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How does Dr. Wheeler restore your teeth

I know I need to have some teeth fixed, what are my choices?

There are a variety of ways to restore a tooth that has been compromised by decay, trauma and other stresses placed on teeth. 

For smaller restorations, Dr. Wheeler uses only tooth colored fillings.  While silver fillings are still used by many dentists, Dr. Wheeler feels    that in most cases he gets a better overall result, including patient satisfaction with the appearance, with the tooth colored fillings.

When the tooth is comprised due to a previous root canal, large filling    or fractures, it is usually best not to wait too long to protect the tooth      in other ways.  Veneers, crowns, onlays, and inlays are options that Dr. Wheeler will discuss with you. 

What if I am missing a tooth, or a number of teeth?

Implants

For most people, implants are the best option.  They will provide most people with a strong, good looking, secure method of restoring missing teeth.  In many situations, implants are actually the less expensive treatment and the highest value in the long run. 

Positives

• Secure fitting teeth, even if using a removable restoration.
• Able to replace many teeth with no trimming down of natural teeth.
• Typically the best VALUE to replace missing teeth.

Negatives

• Higher initial investment
• Not as simple as some other choices

Fixed bridges

For many decades, fixed bridges have been used to replace missing teeth.  They are often used when the teeth on either side of the missing tooth are in need of a restoration to protect them.  The teeth are trimmed down similar to a single crown, providing a means to replace the missing tooth with a "floating" tooth.

Positives

Can restore numerous teeth at the same time.

Moderate investment

Removable Partial Dentures

This option has been used by many people in the past and is still a viable option to replace teeth.  The tooth per dollar replacement is typically less when a number of teeth are missing.  This cheaper per tooth option is often seen by many as the only affordable option.  The trade off's that many realize too late are numerous. 

Positives

• Cheaper per tooth replacement when numerous teeth are missing.
• Replaces teeth with minimal structural loss of surrounding teeth.
• Typically does not require "drilling" that requires being numbed

Negatives

• Food packing underneath while eating.
• Soreness on your gums, especially if you have no back teeth.
• Rocking front to back, or left to right.
• Poor chewing ability compared to most other choices.

Complete Dentures

Even George Washington had complete dentures.  While the materials and techniques have improved over the years, many of the same problems still exist that did back in the 18th century.  Most people know someone who has a set of complete dentures.  The cheaper price is typically the greatest attraction to this restoration.  Sadly, many people who have them have actually forgotten how much better they could eat when they had healthy natural teeth.  This type of restoration actually becomes a "genetic" expectation.  This is not meant to suggest that you truly inherit them, but rather if a parent has no higher expectation than to have complete dentures, it is more likely that their children with have similar results with dental care.

Positives

• Least expensive per tooth.
• Often can be placed immediately after extractions.
• Easiest to care for.
• Can be used in conjunction with implants.

Negatives

• Initial placement results in numerous sore spots
• Can FLY out at the WRONG time.
• Poorest chewing ability compared to all other choices.
• Can become the expected "destiny" of future generations in family

Call us at 1-888-70 LANAP (5-2627) 

This site was last updated 02/06/08