Dentures

If you have missing teeth, you know how it can impact your life. Missing teeth can change the way you chew and interfere with your speech. Having missing teeth can also make you feel self-conscious about smiling. Dentures are one option for replacing missing teeth.

At Garrison Family Dentistry, we are happy to offer you options when it comes to dentures. We offer conventional and immediate full dentures, as well as partial dentures.

• Conventional Dentures: Depending on your situation, conventional dentures may be a great option to restore your smile and the function of your teeth. After your remaining teeth are extracted, the gums are given time to heal. When an allotted healing time has passed, your dentures will be placed.


• Immediate Dentures: In some cases, you may not need to wait for your dentures to be placed after extraction. Immediately after your teeth are extracted, your dentures are placed while your gums heal. Our dentists will determine if you are a good candidate for this type of denture.


• Partial Dentures: If you still have some natural teeth, which don’t require extraction, you may be a good candidate for partial dentures.

Our experienced and caring dentists at Garrison Family Dentistry offer a variety of dental care, such as cosmetic services including veneers, teeth whitening and bonding. Our services also include bone grafting, crowns, bridges, braces and periodontal care. We believe in providing our patients with individualized treatment plans and outstanding customer service.

For more information on dentures or any of our other services, please call Garrison Family Dentistry at 816-532-8706.

Bone Grafting

Dental implants are an excellent option to replace a missing tooth. In some cases, before you can have an implant, you may need to have bone grafting surgery. At Garrison Family Dentistry, we offer our patients the latest advances in bone grafting.

Bone grafting may be needed in order to build up the jawbone before an implant is placed. There are two types of bone grafting surgery, which may be performed depending on the extent of grafting needed. For example, in some cases, large changes to the dental ridge may be needed. In other instances, bone grafting may be needed to ensure there is enough bone to cover the sides of the implant.

In many cases, bone fragments are taken from another area of the body and transplanted onto the existing jawbone. Bone from a tissue bank or mineral bone substitutes can also be used. Bone grafting makes the jawbone better able to support an implant, which increases the success of the procedure.

At Garrison Family Dentistry, we offer preventive, restorative and cosmetic dental services for your entire family. We strive to provide you with the best possible dental care and the most advanced technology.

For more information on bone grafting, or in order to schedule an appointment, please call our office at 816-532-8706.

White Fillings

When teeth become decayed, they're often in need of a filling. Nowadays, most patients don’t want to have fillings that are obvious to others when talking, smiling or laughing. Here at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, OH we provide composite resin fillings, which are also known as white fillings.

These fillings are the same color as the patient’s tooth, so they aren’t obvious to anyone else. White fillings not only helps the patient protect their tooth from further decay, but feel more confident when they smile knowing no one knows it’s there.

White fillings have many benefits to patients that make them a great dental filling option:

·         They are the same white color of the tooth being filled.

·         White fillings can be blended to be any shade, regardless of the color of the tooth.

·         They are not significantly more expensive than other fillings.

·         White fillings are just as efficient in protecting teeth as alternatives.

It takes slightly longer for the process of white fillings than metal fillings because white fillings are blended to match our patient’s tooth. Otherwise, they look and feel like any other filling, allowing the patient to fill a cavity and protect their tooth from more serious problems. If you have a cavity and are in need of a filling, call us today at 816-532-8706 to see if you are a candidate for white fillings.

Crowns

Crowns are one of many services we provide in Smithville, MO. Dr. Matthew Garrison provides dental crowns to our patients who need to protect their teeth, whether they are weakened from decay or a previous root canal.

Crowns are custom made to fit over the tooth and are bonded to fit securely. While they are not a permanent solution, they can last 10-15 years with good care and maintenance. Crowns are brushed and flossed daily, just like natural teeth, and patients can eat normally with them.

Here at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithfield, MO, we provide crowns for a variety of purposes. Some patients have weakened teeth that are susceptible to breaking because of tooth decay or a root canal. They need a crown to protect the tooth and keep it. Other patients have staining or do not like the appearance of a particular tooth, and choose to get a porcelain crown to cover it. Whatever the reason, we are happy to provide a crown in 2-3 short dental visits. Give us a call if you have any questions about dental crowns and how they are performed. When you call, ask us about our complimentary X-rays with a new patient exam.

