General Dentistry

Composite Fillings

Traditionally, dental fillings have been made of silver amalgam. Our dental office uses only composite, or tooth-colored, filling material. Over time, silver/mercury fillings crack and weaken the surrounding tooth. Our composite fillings actually strengthen your teeth and protect against fractures.

There are many benefits to composite fillings, including:

• Material that bonds to your tooth to provide more support for the tooth’s structural integrity

• Reduced risk of the treated tooth breaking or fracturing in the future

• Insulation from temperature changes caused by foods and beverages

• Better seals around the edges of the damaged area, increasing the tooth’s resistance to decay and leaks

• The ability to correct a cavity that is too small for amalgam fillings to repair

• Fillings that can be repaired and replaced without being removed from the tooth

• No mercury or other metals are used

When you receive a composite dental filling, our dentist will carefully select a filling that matches your natural tooth color to give you a more beautiful and healthier-looking smile.

Inlays and Onlays Can Repair Teeth Conservatively

There are different ways you can damage a tooth and a filling or crown may not always be the right choice for your smile.

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are used to repair damage or decay. If the damage is not extensive enough to warrant the use of a dental crown but is too serious to be repaired with a filling, our experienced dentist may recommend a dental inlay or onlay. Also known as partial crowns, inlays and onlays are custom created from porcelain, composite resin material or gold..

These custom-made restorations are more conservative than crowns, but provide more support than dental fillings.

Dentures

Dentures are removable oral appliances used to replace multiple missing teeth. If you are missing some or all of your teeth, dentures might be just what you need to restore the function, beauty and health of your smile. There are two kinds of dentures: complete dentures and partial dentures.

• A complete denture is used to replace all of the teeth in a full dental arch. We may suggest a complete denture to replace all of the teeth in one or both arches depending on your individual needs. Our dentist may suggest using a denture adhesive for improved stability.

• A partial denture is used if you are missing multiple teeth but have natural teeth remaining. A partial denture often includes a thin framework or clasps that attach to the natural teeth for a secure fit.

Our dentist may recommend complete or partial dentures to restore your smile if you are missing multiple teeth; dentures can improve your ability to properly speak and eat, restore your natural facial volume, and enhance the overall beauty of your smile. Your dentures will be custom made to fit your smile comfortably, aesthetically and securely.

Bridges

If you are missing a single tooth or multiple teeth in a row, we may recommend a dental bridge to restore your smile. A bridge is a fixed dental restoration, meaning it is non-removable. The dental bridge is anchored in place through the use of two dental crowns, which are custom made to fit your smile and are placed on the teeth or dental implants next to the space left by the missing tooth. These crowns hold the artificial tooth in place to restore your smile, ensuring that your restoration will not easily shift or come loose. It typically requires only two visits to our practice to complete a dental bridge. Dental bridges are designed to last for many years and to restore the function, beauty and health of your smile.

Our dentist may recommend a dental bridge to improve your smile by:

• Restoring your ability to speak, eat and chew normally

• Alleviating excess stress on the bite

• Improving the shape and volume of your face

• Replacing an unwanted removable partial denture

• Preventing the remaining natural teeth from moving out of position

• Enhancing the appearance of your smile

We will help you determine whether a custom dental bridge is the right choice for restoring your smile after tooth loss.

Implants

A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth designed to replace your tooth after it has been lost or extracted. Implants are designed to replace both the root and crown of your teeth to give you a solution that looks, feels and functions just like your original tooth. Implants consist of two main parts, the implant post and the implant restoration.

After the implant post has been placed and integrated with your jawbone, our dentist will meet with you to discuss your implant restoration. The implant restoration replaces the crown of the missing tooth to complete your treatment. Depending on how many teeth you are missing, this restoration may be a single crown, a dental bridge, or a complete or partial denture. During your consultation, our dentist will determine which type of restoration will provide you with the best results for your oral health, function and smile.

Your implant restoration is custom designed to give you a natural and long-lasting solution for your smile. Each restoration we create is designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and durable so that you can enjoy the results of your treatment for years to come.

Tooth Extractions

With proper at-home care and regular visits to the dentist, it’s very possible to keep all of your natural teeth healthy for a lifetime. But sometimes life has other plans. Serious decay, traumatic injury, or overcrowding may require a tooth extraction.

At Cecil Riter DDS we always prefer preventive and restorative measures to extracting a tooth. We will do everything possible to help you save your natural teeth. But when an extraction is called for, we’ll make the procedure as quick and gentle as possible.

Tooth Extractions Are Never Our First Option

When you’re in pain from a toothache or have a cracked or broken tooth, you might be worried that the tooth needs to come out. We will use high-tech digital imaging technology to get a close look at the structure of your tooth. This can help us make a more informed decision about whether tooth removal is truly necessary.

Other treatment options we may consider are:

• Composite fillings, inlays, and onlays – These restorative treatments are usually best for repairing smaller areas of decay or superficial damage.

• Root canals – A bad toothache might be a sign that bacteria have reached the inner layers of the tooth. Root canals eliminate infection, relieve pain, and still leave much of your natural tooth intact.

