Extraction Site Preservation

After the extraction of a tooth, it is important to replace the tooth so there is no open space. Here at Greenville Family Dentistry of Greenville, TX, we understand the importance and understand every situation is different. This is why we offer several options for extraction site preservation.

The missing structure of a tooth could result in the degeneration of the jaw, shifting teeth, and gum irritation. All of these can change the appearance of your smile, and even your facial structure. Problems with eating and talking may also arise.

One of the options available is a dental bridge. This is created by reshaping the enamel of the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth, and then putting crowns on those teeth with a replacement tooth in the middle. Bridges are long lasting. They must be applied before the teeth shift.

Another option is a dental implant. Dental implants are surgically installed and are permanent replacements. With good care, they can last a lifetime. They can also be made to look and feel just like the rest of your natural teeth.

For patients with many or all of their teeth missing, we offer full (conventional and immediate) and partial dentures. These are also durable and long lasting. Dentures can be taken out whenever desired.

If you are having one or more teeth extracted, make sure to talk with us about your best option for replacement. To schedule, call us at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

Sports Mouthguards

When it comes to protecting your mouth during physical activity, especially during contact sports, a mouthguard is an essential piece of equipment everyone should own. While collision and contact sports, such as boxing and football are higher-risk sports for the mouth, patients can suffer a dental injury during non-contact activities too. The best, most protective mouthguard is one that has been custom-made for your mouth. That’s why our dentist, Dr. Christopher Emuedue offers custom sports mouthguards to patients of all ages at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX.

You might be wondering what the benefits of custom-mouthguards are compared to a stock mouthguard or a “boil and bite” option. Mouthguards created by a dental professional such as Dr. Emuedue are based on a mold taken of your mouth, which means they only fit your mouth. Custom mouthguards are made of resilient and tear resistant materials, ensuring a proper fit for ultimate comfort. A properly fitting mouthguard must be comfortable, odorless, tasteless and most importantly, protective.

Dr. Emuedue encourages patients to let him know if they participate in contact-oriented sports. He is able to layout the risks of injury to the teeth, jaw and oral soft tissues (mouth, lip, tongue, and cheeks) to help educate patients. From there, Dr. Emuedue will discuss your protective options and create a plan of care to keep your teeth safe.

To learn more about custom sports mouth guards, visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation with Dr. Christopher Emuedue here at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX please call (903) 455-6701.

Ridge Augmentation

When you are considering dental implants, your dentist is going to test to see if you are a legitimate candidate. Dr. Christopher Emuedue uses dental implants for patients who have gum disease or problem teeth, currently wear dentures or have bone loss. One issue that comes up quite often is patients not have enough bone in their jaw to support an implant.  A certain amount of bone is required to support the implant and if you do not have the required amount, we will expose the bony defect and fill the area with bone or bone substitute through a procedure called ridge augmentation.

Ridge augmentation procedures can improve appearance and increase your chances for successful implant placement.  In this procedure, the bony ridge of the jaw is literally expanded by mechanical means. Bone graft material can be placed and matured for a few months before placing the implant. We have many options for bone grafting materials including bone from your own body, a cadaver, cow bone or synthetic material.

Ridge Augmentation is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. If you are missing teeth and do not have the bone to support a dental implant, please consider this procedure. You can set up an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue by visiting our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com or by calling (903) 455-6701.

Digital X-Rays

Digital radiography is one of the most technologically advanced products available to the medical field today. While traditional systems are effective, there are many features of digital X-ray machines that help create a better overall image of your mouth. Not many dentists have taken advantage of this technology and are still utilizing traditional radiography technology.  We have recently implemented this technology into our practice in order to provide a better level of care to our patients.

