Restorative Dentistry

Natural teeth may become damaged or decayed due to a variety of causes. When teeth become chipped, cracked, gapped, decayed or missing, it not only affects your appearance, but also the functionality of your teeth, including your ability to chew food and speak clearly. Our restorative dental procedures will lay the foundation for repairing or replacing your damaged teeth and rebuilding the supportive structures of the teeth such as gums, surrounding tissues and jawbone. The right treatment or combination of treatments will completely restore your appearance as well as the full function of your teeth, including speaking and chewing. Dr. Martinez has an extensive background in the development of restorative treatment plans.

Advanced Technology

At Ideal Dental Care, providing exceptional dental care to your family means utilizing the latest technology. We only take digital x-rays to reduce your exposure to radiation and provide the highest resolution diagnostic images, and we use an iTero digital scanner for pre-planning cosmetic and restorative procedures as well as orthodontic treatment plans.

Dentures

Dentures are customized and removable prostheses made to fill in the gaps created due to removed or lost natural teeth, and to restore the oral functions and appearance. It includes the teeth portion as well as the gum portion, the latter being a flesh-colored acrylic base that fits over the natural gums either on the mandibular or on the maxillary arch. There are a number of causes that may render a person without teeth or a single tooth, the most common being removal due to dental diseases like tooth decay and periodontal disease, and other factors like trauma, genetic defects, and developmental defects.

What are the different types of dentures?

PARTIAL DENTURES

These replace one or a few missing teeth where the series of teeth is linked by a metal band that sits on the posterior surface of the existing teeth so that others cannot notice the band. Made of acrylic, these can be fixed partial dentures or removable partial dentures that can be removed without the help of a doctor.

FULL DENTURES

Full dentures replace the teeth either in the upper jaw or in the lower jaw, or both. Depending upon the time of placement, these can be conventional dentures, placed after the gums begin to heal.

What are the advantages of dentures?

Aesthetics

Loss of teeth greatly affects the appearance of a person, and replacing the lost teeth with dentures can restore the natural appearance and beauty of the face.

Pronunciation

Tooth loss affects the pronunciation of words that contain sibilants, and as a result of the placement of dentures, the patient can speak better.

Self-Esteem

Dentures boost confidence and the ability to interact with others as a result of improved looks and articulation.

Mastication

The chewing ability is regained by the placement of dentures. As a result, the nutrition of the patient is improved.

hand holding an Invisalign® clear aligner

Invisalign® Clear Aligners

Crooked teeth can be a hindrance to your confidence as well as cause oral health issues leading to further health issues overall. Misaligned teeth are hard to brush and floss effectively and patients with these malocclusions often suffer from cavities and gum disease. Numerous studies show that progressive gum disease contributes to compromised cardiovascular health as the bacteria in the mouth can travel through the bloodstream to the rest of the body. Misaligned teeth also usually wear unevenly, causing a breakdown of the enamel and structure of the teeth at a younger age than should normally occur.

Dr. Martinez at Ideal Dental Care in San Jose recommends having misaligned or crooked teeth treated to prevent these conditions from developing. In many cases where teeth are out of alignment or the bite is not aligned properly, Invisalign clear aligners provide an aesthetically pleasing and functionally equivalent alternative to traditional braces. Dr. Martinez is a certified Invisalign provider.

What are clear aligners?

Clear aligners are made from a transparent, dental-grade plastic material. Digital scans are taken of the teeth, including the position and the patient’s bite in order to create a computer-aided plan of where the teeth need to be moved and even rotated. Clear aligners must be worn for 22 hours each day so that the pressure applied on the teeth is constant and moves the teeth into the pre-planned positions. The position of the teeth throughout the treatment plan is periodically checked and any necessary adjustments are made before the next set of trays are delivered and worn by the patient.

Advantages of Clear Aligners

Clear aligners do not have any metal components such as wires or brackets, as in the case of conventional dental braces. They greatly reduce the risk of oral injury when you take a hard blow to the mouth.
Clear aligners are made from dental-grade transparent plastic material that is biocompatible. This makes the aligners easy to wear without causing any oral infections.
They are removable. Whenever you have to eat food or brush your teeth, clear aligners can be removed until after you are finished and have brushed and flossed your teeth thoroughly. This reduces the occurrence of cavities forming due to not being able to effectively clean your teeth during orthodontic treatment.
Crooked or misaligned teeth should be evaluated as early as possible and treated while the patient is still growing and developing. However, Invisalign clear aligners are also a great option for adults who are in need of orthodontic treatment at any age. Dr. Kenia Martinez, a certified Invisalign provider in San Jose, will provide a thorough evaluation and treatment plan.

