Dental Crowns

We use dental crowns in order to create stronger teeth that function properly. Crowns are a great tool when a patient’s teeth become weak due to decay, cracks, discoloration and other issues.  A crown is essentially a “cap” that covers up your damaged tooth. Unlike removable devices such as dentures or a Snap-On-Smile’s, a crown can be used to improve appearance, shape or alignment.

 

Crowns are cemented onto existing teeth and should only be removed by the dentist. Dental crowns are used in many applications but mostly, they are used to protect a weak tooth from a fracture and to restore a fractured tooth.

 

Crowns are typically made from porcelain fused to metal or a full gold crown. A porcelain crown can be matched to the shade of your other teeth, allowing it to blend in and appear just as your natural teeth do. The process of installing a crown usually takes 2-3 visits. Dr. Matthew Garrison will start by reshaping the enamel of the broken tooth so the crown can be placed over it properly. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be created of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. A temporary crown will be set in place so the teeth do not shift while the permanent crown is being created. Once the crown is completed, it will be put in place and bonded with cement to assure it stays in place.

 

If you are interested in a crown because you’ve broken, cracked or lost a tooth due to decay, come in for a consultation with Dr. Garrison. Call at 816-532-8706 or visit us at www.garrisondentistry.com to learn more about dental crowns. 

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are a great solution if you are looking to literally “bridge the gap” created by one or more missing teeth. We use dental bridges to restore smiles, improve talking and chewing abilities and help maintain the shape of your face. We utilize dental bridges to get your smiles back to its natural look.

 

Creating a bridge is quite simple. Dr. Garrison will create a base out of the existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. The existing teeth are reshaped to support the base of the bridge. After the abutments are created, a mold is cast of the area and sent to a dental lab. The lab uses the mold to manufacture a permanent bridge. Dr. Garrison will fit you with a temporary bridge in order to keep your teeth from shifting. The permanent bridge usually takes between 1-2 weeks to be created. During the second visit, Dr. Garrison will remove thetemporary bridge and the new permanent bridge will be checked and adjusted. The bridge will be placed on the abutments and an adhesive will be used to make sure the bridge is set.

 

Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge will make eating easier. We recommend that our patients eat soft foods immediately following the procedure, but after a couple days patients can resume their normal diet. You will also see improved speech with dental bridges. The gaps caused by missing teeth often make speech difficult, by filling in those spaces, patients will drastically improve speech.

 

If you are missing teeth and considering dental bridges, give us a call at 816-532-8706 or visit us at www.garrisondentistry.com to learn more about this unique restorative treatment method!

Cosmetic Dental Options

Cosmetic dentistry is a broad term that refers to various types of dental work that improves the general appearance of patient’s teeth, gums and bite. Procedures vary from small repairs such bonding and white fillings to a complete restorations like dental veneers. Dr. Matthew Garrison provides many options for patients hoping to restore their.

 

Whether patients need a major repair or just a subtle change, Dr. Caddell has the ability to treat each patient to fit their individual needs. Common procedures in cosmetic dentistry include:

• Whitening
• Bonding
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Dental bridges

Whitening is a common and popular way to whiten teeth quickly and effectively. Discoloration occurs in the enamel and can be caused by medication, coffee, tea and smoking. We provide a tray whitening system that uses custom-made trays, filled with a whitening gel to whiten teeth 4-8 shades in just a few days. Bonding and white filling is another procedure that can improve the cosmetic appeal of teeth. Using tooth-colored material, Dr. Garrison will fill in gaps or even change the color of teeth.

 

Outside of surgically placed dental implants, crowns have the longest life expectancy. A crown is essentially a “cap” that covers the damaged tooth; a crown can be used to improve appearance, shape or alignment. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are placed over the existing teeth to create a brand new smile. Dental bridges are a great option for patients who have lost one or more teeth. Bridges use existing teeth to create a bridge to cross the area where the tooth is missing. They are made from gold, metal, alloys or porcelain to ensure they are strong and durable.

Digital X-Rays

Digital radiography is one of the most technologically advanced products available to the medical field today. While traditional systems are effective, there are many features of digital X-ray machines that help create a better overall image of your mouth. Not many dentists have taken advantage of this technology and are still utilizing traditional radiography technology.  We have recently implemented this technology into Garrison Family Dentistry, located in order to provide a better level of care to our patients.