Traditional X-ray systems are being surpassed by digital radiography technology. While this old technology was very effective for a number of years, it is slowly becoming nonexistent in the medical field. Digital X-Ray technology has many benefits including:

 

• Safety – this technology is much safer for patients because they emit roughly 80 percent less radiation than traditional systems


• “Going Green” – instant imaging removes the need for harmful chemicals that are used to develop images


• High Quality – the images Dr. Emuedue receives from this technology are much higher quality, allowing him diagnose previously unseen issues

 

While the radiation given off from the older systems is not necessarily dangerous, it is always risky to expose someone to radiation. Digital radiography has become a great resource for patients who want an effective X-ray without the negative effects that could come from radiation exposure.

Since Dr. Christopher Emuedue doesn’t have to take time to develop images, your procedure time is considerably shorter. In addition, thanks to the improved, higher quality images provided by digital X-rays, Dr. Emuedue is able to diagnose patients more effectively. Early detection is the best way for you to avoid potentially invasive, costly dental procedures that wouldn’t have been necessary if the symptoms were found earlier.

Intraoral Camera

Correct patient diagnosis and treatment is the most important function of an effective, state-of-the-art dental practice. The intraoral camera is the latest in a long line of technologically advanced equipment that has been introduced to the dental field in recent years. It delivers incredibly sharp, clear images that enhance our ability to properly diagnose and treat patients.

The innovative imaging software that accompanies the intraoral camera is perfect for viewing the nooks and crannies missed by X-rays. While the camera snaps crystal-clear images throughout the mouth, the software allows the doctors to manipulate the image to see different angles and zoom in on an otherwise static image. The camera also takes videos that can be streamed to a bedside monitor. Patients are able to view their procedure in real-time. Thanks to this innovative technology, Dr. Christopher Emuedue able to clearly explain what the problem is and how they can best treat it together.

When our team utilizes the intraoral camera, they are able to reach places that an X-ray cannot. While X-rays are extremely effective for locating cavities and decay, the intraoral camera lets us see things we’d never be able to see. Although a traditional visual inspection of the teeth may have sufficed in the past, technology has made it possible for dentists and patients to reap many more benefits from each health exam.

For more information on the intraoral camera or any of our services, please call Greenville Family Dentistry at (903) 455-6701 or visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com.

Bone Grafting

Dental implants are an excellent option to replace a missing tooth. In some cases, before you can have an implant, you may need to have bone grafting surgery. At Greenville Family Dentistry, we offer our patients the latest advances in bone grafting.

Bone grafting may be needed in order to build up the jawbone before an implant is placed. There are two types of bone grafting surgery, which may be performed depending on the extent of grafting needed. For example, in some cases, large changes to the dental ridge may be needed. In other instances, bone grafting may be needed to ensure there is enough bone to cover the sides of the implant.

In many cases, bone fragments are taken from another area of the body and transplanted onto the existing jawbone. Bone from a tissue bank or mineral bone substitutes can also be used. Bone grafting makes the jawbone better able to support an implant, which increases the success of the procedure.

At Greenville Family Dentistry, we offer preventive, restorative and cosmetic dental services for your entire family. We strive to provide you with the best possible dental care and the most advanced technology.

For more information on bone grafting, or in order to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (903) 455-6701.

Root Canals

When patients are informed that they need a root canal procedure, they often become very fearful and do not want to undergo the procedure. The misconception that root canals are painful, cause illness or will cause further damage to their teeth is decades old and holds no truth. Science has come a long way since the first root canal procedure occurred in the 1700’s. At Greenville Family Dentistry, we offer pain-free root canal procedures.

The whole point of a root canal procedure is to alleviate pain, not cause more. Root canals are performed by removing the pulp of the tooth that has become inflamed, infected or dead. The pulp is a soft substance that is in the center of the tooth, it consists of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. The most common causes of pulp damage are cracked tooth, deep cavity and an injury to a tooth. Dr. Emuedue this procedure to save a tooth that is badly decayed and would otherwise be extracted.

After your root canal, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth. People also think that a root canal procedure is an invasive procedure that takes hours to complete. Modern root canal procedures are often compared to having a routine filling and can be completed in just one visit.

If you have any questions about this procedure, feel free to ask Dr. Emuedue during your consultation.