Restorative Dentistry
Dr. Gutsell is committed to offering a full range of restorative dental services. There are several options for restoring or replacing a tooth, ranging from conservative to esthetic treatments. Depending on each patient’s personal needs, we are happy to explain all treatment options.
Fillings
Composite fillings or traditional silver fillings are used to restore decayed teeth. Composite fillings are white tooth colored, and can also be used to repair a chipped tooth or protect exposed root surfaces, this is called bonding.
Crowns
A crown is a prosthetic that can be placed over an existing tooth that cannot be filled with a traditional filling. This is an option to restore a badly decayed or a fractured tooth. Crowns are preferred in white tooth-colored materials such as porcelain or zirconium, although there are some cases where a gold crown can be recommended.
Implant Restoration
A dental implant is the ideal way to replace a missing tooth. It consists of a titanium root and a crown to act and look like a natural tooth. At Gerald G. Gutsell, DDS, Ltd., we provide implant restoration services in coordination with our trusted Oral Surgeons. The oral surgeon places the titanium implant and when the implant is fully integrated into the jaw bone it is ready for the crown treatment. This healing process can take many months; Dr. Gutsell and the oral surgeon team consult each individual patient’s treatment throughout the process. Proper hygiene care is needed around implants, our staff will guide you on how to best care for your dental implants.
Bridges
Not all patients are candidates for dental implants; a bridge is another option for replacing a missing tooth. A bridge is a grouping of connected crowns used to fill the space of a missing tooth.
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Partial or Full Dentures
Partials or dentures are removable prosthetics that are worn to replace function of the mouth, such as chewing and talking, along with smile aesthetics. Partial dentures are made to snap into place in the mouth and replace multiple missing teeth. A full denture is made to replace all the teeth on the top, bottom, or both arches. These pieces suction to the mouth or snap onto stabilizing anchors such as remaining teeth or dental implants. Proper home care of dentures and partials is important, such as brushing, cleaning, and nightly soaks.
An advanced denture option is to mount a full denture to multiple implants; this allows the patient to have greater function, appearance, and permanently attaches the denture to the implants improving quality of life. Implant maintenance dental appointments are needed periodically.
Tooth Extractions
Routine tooth extractions are sometimes required with stubborn baby teeth, patients preparing for braces, or wisdom teeth. In some unfortunate cases teeth that can not be saved with any restorative treatment may need to be removed.
Dr. Gutsell has trusted oral surgeons that can coordinate not only the extraction of non-restorable teeth, but also replacing newly extracted teeth with implants when needed.
Root Canals
Root canal treatment is necessary when there is an infection of the tooth. The infection will be cleaned out from the inside of the tooth, followed by placing a filling or crown on the tooth. Prior to the procedure an antibiotic is often needed to aid in controlling the tooth infection. Our office has skilled and trusted Endodontists that we refer to regularly.