Restorative Dentistry in Kansas City

The health of your mouth affects more than the beauty of your smile, and at Adams Dental Group, we believe in practicing a total wellness approach toward your dental care. When damage and decay occur, our restorative options include mercury and metal-free fillings, and our expert dental team utilizes BPA-free resins and materials, as well as innovative diagnostic technology to promote a safer, healthier office environment for everyone, patients and dental professionals alike. Our digital x-rays limit your exposure to radiation. Ultimately, our holistic methods are designed to optimize your experience from start to finish. With this whole health goal in mind, we believe we can preserve the aesthetics of your smile, help to improve or maintain your health at the highest level, and restore function to your bite.

 

Fillings | Cavities

“Tooth–colored fillings” or “white fillings” are designed to match the color of your natural teeth. These composite resin fillings can be used for the treatment of a new cavity or to replace your old silver, amalgam or dark fillings. You will be able to maintain or restore the healthy and youthful appearance of your smile with this type of composite filling as it treats the cavity and strengthens your tooth. The remaining tooth is actually supported and these fillings preserve more of your natural tooth than the old amalgam fillings.

 

Endodontics | Root Canal Therapy

Endodontic (root canal therapy) is a dental procedure used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or has become infected. In severe cases, the infection may form an abscess (infection) at the base of the tooth’s root. Untreated infection can lead to serious overall health risks and should be addressed as soon as possible. Root canal treatment is performed when the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or the pulp becomes damaged. During the procedure, the nerve and pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed to prevent further decay.

Root canal procedures have the unfortunate reputation of being uncomfortable or painful. Actually, most people report that the procedure itself is no more painful than having a cavity filled. Thanks to advanced painkillers and advancements in dentistry, little to no pain should be experienced during your root canal. The discomfort experienced in the period leading up to a root canal is truly the painful period, not the root canal procedure itself.

This treatment is typically finished in one office visit. Once this is accomplished, a dental crown is placed atop the tooth to fully restore its natural structure, function, and appearance.

 

Dental Inlays

A dental inlay is used to replace moderate sized areas of teeth that have been damaged due to tooth decay or trauma that are too large to be repaired by fillings, but more conservative than crowns.

Dental inlay restorations are fabricated from porcelain and are more durable and esthetically pleasing.

 

Onlays

When a “mountain peak” (cusp) needs to be replaced due to cavity or damage, new techniques allow us to place a porcelain dental inlay instead of crowns.

An onlay allows us to restore your tooth without removing any healthy tooth structure. The onlay allows for conservation of tooth structure when the only alternative is to totally eliminate cusps and perimeter walls for restoration with a crown.

Just as a dental inlay, onlays are fabricated outside of the mouth and are typically made out of gold or porcelain.

 

Porcelain Crowns

A dental crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. They are typically bonded to the tooth and can be made from many materials. Porcelain crowns are often used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth. A tooth that is severely broken down, has cracks, or has had a root canal may require a dental crown to reinforce the tooth. Dental crowns will allow your tooth to function normally again without worrying about the tooth cracking.

 

CEREC

CEREC crowns are made for you during one single visit in our office. We no longer need to make a temporary crown, take dental impressions and send them to our lab to make your permanent crown, and then wait for several weeks before you return for another appointment for placement. That’s right, one visit!!

By using the CEREC technology, the computer will take a picture of the tooth that is to receive the new crown and its surrounding teeth. The dentists can design your crown and match its color to the rest of your natural teeth, because of the CAD software that works with this system. This type of crown is also stronger than other types, because it is made from a single block of material.

The CEREC system used at Adams Dental Group is used to create all-porcelain crowns and bridges, veneers, and fillings during one simple appointment.

 

What is CEREC?

CEREC is a technology for restoring damaged teeth with tooth-colored ceramic restorations and that can be completed in a single visit to the dentist’s office. It makes your teeth stronger and more beautiful, all while keeping your teeth looking natural.

 

The CEREC Process

In just one visit, we can diagnose and prepare your damaged tooth, create an optical impression of the tooth, and use CEREC to design and mill a precision restoration, which is then permanently bonded to your tooth. No mess, no discomfort, no wait.

 

Porcelain Bridges

A Dental bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining an artificial tooth permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants. Types of dental bridges may vary, depending upon how they are fabricated and the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth.

 

Dental Implants

Dental implants offer a permanent replacement for missing teeth and an effective solution that will look and feel as natural as your original teeth. When a tooth is lost, the bone that used to support it disappears shortly after. This leads to shifting of teeth, tooth trauma and periodontal disease; aging of facial features and unnatural gums around a future tooth replacement; lack of bone support for future tooth replacement (dental implants, dentures, etc).