• Veneers – If the damage to the tooth is cosmetic, veneers might be an option to restore the appearance of the tooth and protect it against future damage, too.

Root Canal

When caught early, small cavities can be repaired with a quick and easy composite filling. However, when left untreated or not found soon enough, it’s possible for decay to reach deep inside the tooth. This leads to intense toothaches, chronic tooth pain, and in some cases, serious infections.

A root canal treatment removes decay, eliminates pain and infection, and helps you prolong the life of your natural tooth.

Finish Your Root Canal With a CEREC Single-Visit Crown

Crowns without a gooey impression? In-and-out in one trip to the dentist? A crown artistically shaped and shaded to match the rest of your natural teeth?

A CEREC single-visit crown is all the above and so much more.

Our patients love how convenient and easy CEREC makes getting a new crown after a root canal. Here’s how it works:

• 3D imaging technology creates a flawless digital “blueprint” for your new crown

• Milled from a solid piece of ceramic resin right here in our office, your crown will be both beautiful and durable.

• The process takes a few hours from start to finish — you’ll leave with a brand new crown and a brand new smile!

TMJ Treatment

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can cause jaw pain, chronic migraines, teeth grinding, and back and neck pain. If you are experiencing these symptoms, Dr. Riter can provide TMJ treatment, that may be resolved using custom dental guards. The TMJs are located on either side of the jaw, and are responsible for the movement required for eating, chewing, and speaking. If the jaws do not meet properly for any reason, it can force the TMJs to overcompensate, and this prolonged strain can trigger TMJ disorder symptoms. Our dental guards can correct the position of your jaws to help you achieve comfort.

Symptoms of TMJ disorder can include:

• Jaw pain

• Neck or shoulder pain

• Earaches

• Headaches

• Facial pain or fatigue

• Clicking or popping of the jaw joint

• Stiffness or limited jaw movement

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Snoring can be annoying, but it may also be a sign of a more serious problem called sleep apnea. While your physician needs to diagnose the problem, our dentist, Dr. Riter and our team may be able to help with our sleep apnea treatments

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder marked by interruptions and pauses in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by obstructions in the airway, such as the tongue rolling back in the throat or collapsed tissues in the airway. Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to several serious health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and liver problems.

Sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a sleep physician. We recommend that you talk to our dentist, as well as your physician, if you suffer from the symptoms of sleep apnea. Common signs of sleep apnea include:

• Extreme drowsiness during the day

• Personality changes and irritability

• Difficulty staying asleep

• Snoring

• Waking up with a very dry or sore throat

• Frequent morning headaches

Sleep apnea treatment may depend on the severity of the condition. If you suffer from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, our dentist may recommend a simple oral appliance. The appliance works to treat obstructive sleep apnea by fitting over your teeth and keeping your airway open while you sleep. It can work by preventing the tongue from blocking the air passage or by holding your jaw in a position that prevents airway blockages during sleep.

Our custom mouthpieces are designed to keep your airway open as you sleep, helping you to achieve substantial rest.

NightGuards

Everyone deals with stress. If your stress is making you grind your teeth, either subconsciously or while you sleep, you may begin experiencing headaches, pain and stiffness in your jaw and damage to your smile.

A night guard is a special type of mouth guard that is used to treat bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching. If our dentist or team suspect that you suffer from bruxism, we may recommend a night guard to protect your teeth from damage and prevent teeth grinding while you sleep. Many people who suffer from bruxism are unaware of the condition because it occurs while they sleep. Common signs of nighttime teeth clenching and grinding include:

• Chronic jaw pain, facial pain and ear pain

• Awakening with a tired or tight feeling in the jaw

• Frequent tension headaches and migraines

• Excessive tooth wear, leading to chipped, flattened, cracked or very worn teeth

• Extremely worn tooth enamel, exposing the inner layers of the tooth

• Indentations on the side of the tongue

• Sensitive teeth

If you notice the signs of bruxism, you may benefit from a custom night guard. This night guard will be made to fit your smile comfortably and effectively, allowing you to sleep peacefully while protecting your teeth. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about night guards and how we can prevent the negative effects of teeth grinding.

Fluoride Treatments

The enamel that protects your teeth is one of the hardest substances in nature. But as tough as it is, it can be compromised by the acids in our diets that are created when those acids mix with the bacteria in the plaque on your teeth.

Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally found in some water and many foods. While you receive a certain amount of fluoride from your diet and from using toothpaste with fluoride, we may recommend fluoride treatment to further strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities.

Fluoride helps to strengthen your teeth and protect them from tooth decay. As you eat and drink throughout the day, bacteria, sugars and acids constantly attack and demineralize the enamel of your teeth. Fluoride works to remineralize tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay and cavities. In addition, fluoride can strengthen teeth as they develop to make sure they are strong and healthy. This makes fluoride very important for children as their teeth grow in.

Our dentist and team members may recommend professional fluoride treatment during your regular dental checkup. We may suggest further fluoride treatment if your teeth are prone to decay or if you are not receiving a sufficient amount of fluoride from other sources. Fluoride treatment is just one of the ways our team helps you keep your smile healthy for a lifetime.