Rebuilding Smiles with Dental Restorations

A damaged or incomplete smile can have a strong effect on your quality and enjoyment of life. Fortunately, you can enjoy your smile the way you used to thanks to the effective treatments of restorative dentistry. Dr. Ward. W. Clemmons has helped bring healthier smiles to Fort Smith residents for over 30 years. Working with a talented team, he provides personalized treatment to help his patients enjoy healthy and complete smiles.

Could your smile be in better shape? Find out what we can do with our restorative dental options!

What is a Dental Restoration?

Restorations are designed to return your teeth to a healthy state. We offer a broad range of restorations in our dental office, including:

Fillings
Crowns
Implants
Bridges
Dentures
Partial dentures

Do I Need a Dental Restoration?

If you have one or more teeth that have decay, damage, or are otherwise unhealthy, it may be time for a dental restoration. The dentist can tell you during your 6-month exam if you have any dental issues in need of a restoration. If there is an issue that is bothering you, especially if it is painful or causing you harm, contact our office and talk to us about whether a restoration is needed.

How Do I Decide What Kind of Restoration I Need?

Depending on your dental situation, you’ll likely have many different options for treating your dental problem. Dr. Clemmons takes the time to describe each of your options, helping you understand the benefits and drawbacks of each. When making recommendations, we consider multiple factors, including:

The type of dental problem you’re facing
The location of the affected tooth or teeth
Your overall oral health
Any health complications
Your budget and insurance coverage
Your lifestyle and dental goals

We believe in providing personalized and conservative treatment, looking for the most efficient and beneficial option for your smile.

A Brand-new Smile with Dental Implants

If your smile is missing one or more teeth, complete tooth replacement is possible thanks to dental implants. A bio-safe titanium post is inserted into the jaw, where it fuses to the bone and becomes a permanent replacement tooth root.

Implants are capable of supporting everything from a single dental crown to an entire arch of dentures and can be customized to the needs of your smile.

What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

While there are many tooth replacements, implants have multiple benefits that other tooth replacement options don’t offer.

Permanence: Dental implants become part of your jaw and have an extremely high success rate.
Stability: Anchored into your jaw, implants keep prostheses such as dentures and partials from slipping out of place.
Function: Implant-supported restorations look, feel, and function just like a real tooth.
Bone Preservation: Implants provide stimulation to the jaw bone, which keeps it from shrinking and altering the facial structure.
Alignment: Implants keep your teeth from shifting out of place, maintaining a healthy alignment.
Quality of Life: When you don’t have to worry about missing teeth or loose dentures, you can smile, talk, and eat normally without affecting your lifestyle.

Who’s a Candidate for Dental Implants?

There are two main factors in qualifying for dental implants: missing teeth, and jaw bone density.

Since dental implants are embedded in the jaw bone, they need a certain level of bone density to provide support. If the bone is too short or too frail, the implant won’t be able to withstand daily chewing and will fail. If the jaw bone isn’t strong or dense enough for an implant, certain additional procedures may help to increase bone volume, such as a bone graft or sinus lift.

Have Questions About Dental Implants? Consider These 5 Things to Ask the Dentist

Would implants be right for my situation?
Is my jaw strong enough for dental implants?
How much would the treatment cost?
Does my insurance cover dental implants?
How do I take care of my implant?

Should I Consider Dentures?

Dentures are one of the oldest methods of tooth replacement, and thanks to advances in design and materials, they’re more effective and more comfortable than ever before.

What Kinds of Dentures are There?

Dentures come in two styles:

Full dentures – A complete dental arch of teeth fitting over the jaw.
Partial dentures – A prosthetic replacing groups of missing teeth that anchors onto your remaining teeth with metal clasps.

There are also three types of dentures:

Traditional dentures – These dentures sit on top of your gums and are held in place by suction or denture adhesive cream.
Implant-supported dentures – Dentures supported by implants are fixed in place, and act like your normal teeth without moving or sliding.
Immediate dentures – Made to provide the wearer with teeth while their custom dentures are being crafted. They are reserved for short-term use.

How Do I Choose Which Type of Dentures to Get?

Which type is best for you will depend on multiple factors, including how many teeth you have remaining, where they are placed, how healthy they are, and how healthy your mouth is overall. The dentist will discuss with you what your current health situation is and answer any questions to help you decide whether dentures are the right choice for you, and which kind to pick.

Reliable Protection with Dental Crowns

Crowns are one of the most common restorations due to their reliability and versatility. Able to be placed on nearly any tooth, crowns protect teeth from damage and decay, and restore functionality to a compromised tooth.

What Are My Dental Crown Options?

Dental crowns come in three main types: metal, porcelain, and porcelain-fused-to-metal.

Metal crowns: The most inexpensive and most durable crown, but also the most obvious in the smile.
Porcelain crowns: Designed to look and function like a real tooth. Porcelain crowns are the least durable type, but can still last for many years if maintained well.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns: These crowns marry the strength of metal to the aesthetic quality of porcelain.

Do I Need a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns have various uses. The dentist may recommend a crown for:

A cracked or broken tooth
A tooth that’s been worn down
A tooth with substantial decay
A tooth with a large filling
Protecting a tooth after root canal therapy
Covering a misshapen tooth
Improving a tooth’s aesthetic
Supporting a dental bridge
Completing a dental implant

How Long Do Crowns Last?

