Consequences of Missing Teeth

As children, we all experience tooth loss – our baby teeth begin to fall out around the age of six to make room for our permanent teeth. If all goes according to plan, our “adult” teeth will erupt and stay there for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Although tooth loss is typically associated with the elderly, sometimes we experience dental trauma that may knock them out sooner than expected or other dental problems. Whatever the reason may be, if you are missing teeth, our staff at Greenville Family Dentistry offers a wide variety of restorative and cosmetic treatment options to give you a brand new smile.

Although a missing tooth might look cute on a child, it’s no laughing matter as an adult. Not only will one’s smile be affected by the gaps from missing teeth, but if he or she is missing too many teeth, the skin around the mouth won’t be properly supported and will start to sag, making the individual appear older than they are. This can hurt one’s self-esteem, impact their social life and even lead to depression down the road. Like most dental problems, the dramatic effects produced by missing teeth will increase if left untreated. If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your restorative and cosmetic treatment options, please give us a call.

To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are a type of restorative dental procedure that helps to protect the tooth from further decay or damage. It is also known as a partial crown, because the process is very similar to a crown. However, it is more conservative than a crown and involves less removal of healthy tooth structure.

 

Here at Greenville Family Dentistry, we perform inlays and onlays to help strengthen a tooth susceptible to breaking, prevent permanent damage that would need an implant or bridge, and restore its shape as well. The inlay is placed inside the tooth, while the onlay is more extensive and goes on the outside of the tooth.

 

Like with dental crowns, inlays and onlays performed in our office take about 2-3 weeks in total. Here is a summary of the procedure:

 

1. The patient visits our office and has a local anesthetic to numb the area of the tooth. This makes it so the patient is comfortable and does not experience any pain during the procedure.

2. A drill is used to remove the damaged portion of the tooth; this is where the inlay or onlay will go.

3. With the tooth prepared, impressions are made for the inlays or onlays and sent to the lab.

4. The patient returns in about two weeks to have the inlay or onlay bonded to their tooth. This is similar to a crown, though it is not covering the entire tooth.

 

For inlays or onlays as a restorative dental procedure, visit us at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX!

Dental Implants

Dental Implants

At Greenville Family Dentistry we can help you achieve an attractive and complete smile with dental implants. Whether you’re already missing teeth due to decay, disease or injury or are in need of an extraction, dental implants are a long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile.  

 

The implant process takes between three to six months to complete and starts with the installation of a titanium screw in your jaw bone, which will serve as your replacement tooth root. It will be placed in your jaw through an incision in your gums where the replacement tooth will be. Then the gums are sutured, and the jaw bone is left to heal around the implant for three to six months. This healing process is called osseointegration, and during this time, you will receive a temporary crown so that you may eat, speak and smile normally.

 

Once your implant has healed, Dr. Christopher Emuedue will install the abutment on top of the implant. This will serve as the foundation for your permanent crown, which is custom made for your smile. Once the crown is fixed in place, you will be able to enjoy a smile that both looks and feels natural.

 

If you are currently considering options for replacing teeth in your smile, schedule an appointment with our office in Greenville, TX by calling 903-455-6701. For more information on the practice, visitwww.GreenvilleFamilyDentistryTX.com.