A composite, or tooth colored filling, is used when a tooth has decay that must be removed and refilled. Dr. Elli will prepare the tooth for restoration by removing any decay. She will then apply the composite material, and fill the cavity. After the composite has been light cured, it will be smoothed and shaped for fit and comfort. Composite fillings are ideal in that the preparation of the tooth does not have to be as aggressive as with the previously used amalgam, or silver fillings. The composite material is more fluid than amalgam, therefore allowing for less natural tooth to be removed. And the composition of the composite material allows it to expand and contract with the temperatures in your mouth, where amalgam fillings do not. Composite fillings are also much more esthetically pleasing.
Any trauma or infection of the nerve will result in the need for root canal therapy. Common reasons for root canal therapy include decay, an abscess caused by excessive decay, trauma—such as a chipped or broken tooth or blow to the mouth, or if a tooth is dying due to a post trauma incident. Root canal therapy may be done in a single or multiple appointments. In the event the root canal therapy requires the expertise of an Endodontist, (a root canal specialist), Dr. Elli may refer the patient out.
The tooth is numbed and a small opening is made into the tooth. Dr. Elli will begin using small instruments referred to as files to access the pulp chamber and remove the decay and the infected nerve. Several attempts into the canal are necessary to be sure to remove all the infected nerve. Once this is completed, a permanent filling material will be placed in the canals of the tooth and the opening filled with a permanent material. Having removed the blood supply to the tooth, the tooth can become very brittle, therefore a crown is usually suggested to protect and preserve your natural tooth.
A crown, sometimes referred to as a cap, is a fabricated cover that protects your natural tooth once a root canal has been performed or if there is a large amount of tooth structure taken away due to carious decay. A crown may also be necessary if you have fractured, cracked or broken a tooth, to replace an ill fitting existing crown, to correct a bite problem, or for cosmetic purposes.
1)The preparation for the crown will be your first visit. At this time any existing decay is removed and the tooth is reshaped to accommodate the new crown. Occasionally, the tooth will require being built back up again if a large portion of the tooth must be removed. An impression is taken and sent to our lab for fabrication and a temporary crown will be placed for protection until the new crown is received back from the lab.
2) Once back from the lab, the temporary is removed and the permanent crown fitted and cemented. The doctor or assistant will instruct you on the proper home care for your new crown.
A bridge is a way to replace one or more missing teeth. Replacing missing teeth makes it easier to chew and can help improve your appearance. It also helps to keep your teeth, gums, and jaws healthy. The procedure will generally take two (2) appointments:
1) Preparing the teeth: For a conventional bridge, the teeth on either side of the missing tooth must be reshaped. These teeth, known as the abutment teeth will hold the bridge in place. The center tooth, the one replacing the missing tooth, is known as the pontic. Both the abutments and pontic are color matched to your permanent teeth. Once reshaped, an impression is taken and sent to our lab for fabrication.
2) Placing the new bridge: Once the new bridge is back from the lab, the doctor removes the temporary bridge you received at your first appointment, and fits the new permanent bridge onto the abutments. Minor adjusting may be necessary for proper bite. The permanent bridge is then cemented onto the abutments. The doctor or assistant will then instruct you on the proper home care for your new bridge.
A veneer is a thin, translucent jacket or coating that is used on anterior, front teeth for several reasons. Tooth discoloration from medications or age; if your tooth is worn, fractured or chipped; if you have gaps or large spaces between your teeth; or even crooked teeth. A veneer can also be placed when a tooth has a small amount of decay not sufficient to require a crown.
The procedure may require 2 or 3 visits. At your first visit, you and Dr. Elli will discuss what your goal is and what color best matches your natural teeth. The next step will be to file down the enamel of the tooth very slightly and a mold or impression will be taken and sent to the lab. Dr. Elli may apply temporary veneers while the lab is processing your permanent ones. If not, it is important to avoid cold foods and drinks, as your teeth will be more sensitive than usual. You will want to brush your teeth gently and avoid hard foods that can loosen your temporary veneers, and food or drink that can stain.
Finally, once the veneer is fabricated and returned from the lab, Dr. Elli will make any needed adjustments and place it on permanently.
A dental implant is a metal device designed to replace missing teeth. The device is usually made out of titanium and is surgically placed into the jawbone where the tooth is missing. A dental implant is designed to act as the tooth root and can anchor an artificial tooth or teeth such as a crown, bridge or denture.
Dr. Elli currently works with either a periodontist or oral surgeon in implant cases. Your initial visit with Dr. Elli will consist of a consultation regarding your questions and concerns and what your restorative goal is. She will then refer you to a specialist who will again review your questions, concerns, and goals. At your next appointment, the specialist may prepare the bone with a bone graft to allow for ample stability. If no additional time is needed for healing, the implant will be placed. Follow up appointments will then be made between three and six months to make sure that the implant integrates into the bone properly. Once that has been determined, the specialist will refer you back to Dr. Elli for your permanent restoration; either a crown, bridge, or denture.
Once placed, you will be scheduled to see Dr. Elli for follow up appointments and also for your regular hygiene appointments. Proper care and hygiene is very important to the longevity of the implant and its restoration.
Dr. Elli is excited to be able to offer wireless orthodontia, or teeth straightening. Using the Invisalign system, patients of all ages are able to achieve a straighter smile.
At the initial consultation, Dr. Elli will review your case and let you know if you are actually eligible to receive the Invisalign treatment system. (Some orthodontia cases are too complex for this system.)
Once it’s determined you are a candidate, records are taken; impressions for study models, photos, x-rays, and measurements. These records are then sent to the Invisalign lab where they will determine how many aligners will be necessary, and for how long your case will take.
The lab then sends the first round of aligners and Dr. Elli will try them in and make sure they fit properly. Subsequent appointments will be made approximately every three weeks to make adjustments and fit the next set of aligners. This process will repeat throughout the treatment phase until optimum results occur.
As with conventional braces, at the end of your treatment, a retainer will be made for you, which you will continue to wear to maintain the positioning of your newly straightened teeth.
With several whitening, (bleaching), systems out in the markets today, Dr. Elli prefers to utilize the Opalescence Whitening take home system. This system generally takes 10 to 14 days to achieve optimum results, but eliminates the damage often caused by 1 hour systems that many patients experience.
The procedure is very simple. Impressions are taken in the office and custom trays are made, generally within a day or two. Dr. Elli or her assistant will try the trays in to make sure they fit properly and send you home with the trays, the whitening solution, proper instructions, and your models.
Once at home, it is important to read through the instructions thoroughly before starting the process. It is recommended that you set a daily regimen that will be easy to stick to. The syringes containing the solution will last you beyond your expected processing time. Use these additional syringes to touch up your whitening after you have achieved your desired whitening. Keeping the additional syringes refrigerated will increase the longevity of the solution.
In the event your trays are damaged or lost, you can return to the office with your models, and have new trays made at a nominal cost.
Keep in mind that if you are requiring crowns, bridges or veneers, you should whiten your teeth first to obtain the desired shade, as your crown, bridge or veneer will be matched to that shade. |