Night Guards

Night guards are an essential piece of orthodontic equipment worn by our patients who have problems with teeth grinding or clenching their teeth while they sleep. Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we have many young and old patients with signs of teeth grinding. These signs include waking up with headaches, jaw soreness or the enamel on their teeth wearing down. We offer a special type of night guard, called an NTI night guard.

There are a variety of reasons our patients need a night guard, including the following:

1) Children or adults who play contact sports and need to protect their teeth.

2)People who grind or clench their teeth at night.

3)Children or adults with TMJ or TMD, which increase the risk of teeth grinding.

4)Patients that are experiencing jaw or head pain as a result of teeth grinding.

The NTI night guard is FDA approved and is custom made for the patient. Dr. Matthew Garrison takes impressions of the teeth and has a night guard made to fit comfortably in the patient’s mouth. It helps protect their teeth while they sleep and helps patients find relief for head, neck, ear or jaw pain. If you are in the Smithville, OH area want to find out if a night guard might be of benefit to you, call us directly at (816) 532-8706.

Veneers

Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we offer veneers as a cosmetic dentistry option for patients who want to get the smile they desire.

We recommend veneers to our Smithville, MO patients for many reasons, including

• Gaps between teeth


• Tooth discoloration


• Severe tooth staining


• Chips in teeth


• Cracked teeth


• Irregularly shaped teeth

Dental veneers are made of thin pieces of porcelain and are custom made to fit over the existing teeth. When they are bonded securely to the tooth, they feel and appear to be like natural teeth and are not obvious to others. Patients who get veneers can continue eating, talking and brushing their teeth without the worry that the veneers will fall off. The entire process of getting veneers by Dr. Matthew Garrison doesn’t take more than three visits and two weeks right here in our office.

To determine if veneers are the best option for your cosmetic smile makeover, please contact us directly at Garrison Family Dentistry and arrange your consultation. Don’t forget to ask us about our patient specials.

Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth Can Cause Headaches

Do you wake up in the morning with a headache and sore jaw?  Before dismissing your morning headaches as an annoyance, consider visiting our practice for an evaluation.  These symptoms are commonly a result of TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder. 

TMJ develops from grinding and clenching your teeth.  This places excessive pressure on the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull, often resulting in headaches.  Night grinding, stress and injuries can all cause you to experience headaches.

Unfortunately, the signs of TMJ tend to go unnoticed.  Many people do not realize that they are grinding and clenching their teeth throughout the night.  At our practice, we work with patients to minimize and eliminate pressure on the temporomandibular joint.  We provide our patients with custom night guards, jaw exercises, and proper restorative dental maintenance to reduce pressure and eliminate headaches.

If you are experiencing headaches as a result of grinding and clenching, visit our practice.  We are happy to help patients find relief from TMJ.

Root Canal Therapy

When the nerves of a tooth become infected, we experience pain and sensitivity as a result.  It is important to address these infections before serious and costly complications develop.  This is why we stress that patients experiencing any dental pains visit our practice for care.  If we determine that an infection is the cause of your pain, we offer precise and comfortable root canal therapy procedures.

While root canals have a bad reputation, we at Garrison Family Dentistry assure all of our patients that modern root canals are actually painless.  With local anesthetic and precision dental tools, infected tissue can be removed in a minimally invasive procedure.  Once the root canal is completed, your tooth can be capped with an inlay, onlay, filling or crown to protect your tooth structure. 

We want all of our patients to feel comfortable seeking the dental care they need.  If you are in need of root canal therapy, rely on us to provide you with an effective and painless root canal experience.

Dental Bridges

We offer several restorative dental services at Garrison Family Dentistry.  When patients visit us to restore a tooth in full, but they are not candidates for dental implants, we provide them with reliable, affordable dental bridges.  Each bridge is custom crafted from high quality dental porcelain, ensuring that your new prosthetic blends in naturally with the rest of your smile.  The result is a beautiful smile and restored oral health.

