenager in your life who could benefit from one of these cosmetic dentistry procedures, give us a call at 651.482.8412. We would be happy to discuss how we can partner with you to help your adolescent achieve a smile they can be proud of!