The lifetime of a crown depends on what it’s made of, which tooth it was placed on, and how well cared for it is. A porcelain crown on a front tooth will likely last much longer than one placed on a molar, and a metal crown will last longer than either.

If a crown is not well cared for, either with poor at-home hygiene or with few dental visits, it may not receive the maintenance it needs. This could lead to a crown becoming damaged or loose. Other factors that can affect a crown’s lifespan include certain behaviors, such as chewing hard substances like ice or grinding your teeth (also called bruxism).

Should I Get a Dental Bridge?

Bridges can replace one-to-three missing teeth as long as there are teeth on either side of the gap. There are multiple types of bridges which use different supports to hold the prosthetic in place.

What Types of Bridges are There?

Bridges come in four different types. The best one for you will depend on several factors, such as the number of missing teeth and where the bridge will sit.

Traditional Bridge – This prosthetic is held in place by two crowns placed over the neighboring teeth, turning them into supports for the bridge.
Cantilever Bridges – This bridge only anchors the replacement teeth to a real tooth on one side. It’s typically used when a second support tooth is not available.
Maryland (Bonded) Bridges – This bridge uses a wing-shaped framework to attach to the backs of the supporting teeth. It has less impact on your teeth, but also can’t handle as much chewing force. Generally recommended for the front teeth rather than for chewing molars.
Implant-supported Bridges – These bridges are supported by an implant inserted into the jaw bone. With this sturdy support, nearby teeth don’t need to be altered.

Do I Need a Filling?

Fillings are the go-to restoration for most teeth when a cavity appears. If the dentist has identified signs of tooth decay, he may recommend a filling to ensure the decay doesn’t spread. If you’ve been having tooth pain, it's important to contact us as soon as possible so we can help you save your tooth.

Not Sure if You Need a Filling? Here are 5 Follow-up Questions to Ask the Dentist

Where is the cavity located?
How advanced is my cavity?
Can you show me the cavity?
Is it possible to reverse it?
What would happen if I delayed getting a filling?

Should I Get a Composite Filling?

Composite (white) fillings are growing more and more popular thanks to their many benefits. The composite resin bonds closely to tooth enamel and mimics the shape and color of your tooth, making it almost impossible to detect. Because they bond so closely, they can also fill smaller spaces, allowing the dentist to preserve more of your natural tooth.

How Does Gum Disease Affect My Teeth?

It may surprise you to hear that gum disease is, in fact, the leading cause of tooth loss. As gum disease advances, the gums pull away from the tooth roots. The infected gums can’t provide support for the teeth, leaving them loose in the socket and vulnerable to decay.

What are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?

Gum disease is defined in two stages according to their signs and symptoms.

Gingivitis (early gum disease):

Red and swollen gums
Bleeding when brushing or flossing
Sensitivity to heat and cold
Sensitivity to touch or chewing pressure

Periodontitis (advanced gum disease):

Dark gums
A receding gum line
Chronic bad breath
Sores in the mouth
Loose teeth
A gum abscess
Changes in your bite

How Do You Treat Gum Disease?

Treatments depend on how advanced the gum disease is. In the early stage, gum disease may be reversed by regular cleanings and good hygiene at home. A change in diet and certain habits, such as smoking, can also help.

If the gum disease has advanced, pockets may have formed below the gum line, leading to bacterial infection. A deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, helps to encourage healing. The dentist uses antibiotics to clear the infection, scrapes away any tartar buildup below the gum line, and smooths out the tooth root so the gums can reattach.

At very advanced stages, surgery may be called for. Pocket reduction surgery helps to shrink infected pockets. If the gums have receded, gum graft surgery may be used to help rebuild the gum line.

Why Do I Need More Frequent Dental Visits After Gum Disease Treatment?

Unfortunately, advanced gum disease is never considered fully ‘cured’. The disease may be treated, but the gums are more vulnerable to reinfection and relapses. To ensure your gums stay healthy, the dentist may ask you to visit more often, such as every three months, to keep an eye on your healing.

What Is Laser Dentistry?

Laser dentistry uses specialized dental lasers to improve patient treatment in various areas. Many patients find that lasers make their treatment faster, more comfortable, and more effective.

How Do Lasers Improve Dental Treatment?

Lasers can be used for a variety of treatments, from preparing a tooth for a filling to treating gum disease and more. Some of the benefits of using lasers include:

Faster treatment: A targeted laser can perform more quickly than standard dental tools.
Precision: Dental lasers can hone in on very small areas, allowing the dentist to be more precise and less invasive during treatment.
Better comfort: Patients often appreciate how quiet lasers are, and how they feel much less during treatment.
Improved healing: Since lasers cauterize tissue as they work, and can target more precise areas, healing after treatment doesn’t take as long.

A Healthier Smile with Better Dental Care

Dr. Clemmons and his staff are passionate about helping patients enjoy greater health and comfort with their smile. We stay updated on the latest techniques and technology to ensure our patients receive the best care possible.

Ready to feel better about your smile? Contact us and schedule your next dental visit today!

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