Restorative Dentistry in Mitchell, SD
Your teeth are strong, but over time they show signs of wear. You can take the best possible care of your teeth and still develop decay and damage that needs treatment as quickly as possible.
Drs. Cody Gronsten and Melissa Maier, your restorative dentists in Mitchell, SD, invest many hours each year in continuing education to learn everything they can about fixing damaged smiles. So whether you need just a few dental fillings or a full smile makeover, the professional team at Dental Health Partners can help!
Treatments for Damaged or Missing Teeth
Tooth wear and damage can be the result of several things. Most commonly, decay develops and needs treatment.
Wherever you are with your oral health needs, we'll take the time to sit and talk with you because your concerns and desires are very important to us. We'll talk to you about your goals and tell you what you need to know about your treatment. But the final decision about care is always yours.
Restorative dentistry includes any treatment that repairs a damaged or decayed tooth, including replacing that tooth. This can be as simple as a tooth-colored filling or may include a combination of treatments that give you back your healthy smile.
So many different solutions are available! This means that we can develop a customized treatment plan to correct just about any problem you might experience. But, of course, every case is unique, and that's why our skilled doctors design a treatment plan that is just right for you.
Tooth Replacement for a Full and Healthy Smile
We offer various tooth replacement options in our dental office, including dental implants, dentures, and dental bridges.
Dental bridges work with tooth crowns to complete your smile when teeth are missing. A dental bridge is artificial teeth situated between dental crowns. The crowns cap adjacent teeth, allowing the restorative teeth to fill the smile gap.
Services to Repair Damaged Teeth
Restoring damaged, weak, or flawed teeth not only gives you a smile to be proud of but can also enhance your oral health.
Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings and Bonding
Tooth-colored composite material is our choice for fillings, but the same material can also repair chips, cracks, and even some fractures in your teeth through a method called dental bonding. Our dentists can also repair old dental fillings that have cracked or broken.
Dental Crowns in Mitchell, SD
We offer quality dental crowns to our patients, and these crowns provide a variety of practical uses, including:
- Concealing tooth flaws
- Supporting a damaged tooth
- Connecting a dental bridge
- Topping a dental implant post
Porcelain Veneers for a Professional Finish
Many people think of veneers as a cosmetic treatment. However, porcelain veneers in Mitchell, SD are very effective for fixing a wide variety of problems, including broken, chipped, discolored, or unevenly spaced teeth.
Once the secret of the celebrity elite, veneers also hide slightly crooked teeth and conceal gummy smiles.
Brighten Your Smile with Teeth Whitening
When your teeth are as healthy as they can be, there's nothing like professional teeth whitening treatment to put the finishing touch on your new smile!
Contact Your Top Mitchell, SD Dentist to Get Started!
No matter which problems are causing you concern, we have the options you need to get your oral health back on track. We believe that you should also be an active partner in your care, and we'll work together with you to give you the information you need while we learn about the goals you want to achieve.
The best place to start is by calling our office at (605) 996-1316 to schedule a consultation with our dentists in Mitchell, SD. Once we understand the current condition of your teeth, we can make appropriate suggestions and work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.
FIVE STAR REVIEW
"Thank you so much Dr. Melissa for filling my cavities in such a timely fashion! I for being so polite and thoughtful while doing it, and by the way and the best assistant ever!!!! Thanks Again!"
Frequently Asked Questions
We've Upgraded Our Technology
At Dental Health Partners, we have upgraded from the traditional x-ray sensors you have probably used in the past. The picture below shows two sensors; the black sensor is the one we use. It has rounded corners and is smaller than tradition x-ray sensors.
The gold sensor is the traditional size of x-ray sensors. It has 90-degree corners, which tend to poke patients and are uncomfortable. We try to make going to the dentist more pleasant, and we tend to get complements from patients who really like these new, more comfortable, black sensors.
Children's Dentistry X-Rays in Mitchell, SD
Also, since children better tolerate our digital sensors, we can take cavity-detecting x-rays sooner. Previously, we wouldn't have been able to take x-rays because of the discomfort of traditional sensors. Now we can find the cavities sooner when they are smaller and easier to address, rather than waiting until the cavity is bigger and close to the new tooth.
The photos below illustrate the difference in crown margins, where one is open and the other is closed. When a margin is open, the crown will fail in only a few short years. It will fail because bacteria can creep under the crown and cause a cavity.
These cavities move very fast as one cannot brush and remove the bacteria that exist under the crown. At Dental Health Partners, we ensure all of our crown margins are closed, as noted in the closed margin photo. We ensure this with a special fit checker and x-rays.