Dental Implant Restorations

Dental implants, typically a permanent and predictable procedure, can sometimes fail. Though this is rare, when it does happen, implant failure presents an unusual situation. However, there is no need to panic. A failed dental implant can be successfully replaced with another implant, which has a high success rate.

Why does a dental implant fail?

To understand why a dental implant fails, we need to have a closer look at the design and structure of the implant. A dental implant consists of three main components:

Titanium Implant

This is rooted in the bone that will become base for the other components.

Abutment

This is a connecting element which forms a bridge between the crown/bridge and the implant.

Crown

This is the functional crown that is attached to the dental implant and enhances the appearance and protects the implant from any damage. In case any of the components come loose or develop a problem, the dental implant may fail. Another issue that can cause an implant to fail is the slow-down of bone growth around the implant. While the implant is made of metal, it requires the growth of living bone cells where it is placed. This process is known as osseointegration. If osseointegration fails or does not occur properly, then it can cause a problem with the inserted implant.

Symptoms of a Failing Implant

The most common symptom indicating a failing implant is its mobility. The movement of a failing implant can be limited, to begin with, and can only be detected by a dentist. Other symptoms include swelling, infection, or pain. If Dr. Martinez notices implant movement, she will recommend an x-ray to study bone growth around the implant and come to a conclusion.

Dental Implant Replacement Procedure

The procedure can go on for a few days or extend to months, depending on the state of the area where the implant was placed. The process begins with the removal of the failed implant after the application of local anesthesia. Following this, the dentist cleans the affected area and inspects it to check whether enough bone is present to hold and support a replaced implant. If there is enough bone, the dentist will place another implant. If not, the dentist will place a bone graft to boost bone cell growth and improve the bone structure of the area. During the healing process, you may be advised to follow precautionary measures to avoid implant failure in the future.

smiling lady holding cheek with eyes closed

Full Mouth Reconstruction

Full mouth reconstruction includes many individual treatment procedures used for restoring the mouth to optimal oral health. It is recommended for patients who have multiple oral and dental issues. The processes involved are both restorative and cosmetic, thereby helping the patient get a better-looking smile while restoring the teeth to their ideal condition.

Should I go for a full mouth reconstruction?

Misaligned teeth or malocclusion
Misaligned jaw
The recession of the gums below the gum line
Gum-related diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis
Loss of bone in the jaws due to deterioration
Discolored teeth
Worn out and chipped teeth
Missing teeth
Failed restorations

If you are suffering from such dental issues, then getting a full mouth reconstruction would be worth it. We will carefully examine your current dental health and suggest a suitable treatment plan to end all your dental worries.

Treatment Procedures Involved

Aligning of a misaligned jaw

A misaligned jaw could pose many problems such as pain in the jaws, neck, shoulders, headaches, and a ringing sound in the ears. It can also alter the shape of the entire face.

Implant restorations

Dental implants help in replacing extracted teeth. Missing teeth pose many problems such as malocclusion, change in the shape of the jaw, weak gums, inability to chew food, and most of all, they take away a confident smile. Hence, getting implants would be a great solution to missing teeth and a long-lasting one.

Treating gum-related diseases

Gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis are extreme oral conditions. Plaque and tartar, which get accumulated on the surface of the teeth, cause these diseases. They can be removed by scaling and root planing.

Gum grafting

Gum grafting is the process of extracting gum tissue from a different part of the mouth and grafting it to an area on the gums which has experienced gum recession.

Whitening

Whitening is a dental procedure that helps to remove the stains from the surface of the teeth.

Bone graft

Patients who face jawbone loss after the extraction of the natural tooth, the bone is brought back to its original health and volume with bone grafting.

Restorations

Restorations such as veneers, inlays, onlays, crowns, and bridges help in improving both the functionality and the aesthetics of the teeth.

Repairing failed restorations

Sometimes, restorations such as fillings may crack, wear, or get damaged due to external trauma. Full mouth reconstruction also includes restoring such failed restorations.

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