As the name suggests, bridges are used to bridge the gap left behind by a missing tooth.  This is accomplished by modifying the surrounding teeth to support the new prosthetic.  Each supporting tooth is fitted with a crown and the bridge is bonded in between.  As a result, our patients are left with a beautiful smile that looks and feels just like the real thing.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Some of us are fortunate enough to be born without wisdom teeth, or to have them grow in perfectly straight.  However, most people are not so lucky.  Wisdom teeth can become impacted, or cause crowding and smile gaps.  This is why we offer precise, comfortable wisdom tooth extractions at our practice. 

Wisdom teeth can cause a number of dental problems if they are not addressed and removed, if necessary.  Impacted teeth can affect the gum, jaw bone and surrounding teeth.   Patients may experience pain, tooth sensitivity and even develop cysts. 

We encourage patients to visit our practice for x-rays, even if you aren’t experiencing any dental pain.  With a careful record of your wisdom tooth growth, we can determine if an extraction will be necessary.  Wisdom tooth extraction is precise thanks to the advanced dental tools and technologies used at our practice.  Any post-op discomfort is manageable with over-the-counter medications.  We invite you to visit us at Garrison Family Dentistry to learn more about wisdom tooth extractions.

Periodontal Disease

Are you familiar with the serious oral health condition known as periodontal disease? Gum disease, gingivitis, and periodontitis all refer to periodontal disease in various states.  This inflammatory condition causes a number of health complications, including swelling, bleeding and recession of the gum tissue; foul and resilient bad breath; as well as loosening of the teeth, shifting of previous dental work and bite misalignment.

While the effects of periodontal disease can be detrimental and costly to reverse, it’s very simple to prevent this condition. Follow these essential steps:

• Brush and floss at least twice a day with a soft bristled brush, fluoride toothpaste and waxed dental floss.


• Avoid all tobacco products and frequent heavy drinking.


• Reduce intake of foods and drinks that are high in sugar and acidity.


• Be diligent about making twice yearly dental checks and undergo professional cleanings.

If you’d like to learn more about gum disease prevention, you’re concerned that you may have periodontal disease or if you know you’re in need of treatment, we invite you here to Garrison Family Dentistry.    

Oral Hygiene and Heart Disease

Your oral hygiene affects more than just your smile. Now dentists and patients alike are gaining a better understating of how periodontal health problems that result from poor oral hygiene can have a serious impact on overall health and longevity. The reason for this is a problematic substance known as plaque.

Plaque forms between the teeth and around the gums when bacteria proliferation is not controlled through brushing, flossing and professional dental cleanings. This plaque buildup causes inflammation of the gums and frequently results in soreness and bleeding. As the plaque causing bacteria enter the bloodstream as a result of gum inflammation, there is a possibility that they can cause the same plaque buildup in the circulatory system. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other serious issues, including heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

While experts are still exploring the link between oral and systemic health, we here at Garrison Family Dentistry encourage all of our patients to take care of their teeth and gums, because maintaining a beautiful, health smile could mean a longer, healthier life.  

Bad Breath

The topic of bad breath can be tough to confront, whether it’s yours or someone else’s. And, whether or not you know you have it, it’s always a good idea to take steps against bad breath—as they are often one in the same with good dental hygiene.

Most bad breath can be traced to a source in the oral cavity, whether it’s trapped food particles or potent beverage residue, bacterial and plaque buildup, unclean dental prosthetics, gum disease, or even cavities. Many of our patients here at Garrison Family Dentistry regularly ask us what they can do to prevent bad breath.  Besides completing all necessary dental work and consistently undergoing regular exams, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce bad breath on your own.

• Drink plenty of water: Drinking water helps flush away food and beverage residue. It also keeps your teeth and gums hydrated, which inhibits bacteria growth.


• Reduce intake of coffee and alcohol: Both substances can contribute to suborn breath and dehydration.


• Abstain from all tobacco products: Cigarettes, pipes and chewing tobacco all contribute to fouls breath and other periodontal issues that feed into the problem.


• Brush, floss and use alcohol-free mouthwash every day: Good oral hygiene controls bacteria and prevents a number of dental problems. Your at-home hygiene efforts are extremely important in keeping your smile beautiful and fresh.  

