Family and Cosmetic Dentist - Livonia
31574 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia, MI 48150
(734) 425-4530
Are you a victim of "patchwork" dentistry? Perhaps a crown here, a veneer there, a few metal fillings mixed in with white replacement fillings, a front tooth restoration that doesn't match the adjacent teeth, and other one-time dental repairs done at various times over the past few years? It could be time to "unite the white" by updating your smile with the latest cosmetic dentistry improvements!
The problem with patchwork dentistry is twofold: Diminished esthetics, and lessened functionality.
Teeth that don't match - visually and structurally - can impact your smile on both a physical and a mental level. Physically, if you have teeth that don't fit together perfectly when you bite down, or if you have a missing tooth or teeth that have left a gap for other teeth to slide into, you could experience a host of problems from dental decay and chipped teeth to headaches. Socially, you may feel self-conscious of your smile, and how it affects how other people perceive you.
We invite you to come in for a comprehensive examination of your dental needs, and an explanation of the new options that modern dentistry can provide. We'll create an individualized treatment plan detailing our recommendations based on your own needs and wants, and explain how we can restore your whole mouth so it works together comfortably, and beautifully.
A missing front tooth would probably have you running to our office with your hand over your mouth, looking for the quickest way to fill the gap. A missing back tooth usually doesn't result in the same urgency, but there are very good reasons why, even though it's not as visible as a missing front tooth, you still need to replace any missing back teeth.
Your teeth, when all present, keep each other in line. When one is knocked out or lost due to dental decay, the resulting gap opens up a space for surrounding teeth to drift out of position, shift, or tip into the empty space and change your bite. This could potentially lead to pain in your jaw, cavities, gum disease and the potential to lose more teeth.
As more teeth go missing, you'll be forced to chew in other areas, which sometimes leads to tooth fractures from overloading, excessive wear and/or TMJ (jaw joint) problems.
Though you can't see it, as soon as a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone starts to deteriorate. How quickly this happens will depend on the bone's density, your bite and how well your teeth align with each other.
Please talk to us about replacements for any missing teeth. Early intervention will help you avoid more extensive -and expensive! - dentistry in the future.
Summer camp activities, participation in outdoor sports and sometimes just bad luck can result in a dental accident. However, even if a permanent tooth is knocked right out, don't despair, as there's still a chance the tooth can be saved.
The first thing to do is find the tooth and, holding it by the crown, gently rinse off the root of the tooth with clean water. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. Gently place the tooth back in its socket and have the patient bite down softly to keep it in place. If the tooth belongs to a child or if the patient is not in the position to keep the tooth safely in his or her mouth, put the tooth in a cup of milk. Call our office immediately at 734-425-4530 as quickly as possible in order to have the best chance of saving the tooth. If our office is closed an emergency phone number will be provided so you can reach Dr. Joboulian right away!
In some cases we can save the tooth; in other cases it just doesn't work, and we need to discuss options for a replacement tooth. Whether it's a partial denture, bridge or a dental implant you choose, the important thing is to fill the gap left by the missing tooth as quickly as possible. The reason is that a missing tooth leaves a gap in your mouth (which is unattractive, at best) and room for surrounding teeth to drift out of position. This shifting can change your bite, potentially leading to cavities, gum disease and bite problems that could cause pain in your jaw. A replacement tooth will keep your other teeth in line and help you avoid orthodontic treatment down the road.
Of course the best treatment is prevention, so ask us about custom mouthguards to help protect your active lifestyle.