Dental Implants and Dental Crowns Provided by Mullenbach Dentistry of La Crosse
Renew Your Smile, and Your Dental Health, with Mullenbach Dentistry
Sports injuries. Biting an especially hard material. A blow to the gums and roots of the teeth. Poor diet. Or simply poor oral hygiene. These are just a few of the reasons why teeth may chip, crack, break, or die, resulting in pain, discomfort, and an embarrassing appearance. But this doesn't have to be the case, when you schedule an appointment with the professional dental healthcare team at Mullenbach Dentistry of La Crosse.
Dental Crowns
Mullenbach Dentistry: A Dental Crown Will Save Your Smile, and Improve Your Dental Health
A damaged tooth due to an injury, breakage, chipping or decay can result in not only a loss of the functionality of that tooth, but a displeasing appearance as well. In many cases the solution can be a crown, or "cap", that encases the damaged tooth using a custom designed material. A crown can be necessary if the tooth is severely damaged or if root canal therapy has been performed. Crowns can be created using your preference of materials, such as gold, or white porcelain (ceramic). The material used may also be dictated by your dental habits such as grinding of teeth, excessively hard chewing, esthetics, and cost.
The Dental Crown Process
Dental Impressions
The first step after a treatment plan has been decided on is to take impressions of the tooth or teeth that will be capped, or crowned. These impressions are used to make models for designing the crown so that it fits perfectly around the damaged tooth.
The Dental Crown Procedure
Dr. Mullenbach and his staff first prepares the tooth for the dental crown. If necessary, a temporary crown is created during this visit to temporarily protect the tooth while the mold of your tooth is being fashioned. Once the crown has been created, Dr. Mullenbach cements or adhesively bonds the crown into place. Once in place, Dr. Mullenbach will provide you with all the necessary information on taking care of your crown in the short term, and in the long run.
Dental Implants from Mullenbach Dentistry
In some cases a dental implant may be required because of a missing tooth or teeth. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is used to support the tooth or teeth restoration. Mullenbach Dentistry has been performing dental implant retained crowns for more than 30 years, and Dr. Mullenbach is considered to be one of the area's foremost practitioners in this field.
The Dental Implant Process
The dental implant process begins with a thorough examination of the existing teeth, gums, and supporting bone structure. If it is determined that a dental implant is an advisable treatment, and you, the patient, agrees, the process of implantation can begin. This first involves "osseointegration", which means that a dental implant is anchored to the jaw bone. This may take up to six months for successful healing and anchoring. At that point, the process is completed by placing a crown restoration onto the anchor. The result is that the dental implantation is virtually indistinguishable from the other teeth. If properly maintained, a dental implant can remain in place for more than 40 years.
If you would like to know more about Dental Implants and Crowns, we would be pleased to meet with you. Simply use our contact page to reach us, or call us for an appointment at (608) 782-6616.