6 Month Braces for Adults

Many adult patients who wish to straighten their smile are hesitant to proceed with traditional braces due to their appearance and the time commitment that’s required for treatment. Here at Garrison Family Dental, we provide a solution to this orthodontic dilemma. 6-Month Adult Braces provide our patients with a way to cosmetically straighten teeth in as few as six months.  By focusing on the most visible portion of the smile, comfortable and highly discreet brackets are used to efficiently move the teeth into a more aesthetic position. The treatment is ideal for our adult patients with mild to moderate crowding, spacing and other smile misalignment issues.

To determine if 6-Month Adult Braces is right for you, we welcome you to Garrison Family Dental for a comprehensive consultation. 

 

Dr. Garrison on Smithville’s Decision to Stop Public Water Fluoridation

Dr. Garrison recently provided his expertise for Fox 4 news report on Smithville’s decision to stop fluoridation of the public water supply. Smithville, MO officials made the decision primarily as a cost-cutting measure, but as Dr. Garrison explains in the video report on Fox 4’s website, Smithville could end up paying for the choice with their oral health.

Since it was first implemented in the 1940s, fluoridation of drinking water has consistently shown to benefit public dental health, leading to less tooth decay, cavities and tooth loss. While fluoridation process does require additional cost to implement as a public practice, it saves community members a great deal of money in dental treatment. Per the CDC, every $1 invested in public water fluoridation saves roughly $38 in dental costs.

Comment and share your thoughts on this recent decision.  If you haven’t already, be sure to watch the report on Fox 4’s website: http://fox4kc.com/2013/03/19/budget-cuts-force-changes-to-smithvilles-water/

 

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/benefits/background.htm

Cosmetic Dentistry

For most of us, a smile plays a critical role in the impressions we give and take, the confidence we exude, and the way we feel throughout the day.  Depending upon how you feel about yours, a smile can be a serious asset or a source of apprehension.  That’s why cosmetic dentistry has been such a wise investment for many of our patients here at Garrison Family Dentistry.

Whether you’re seeking a basic improvement such as teeth whitening or a speedy orthodontic alignment, or a complete smile makeover with veneers, crown lengthening and more, we have the resources to get you closer to a smile you idealize.

Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we know that when patients feel great about the look of their smile, they are all the more inspired to take excellent care of their smile.  Cosmetic dentistry is more than just an esthetic improvement; it’s a personal investment in confidence and oral health.

We offer a wide range of cosmetic dental services and invite you to visit for a consultation. We’ll help you assess the current state of your smile and discuss the options that will best suit your needs and desires.  For more information on our cosmetic dental services, please view our website and give us a call today.

Dental Implants

Are you familiar with dental implants? These restoratives are the closest you can get to the look and feel of a real tooth. Dental implants are strong, reliable, easy to maintain, and are also highly versatile.  Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we use dental implants as a dependable solution to several smile concerns.

Since dental implants are placed directly into the jaw bone and provide the same stability you’d expect from natural tooth roots, they can be used to replace one or more missing, extracted, or severely damaged teeth.  Each implant can be topped with a custom fabricated crown that makes the restoration site virtually indistinguishable from the rest of your smile.  There’s no need to modify or disturb surrounding teeth to serve as a means of support, nor is there any external framework or components. Dental implants can also be used to solve the problem of denture instability, serving as a rooted component of traditional dentures. As a result, patients feel more confident, secure and comfortable as they eat, speak and smile.

If you’re considering dental implants to replace a tooth or if you’d like to transition into implant dentures, it’s a great time to visit us here at Garrison Family Dentistry. We are now offering $200 off implant treatments until June 1^st.  To learn more about this Spring Special and the dental implants we provide, please view our website and call us directly for details.

Digital X-Rays

Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we’re committed to running a modern dental practice that is just as advanced as it is personable and friendly. We maintain a variety of dental technology that helps us provide you with better care. One example is our use of digital x-rays.

Digital x-rays offer a number of advantages over conventional dental film x-rays.  They process is a considerable safer as they emit 80% less radiation than film radiography methods.  The results are also more efficient, convenient and comprehensive.  The digital capture and display capabilities make it easy for us to zoom in an area of concern, plan procedures with greater precision, give you a better understanding of your current oral health, and easily share the results for insurance claim and patient record keeping purposes.

If you’re due for an exam or you’re ready to undergo a dental procedure at our practice, call us and ask how digital x-rays and our other capabilities can contribute to an optimal dental care experience.