At Metropolitan Dental Specialty Group, Dr. Kalambayi T. Kabasela and his team are pleased to offer dentistry services that are preventive, cosmetic, and restorative in nature. We also offer oral surgery and emergency dentistry. We believe in providing a variety of services to our patients and in being a multi-disciplined dental office. We also specialize in prosthodontics, periodontics, and orthodontics.Your teeth are an important part of your mouth. They enable you to bite and chew as well as speak properly. Your teeth also play a crucial role in the quality of your smile. Damage to your teeth can have a significant impact on your smile, and your confidence. More significant damage can impact the health of your teeth, and your mouth, as well, causing serious issues like infections.
At Metropolitan Dental Specialty Group, we can correct damaged teeth with many different dental restoration options. The most popular requests we receive from our patients are for dental implants, veneers, and dental bridges. These restorations each offer different solutions to tooth damage and loss.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are by far our most popular restorative procedure that we perform. Dental implants consist of a titanium post, which is surgically implanted into your jawbone. Dental implants are biocompatible, meaning they can be compatible with your living tissue (specifically your jawbone) and are not toxic.
Through a process known as osseointegration, which is the fusing of the dental implant into your gums and jawbone, your body will accept the dental implant as a new permanent tooth root. On top of the implant post, an abutment is placed.The abutment, which is made of metal, will be the base for the dental crown. It works as a connector between the implant and the crown.
The dental crown is then placed on top of the abutment, and serves as your new artificial tooth.
What Types of Dental Implants Are Available?
One of the reasons dental implants are such a great restoration option for missing teeth is because you can get dental implants if you have one tooth missing, are missing several teeth, or if you need a full set of replacement teeth. There are many options available, depending on your needs, preferences, and how many teeth you are missing.| • | Single tooth dental implant - If you are missing just one tooth that you would like replaced. This is common in people that may be missing one of their front teeth. |
| • | Multiple tooth dental implant - If you are missing several teeth, a multiple tooth dental implant is the most likely restoration for you. Bridges and crowns can also accompany multiple tooth implants, depending on where in your mouth the tooth loss occurs. |
| • | All-on-4® Treatment Concept - The All-on-4 Treatment Concept uses just four implant posts, placed two in the front, and two in the back. The implants are placed at an angle, to provide extra stability, whereas regular implants are placed straight on. |
| • | Implant Supported Dentures - Implant supported dentures are a combination of dental implants and dentures. While the dental implant is permanent, the denture is removable. Implant supported dentures are more secure than regular dentures, which tend to slip around. |
Learn more about the benefits of dental implants
What Are Veneers?
Veneers and crowns are two common cosmetic dentistry options for treating damaged teeth. Veneers are thin shell-like structures that cover the front surfaces of damaged teeth. These restorations are designed to correct minor flaws in your teeth that are only cosmetic. They work by covering the damage, effectively restoring the beauty of your smile. Veneers are often made from porcelain, a material that perfectly matches the color and shine of your natural teeth.
What Can Veneers Fix?
Veneers can correct some different minor imperfections, including:| • | Small chips and cracks that only affect the enamel. |
| • | Minor alignment issues that do not affect your oral health. These include spaces between your teeth as well as slight overlapping. |
| • | Teeth that are unusually shaped or sized. |
| • | Discoloration that cannot be whitened. |
The placement of veneers and crowns is fairly similar. Both procedures are performed under a local anesthetic. With veneers, only a small amount of enamel needs to be removed from the front surface of the affected teeth.
What are Bridges?
A dental bridge is a time-tested restorative appliance we use to replace one or more missing teeth. Most bridges consist of two dental crowns that are linked together by a pontic (artificial tooth). We may recommend a bridge to fill the open space left by a missing tooth and prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of position. A bridge can also restore your ability to chew and speak properly, as well as the aesthetics of your smile.
Types of Dental Bridges
A bridge has crowns fixed on both sides of the lost tooth. The most common bridge is the traditional fixed bridge. This type of bridge consists of more than one crown and filler teeth. It may also consist of teeth connected together. Another type of bridge is the cantilever bridge in which the artificial tooth or pontic attaches to only a single support tooth. If you have teeth on just one side of the missing tooth, you may be recommended a cantilever bridge.A Maryland bridge, however, holds the pontic tooth in place via metal bands that are placed on the back of the teeth. Maryland bridges are ideal for teeth at the front of the mouth, as the metal bands are hidden.
Dental Bridges Procedure
You will need about two appointments to get your dental bridges.Treatment Planning
Treatment planning is an important part of the dental health process! We'd be more than happy to meet and work together with you in order to determine whether you are a candidate for dental implants and develop a treatment plan to suit your needs. We don’t think that your dental health is a “one size fits all” procedure. Allowing us to examine you and answering our questions as accurately as possible will help us get you the best treatment possible.
If you’d like more information regarding treatment planning and how we can help you achieve your jaw and teeth goals, come in and see us at Metropolitan Dental Specialty Group!
Call us today at (301) 585-0400 to schedule an appointment.