Cannon Hill Dental | Spokane's friendly South Hill dental practice

Bonding is a method that can change the shape and color of your teeth. By bonding composite and/or porcelain to chipped, cracked, eroded and/or misshaped teeth we are able to close gaps and restore teeth to a youthful appearance, and proper function. For more information on bonding please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/media/minute/DMVol11/dm-bonding.html

Composite Fillings

When a tooth has a cavity a dentist can use a tooth-colored filling material to restore the tooth. Composite is a very esthetic restorative material that is durable and bonds to natural tooth structure. This is the restorative material of choice in our office. For more information on composites please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/media/minute/DmVol11/dm-bonding.html

Amalgam Fillings

When a tooth has a cavity a dentist can use silver amalgam to restore the tooth. Amalgam is a durable restorative material that can be used in areas of the mouth where it is difficult to control moisture. For more information on amalgams please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/faq/fillings.html

Bleaching/Whitening

Whitening of teeth can be achieved by using a bleaching material in a tray that is custom made for each individual. Bleaching can remove common stains from coffee, tea and tobacco. Bleaching can also be effective against some dental stains caused by prescription medications; i.e. tetracycline. For more information on whitening please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/whiten.html

Inlays and onlays are either gold or tooth-colored restorations that are bonded to posterior teeth restoring them to their natural strength. Inlays are restorations that fit within the contours of the teeth while onlays fit within the contours of the teeth as well as covering and protecting the chewing surfaces of the teeth. For more information on inlays/onlays please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/crowns.html

Veneers are the state-of the-art in esthetic dentistry. Veneers can be made of composite or porcelain depending on each case. Composite veneers are bonded onto and sculpted to the teeth in one dental visit while porcelain veneers require two visits before the thin custom-made layer of porcelain is bonded to your teeth. (For the purpose of veneers please see BONDING).For more information on veneers please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/veneers.html

A crown is a permanent covering that is either cemented or bonded to a tooth. Crowns are used to restore cracked, deeply decayed or damaged teeth. In order to make a crown a tooth must be reduced (prepared) to make room for the crown to go on top of it. Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain (tooth-colored glass), porcelain fused to a metal core, or composite (tooth-colored resin) fused to a metal or fiber core. Crowns can be permanently bonded or cemented. For more information on crowns please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/crowns.html

A bridge consists of at least two crowns on either side of a gap (where a tooth is missing) that are linked (bridged) by a false tooth. Bridges serve to provide a tooth where one is missing. Bridges are bonded or cemented to teeth permanently (just like crowns) and are fabricated from the same materials. For more information on bridges please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/bridge.html

Implants (very much like BONDING) have sparked a revolution in dentistry. Implants have many uses; the most common of which is to replace missing teeth. A dental implant is a titanium screw-like fixture that is placed into the jawbone. The implant acts like the root of a tooth and a crown is attached to it to restore the implant and make it seem like a tooth. Depending on the area of the mouth in which an implant is placed it may be restored with a crown immediately or left to integrate into the bone for 3-6 months before it is restored. Implants can be used as supports for crowns or as supports for dentures; thus providing a great deal of stability. For more information on implants please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/media/minute/DmVol10/dm-implants.html

Dentures & Partials

For people who are missing all or some of their teeth; dentures and partials are a very good option. Dentures and partials are custom made for each person from accurate impressions of their upper and lower jaws. Dentures are for those people who are missing all of their teeth, or are missing all of their teeth in either their upper or lower arches. Dentures are made of pink plastic bases (that represent one's gums) that hold very life-like teeth in them.

Partials are for those who are missing a number of teeth in either their upper or lower jaws. Partials are similar to dentures in that they also have pink plastic bases with very life-like teeth in them. Partials; however, also have metal substructures that clasp onto the remaining teeth in that jaw to provide stability.

Dentures and partials are both removable appliances/prosthesis; therefore, they must be taken out and cleaned daily. Given the fact that dentures and partials are removable prosthesis, they are stable but nothing like one's natural teeth. Implants can be placed to help stabilize dentures and partials. For more information on dentures and partials please visit:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/dentures.html