Dental Implants

Patients who have missing teeth are at risk for more than just aesthetic issues. Their adjacent teeth may start shifting, they can experience rapid bone loss, and if multiple teeth are missing, it might cause their cheeks to look shrunken in.

 

To mitigate these risks, here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we offer dental implants for patients who want to replace their teeth permanently. While there are other options in dentures and fixed bridges, dental implants are the most permanent option available.

 

There are many reasons a tooth might have been lost or needs to be extracted. Tooth decay, congenital defects, trauma, injury, or advanced gum disease may all play a role in the causal factors of missing teeth. But with dental implants, our patients have the opportunity for a stable, secure and natural-looking alternative. The implant includes a titanium metal post implanted into the jawbone, where the bone gradually heals and grows around the post. This holds it in place and is healed in about three months. Then, the abutment and crown are placed over the top, which look just like a natural tooth.

Preventative Dentistry

We’ve all heard the expression, “prevention is the best medicine” when it comes to your overall health, but the same can be said when it comes to your oral health. Preventative dentistry is the most sensible, efficient and cost effective means of avoiding serious and expensive periodontal health problems.  Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we’d much rather see you for preventative dental care-- including regular exams, cleanings and health screenings-- than we would for a complex and invasive procedure to correct a problem that could have been avoided.

 

While routine dental care is an essential part of preventative dentistry, your at-home oral care practices play a major role in prevention of gum disease, infection and other issues. At our practice, we work with you to help you take the right steps towards excellent oral health and proper preventative dental care.

 

For more information on the preventative dentistry services we provide here at Garrison Family Dentistry, please view our websitewww.garrisondentistry.com to contact us directly.

Veneers

Dental veneers are thin ceramic shells that cover the tooth structure and create a more brilliant, beautiful smile. Many of our patients at Garrison Family Dentistry choose to have veneers placed on their teeth for a variety of reasons. They might cover teeth that are stained or misshapen or opt for veneers because they have gaps in their teeth or have teeth that are slightly misaligned.

 

Veneers are bonded securely over the teeth and match the other natural teeth, so they don’t appear obvious to anyone else. After the veneers have been bonded to your teeth, Dr. Matthew Garrison recommends following these post-op instructions:

• Eat soft foods for the first few days.
• Don’t chew extremely hard foods like raw carrots, ice or candy, as the porcelain can start breaking away.
• Brush and floss the teeth with the veneers, just like your other natural teeth.
• Visit us at Garrison Family Dentistry every six months for a routine check-up and professional cleaning.

Veneers can last a long time if patients follow these important instructions. If the gum begins to recede, they should return to our dental office in Smithville, MO for replacement veneers. This doesn’t usually happen for many years and is simply part of the aging process. To find out more about veneers, contact us today.

Sedation Dentistry

Patients here at Garrison Family Dentistry not only receive quality dental procedures and treatments from our dentist Dr. Matthew Garrison, but they can make their visits more comfortable as well. Our practice offers multiple types ofsedation dentistry as a way to improve the patient’s experience when getting essential procedures. Dental work, like extractions, root canals, crowns and deep cleanings, is vital to the patient’s oral and overall health, but might cause dental anxiety while in the chair. This is why we are happy to provide this convenient service.

 

Patients that choose sedation dentistry benefit in the following ways:

• Patients and more relaxed during their procedures.
• The pain and discomfort level during appointments is decreased.
•  Patients with anxiety are more likely to visit the dentist for necessary treatments.
• Children and teens don’t feel as nervous about their dental appointments.

We offer oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide sedation dentistry in our Smithfield, MO Garrison Family Dentistry office. Oral conscious sedation is given through medications or IV sedation that keeps the patient conscious, but extremely relaxed. Nitrous oxide is safe for all patients, and can be easily controlled. With nitrous oxide, patients don’t need a ride home as it wears off immediately.

Call us at 816-532-8706 to schedule an appointment and ask about sedation dentistry.