Implants are different than dentures. We like to explain dental implants as artificial roots that can be permanently placed on the patient’s jaw bone. As the gum tissue and bone grow around the dental implant, they become a permanent anchor. The natural-looking ceramic restorations can be made by your dentist. This gives our patients a natural-looking result that is attractive, yet helps improve chewing, maintain bone and prevent teeth from changing positions. Dental implants can even prevent future problems with the patient’s bite. If you are looking for an alternative to dentures, we highly suggest dental implants.

 

Dentures

Dentures and partial dentures are removable appliances that replace teeth when implants and bridges are not an option. They can be supported by remaining healthy teeth, implants, or they can replace all teeth.

Full dentures are complete rows of prosthetic teeth for both your upper and lower jaw, affixed to gum-colored bases. You may need full dentures or just dentures for one arch; upper or lower. Patients typically use natural suction or adhesives to keep their dentures in place; however, sometimes lower dentures can slip easily. If you wear dentures for a long time, your gum ridges can wear down, which also increases slippage. Another way you can effectively keep your dentures in place is through implant supported dentures.

Not only is oral health affected when a person loses teeth, so is their self-confidence. Dentures have the ability to restore the way our patients eat, talk, and smile with confidence. The look, feel and function of natural teeth are how we strive to design our patients’ dentures.

 

Partial Dentures | Fixed | Removable

When you have healthy remaining teeth, our dentists may suggest a partial denture to close the gaps in your smile. Partials contain as many prosthetic teeth as necessary to fill in the spaces left by missing teeth, and they fit with existing teeth like a puzzle. Partials can be secured to hidden clasps or dental implants and, unlike a bridge, they are removable. These custom-crafted restorations are fabricated with the highest-quality materials and attention to detail to ensure a comfortable fit and beautiful aesthetics.

 

Implant-Supported Dentures

Dentures secured and supported by dental implants are one of the most reliable options for replacing a full set or partial set of teeth. With this treatment, dentures are essentially locked into place by implants, which can deliver unparalleled denture stability and functionality.

 

Extraction

We can remove wisdom teeth before or after they have erupted; however, to reduce pain and the risk of infection from impacted wisdom teeth, we normally recommend early extractions.

 

Dental Emergencies

When you are in need of urgent dental care, you can count on Adams Dental Group to deliver the high-quality treatment you need right away. Urgent root canals and other dental emergencies require timely care in order to alleviate pain and address trauma or infection. Your oral health and comfort are our top priorities and we will always do our best to accommodate you in the event that you are experiencing serious dental concerns.

Dental emergencies may include:

  • Chipped, broken, or fractured teeth
  • Lost permanent tooth
  • Dental trauma
  • Infection
  • Tooth pain
  • Lost filling
  • Damaged dental work
  • Complications from wisdom teeth

If you need emergency dental treatment, call 913-621-3113 as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. We will do our very best to accommodate you and get you the prompt treatment necessary to address your concerns and help you feel better as quickly as possible.

 

TMJ | Clenching

The temporomandibular joints, called TMJ, are the jaw muscles and joints that make it possible to open and close your mouth. Many patients refer to it as “TMJ”. Located on each side of your head, the TMJ or jaw muscles work together when you speak, chew or swallow and include ligaments, muscles and the jaw bone. They also control the lower jaw (mandible) as it moves backward, forward, and side to side.

TMJ disorders can afflict people of all ages, patients under 40 are more susceptible and it occurs more frequently in women.

Diagnosis is an important step before treatment. Consult with the dentists to determine if you are suffering from TMJ syndrome. Part of the dental examination includes checking the muscles and joints for clicking, popping, tenderness or difficulty moving.

TMJ disorders can also cause a grating sensation or clicking sound when you chew or open your mouth. If you are not experiencing pain or limited movement with your jaw clicking, you probably don’t need treatment for a TMJ disorder. However, if left untreated, the TMJ symptoms increase in number and severity as you get older.

Possible causes of TMJ disorders include:

  • Arthritis
  • Dislocation
  • Injury
  • Tooth and jaw alignment
  • Stress and teeth grinding

Bite problems associated with the alignment of the jaws, muscles and teeth cause the majority of TMJ disorders. By adjusting your bite (the way your teeth come together), many times we can properly align the teeth, muscles and jaws to be in the most comfortable positions. This alignment correction will often reduce or eliminate your TMJ symptoms. A diagnosis by your dentist is important in order to determine the best course of treatment.