 

Traditional X-ray systems are being surpassed by digital radiography technology. While this old technology was very effective for a number of years, it is slowly becoming nonexistent in the medical field. Digital X-Ray technology has many benefits:

• Safety – this technology is much safer for patients because they emit roughly 80 percent less radiation than traditional systems
• “Going Green” – instant imaging removes the need for harmful chemicals that are used to develop images
• High Quality – the images Dr. Garrison receives from this technology are much higher quality, allowing him diagnose previously unseen issues

While the radiation given off from the older systems is not necessarily dangerous, it is always risky to expose someone to radiation. Digital radiography has become a great resource for patients who want an effective X-ray without the negative effects that could come from radiation exposure.

 

Since Dr. Matthew Garrison doesn’t have to take time to develop images, your procedure time is considerably shorter. In addition, thanks to the improved, higher quality images provided by digital X-rays, Dr. Garrison is able to diagnose patients more effectively. Early detection is the best way for you to avoid potentially invasive, costly dental procedures that wouldn’t have been necessary if the symptoms were found earlier.

Oral Conscious Sedation

The idea of going to the dentist for a procedure brings on feelings of fear or anxiety in some people, but there are options to ease the anxiety. Between 5% and 8% of Americans avoid going to the dentist due to dental phobia.  We offer an extremely practical solution to dental phobia through sedation. We provide a safe environment with skilled staff members who are able to comfort you through various sedation methods.

 

Sedation is mainly used when a patient has a high level of anxiety or dental phobia, not necessarily because of pain. Thanks to modern endodontic technology and advancements in dental care, once-invasive procedures can now be a simple and painless. Sedation dentistry techniques enable the patients who might otherwise avoid the dentist to receive dental treatment necessary for a healthy smile. We offer oral conscious sedation to our patients. We will provide you with an oral sedative such as “Valium” to ease your nerves. This is utilized for patients with mild to moderate anxiety as it is not as powerful as other sedation methods.  

 

With oral conscious sedation, anxious patients take a sedative pill such as Valium about an hour before their dental appointment to help them relax. When the patient gets to our office, Dr. Garrison may give more pills, depending on how well the first one worked. With oral conscious sedation, patients will not be “knocked out” and will be able to interact or react to any directives given by Dr. Garrison.

 

If you have dental phobia or have an invasive procedure coming up, contact us for more information about sedation. Call 816-532-8706 to schedule your appointment today. 

Planmeca CT 3D Dental Imaging

Advanced technology is paving the way toward more effective dental procedures, including the use of the Planmeca CT 3D dental imaging software. Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we use this technology to add to digital x-rays and provide better treatment planning and higher definition x-rays for our patients.

 

The Planmeca CT dental imaging machine is a multi-purpose machine that utilizes computer technology like computer aided design (CAD). With the imaging machine, we can get three-dimensional images to look more closely at the patient’s teeth and provide he or she with a more accurate diagnosis.

 

The Planmeca CT 3D dental imaging machine is used for everything from diagnosis to treatment planning for restorations, including dental implants, crowns, and bridges. We connect it to a medical-grade computer with CAD programming to be able to manipulate and view the images. It does not take the place of our digital x-rays, but is used alongside them for many of its benefits. With digital models of restorations, we can provide the highest quality restoration for our patients.

 

Visit Dr. Matthew Garrison in Smithville, MO to learn more about how the Planmeca CT 3D dental imaging technology can benefit you.

Dental Hygiene

Proper dental hygiene is imperative on many levels. It prevents bad breath, reduces your risk of developing gum disease, and helps you save money on dental work by not needing procedures like root canals, extractions, or restorative care as often.

 

Dental hygiene is not just about personal oral health, though that is very important, but regular visits to the dentist as well. Twice-yearly visits are ideal for optimal dental health.

 

Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we encourage our patients to take good care of their teeth, and schedule regular visits to our clinic. At home, we advise them to brush their teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and use mouthwash with fluoride on a regular basis. This keeps their mouth clean, removing debris and bacteria, and preventing plaque and decay. It also helps patients achieve better smelling breath. With regular dental visits, we can examine the patient’s mouth and teeth, look for signs of gum disease, take x-rays, and provide a professional dental cleaning.

 

To improve your dental hygiene and periodontal health, visit our dentist Dr. Matthew Garrison in Smithville, MO.