Adult Treatment

At Denzinger Family Dentistry, we fully understand that our adult patients have different needs from our younger patients. We want to make sure that your smile stays bright and healthy for life. We offer basic preventative care for all patients to keep you smiling every day of the week! Gum disease is a bigger concern for adults than cavities and is the No. 1 cause of tooth loss in adults. Fortunately, it is preventable, treatable and often reversible!

For those with advanced gum disease, missing or damaged teeth, we have a variety of restorative and cosmetic options to put the smile back on your face. From teeth whitening and bonding to crowns and bridges, we can not only restore the health of your smile, but also the aesthetics and structure.

Adult Dental Care

Adult needs vary widely by family, but follow closely behind adolescents.

Young adults typically have some work to do to clean up their adolescent years and are typically very concerned about their appearance. Tooth colored fillings are a great option to outdated mercury fillings. Invisalign or clear braces are an attractive choice for any young adult looking to align their bite. Beginning a more serious focus on long term care, and making a commitment to twice per year cleanings will help to maintain a beautiful smile.

Adults in their 30’s to 40’s continue to need regular care, but may also be concerned about cosmetics. During this time there will be natural deterioration of the teeth, requiring long term restorations. Dr. Sara uses all metal-free restorations including all-ceramic crowns.

As we get older, the focus for many turns to gum disease. Our team will tell you that healthy gums will help you retain teeth. This can be managed through a healthy diet and meticulous oral hygiene. Tooth replacement, however, for many, is a reality. There are a variety of tooth replacement options depending on the severity of the problem. From implants, to bridges, to dentures, there is a solution that is right for you.

Dentures

Periodontal disease, injury and tooth decay can all cause a loss of your natural teeth. However, we can bring back the smile on your face with dentures to restore your missing teeth. With improved technology and updated materials, dentists can now make them appear more natural and more comfortable for the patient. There are two types of dentures: complete and partial. It may take some time to adjust to your dentures. Speaking and eating may feel different at first, but these regular activities will resume normally once you are accustomed to your dentures. Ask our doctors to see which type would be right for you.

Bridges

A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. A bridge may be necessary to prevent shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease. Bridges also safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile. The 3 main types of bridges are Fixed, Maryland and Cantilever. The fixed bridge is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.

Veneers

Veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers are customized from porcelain material and permanently bonded to your teeth. Veneers are a great alternative to otherwise painful dental procedures to improve the appearance of your smile. Common problems that veneers are used for include, spaces between the teeth, broken or chipped teeth, unsightly, stained or discolored teeth, permanently stained or discolored teeth and crooked or misshapen teeth. Subtle changes to your smile can be achieved with veneers, and in most cases, veneer application is completed in only two office visits. Please contact our office if you have any further questions on veneers.

Whitening

Your teeth will darken over time. Changes in the color of your teeth can be caused by such factors as food and beverages consumed (like coffee, tea and soda). Other known factors for discoloration may include childhood medications or illnesses, tobacco use or improper oral hygiene. Restoring your natural white smile is a priority for our dental whitening team. We can provide a variety of options for whitening your smile.

Over-the-counter, “too good to be true” teeth whitening solutions typically don’t work. As trained professionals, we use industry-approved methods. Our goal is to meet the needs of every patient, and every patient’s needs are different. Call us today for a whitening evaluation.

Bonding

Bonding is a common solution for fixing or repairing chipped or cracked teeth, reducing unsightly gaps or spaces between teeth and hiding discoloration or faded areas on the tooth’s surface. It is often used to improve the appearance of your teeth and enhance your smile. As the name indicates, composite material, either a plastic or resin, is bonded to an existing tooth. Unlike veneers or crowns, composite bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth. Among its other benefits, bonding typically last for an hour and comes in many different shades to match the color of your natural teeth. Composite bonds, however, are not as durable and long-lasting as veneers and crowns and may need to be re-touched or replaced in the future.

Implants

Dental implants are artificial tooth replacements that were first developed half a century ago by a Swedish scientist named Per-Ingvar Branemark. Implants arose from the patient’s need to secure loose-fitting dentures. Today, implant techniques provide a wide range of tooth replacement solutions including single tooth replacement, anterior replacement, posterior replacement and full upper replacement. There are three main types of implants- the root implant, the plate form implant and the subperiosteal implant. The root implant—by far, the most popular—is the most effective because it mirrors the size and shape of a patient’s natural tooth. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.

Crowns

A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is decayed, damaged or cracked. Dr. Sara uses all-ceramic crowns. The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown, consists of, among other things, numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it, re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown and making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown. After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place. The entire process generally consists of a minimum of 2-3 visits over a three to four week period. Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.