Dental Implants

Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. Dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture

Dental implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Made from titanium posts, they provide a safe and effective way to improve your smile and your ability to eat the foods you love. Because they fuse directly with the bone, implants will also help to preserve facial structure, preventing bone deterioration, which can occur when teeth are missing

Bone Grafting

When a tooth is lost or extracted, the remaining jaw bone becomes susceptible to bone deterioration if the problem is not addressed with a bone graft. This procedure promotes healing in the jawbone and eliminates the problems that can occur when a tooth is lost. A bone graft will provide structural stability and linkage, as well as stimulate osteogensis, or healing in the bone.

Taking care of the jaw bone when a tooth is removed or lost is an important step that is often overlooked.

Sinus Lifts

A sinus lift is a surgical procedure designed to augment bone mass in the top jaw in order to facilitate the successful placement of a dental implant. Dr. Harris examines each patient on a case-by-case basis to determine when this procedure is necessary. When required, a sinus lift will significantly enhance the longevity of a dental implant.

Dentures

Complete Dentures are prosthetic devices used to replace a patient's natural teeth. Dentures allow a patient to regain their smile, and eat foods more easily.

Additionally, dentures provide natural support to facial muscles, which would otherwise sag and cause the appearance of premature aging.

There are two basic types of dentures. A conventional full denture is made and placed in the patient's mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed which may take several months. By contrast, an immediate complete denture is inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. The dentist takes measurements and makes models of the patient's jaws during a preliminary visit. With immediate dentures, the denture wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period.

Most dentures are made of acrylic. The teeth are meade of plastic, porcelain, or a combination of the two. Over time, dentures will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment normal. The alignment will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Regular dentist examinations are important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for changes or disease.

Bleaching

Bleaching is a highly effective way to brighten your smile quickly and safely. This procedure will correct brown, yellow, and spotted tooth staining. It provides a lasting effect, and works on people of all ages.

The procedure begins as Dr. Harris creates a custom stent which will hold the bleaching agent against your teeth at night. Within 1 to 2 weeks you will notice a dramatic difference. Your mouth guard will be ready in 1 to 2 days for you to pick up and begin using. While severe cases may require the use of a veneer or a crown, bleaching will restore most yello, spotted, or brown teeth to a brilliant white.

Bridges

If a patient is missing one or more teeth, chewing and speaking can become a problem. Bridges can be the solution. They help to maintain the shape of a patient's face, as well as reducing stress on surrounding teeth while biting.

Bridges can be provided in one of two ways. The first is a natural tooth bridge, in which the bridge is suppored by a patient's natural teeth adjacent to the void (abutment teeth). These bridges can either be permanent, or removable.

The second type is an implant retained bridge. It is used when the patient has more than one natural tooth missing. In this type of bridge, Dr. Harris first creates a dental implant to support the bridge. The implants are extremely secure, as they attach the artificial teeth directly to the jaw. As an implant specialist, Dr. Harris is able to provide his patients with several options based upon their specific needs.

Crowns

Crowns are used to cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't enough tooth left. They can also be used to attach a bridge, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that's already broken. Crowns can be made or surfaced with various materials, resulting in a finish that matches a patient's natural teeth. Crowns are long lasting, often for 20-30 years.

Crowns can be used whenever extreme damage to a tooth has occurred. They are often used to replace missing teeth, offer support ot misshapen teeth, fix smile and chewing problems, and to strengthen teeth with root canal fillings. Best of all, they look completely natural.

Extractions

In some cases, a dental problem may require the use of an extraction. Dr. Harris will consult with a patient to determine when this is necessary, and when it is, he will advise on possible ways to deal with a missing tooth, often by replacement. Dr. Harris will also provide extraction patients with post-care advice to ensure fast recovery and minimal discomfort.

Prosthetic

Dr. Harris is capable of providing several alternatives to the patient with complex dental needs, including implant prosthetics.

There are two basic types of prosthetics:

Fixed

Fixed prosthetics are not removable by the patient, and therefore must be designed such that the patient is able to clean and maintain it with regular brushing and flossing.

Removable

Removable prothetics must be removed in order for the patient to clean them.

Regardless of which type used, Dr. Harris will design each device to minimize visual impact to the patient, and to match the patient's mouth and face. Both types are tailor made to each patient to maximize function and aesthetic appeal.