When the margins are fully closed, a patient can predictably get 20 years of service from a crown. Our goal is to see crowns we place today be healthy and functioning when we retire in 20 years. We will better achieve this goal with ensuring all margins are 100% closed.
Closed Margin / FULLY Seated
Open Margin / NOT seated
Why Might I Need A Dental Crown?
A dental crown is placed over the remaining portion of compromised a compromised tooth. The crown protects the tooth from further damage and saves the tooth from eventually dying completely.
Patients may need a dental crown when fillings can no longer hold in the tooth or after procedures like root canals.
The Tooth Crown Procedure
First, the dentist will prepare the tooth for the crown by removing excess enamel and shaping it so that the crown can sit correctly on top of the tooth.
Then, a crown that has been shaped and measured to fit naturally in the patient's mouth will be bonded to the tooth by the dentist.
The crown creates a protective shield for the rest of the tooth. The crown can be used just like a natural tooth, returning both the function and the beauty to the patient's smile.
Contact Us for Dental Crowns in Mitchell, SD
If you need a dental crown or have more questions about what we can do for your dental health, please do not hesitate to contact Dental Health Partners, Mitchell, SD's locally trusted dentist.
Dental crowns are an excellent treatment for repairing and restoring a tooth that's been fractured or decayed more than what a dental filling or bonding can repair.
A crown covers your remaining healthy tooth structure down to the gumline to guard your natural tooth and root.
There are three main types of crowns that your Mitchell dentist may recommend:
- Gold –The most durable material for chewing and typically recommended for molars in the back of your mouth.
- Ceramic porcelain – A durable and aesthetic option for teeth that you see when you smile, talk, or laugh.
- Porcelain fused to metal – Metal underneath adds stability but can be seen. Your dentist may not recommend this type of crown if aesthetics are your concern.
If you need a dental crown, our dentists will work with you to determine the best option for your needs and your smile.
The process for completing a crown takes two appointments. During the first, your dentist prepares your tooth for its crown, creating a temporary one you'll leave with while a trusted dental lab creates the final version.
After two to three weeks, when your final crown is ready, you'll return to Dental Health Partners to have your crown permanently placed.
Do you have further questions about dental crowns in Mitchell, SD? Contact your team at Dental Health Partners for more information.
Dental cavities in Mitchell, SD, result from an accumulation of plaque-causing bacteria on your teeth and gums, which have grown undisturbed by regular dental cleanings and a likely insufficient home care routine. As these bacteria build up, they produce a sticky film called plaque that layers and layers over time, hardening into gnarly deposits called tartar or calculus. As part of this process, bacteria release acids that eat away your tooth, leaving pits and holes we call cavities.
The good news about a dental crown is that its porcelain construction resists tooth decay, so this restoration is not susceptible to cavities. Dental crowns also don't stain like natural teeth when you consume certain foods or drinks. But, again, the high-grade porcelain ceramic from which dental crowns are made is extremely dense, so those bacteria and stain-causing compounds cannot penetrate.
How to Care for a Dental Crown
Though the bacteria in your mouth cannot infiltrate your dental crown, they may still build up and dull the appearance of your teeth. So, you should maintain your crown just like a natural tooth, brushing twice daily and flossing to remove food debris. Also, you'll want to maintain your periodic dental visits. Your dental crown may resist tooth cavities, but your adjoining teeth are still affected, and you want to protect them.
Additionally, your gums require protection from bacteria to prevent periodontal disease, which endangers the underlying foundation of all your teeth.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. Melissa Maier, DDS
Dr. Melissa is a native of Bismarck, North Dakota, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of North Dakota, ...
Dr. Cody Gronsten, MS, DDS
Dr. Cody is from rural northeastern Colorado where he grew up on his family’s farm and feedlot.
He completed his undergraduate studies in biology from Creighton University and obtained a Masters of ...
Featured Blog Posts - Restorative Dentistry
Restorative Dentistry for Seniors: Maintaining Oral Health in Mitchell, SD
They say age brings wisdom, but it can also bring unique oral health challenges. Tooth loss is a prevalent problem in the older population, and the most common reasons are dental damage and untreated gum disease. Still, years of wear, medications that reduce saliva production, and health conditions like ...
Signs You Have a Cavity
You may not have symptoms with a dental cavity until it grows significantly and puts your tooth at risk. For this reason, it’s essential to visit your dentist in Mitchell, SD regularly for checkups and teeth cleanings. Early detection is always best.
How to Tell If You Have a Cavity
As ...
The Dental Crown Procedure
One of the best ways to protect a damaged or decayed tooth is with a dental crown. A crown covers the tooth entirely, creating a shield or cap that prevents the tooth from sustaining further damage.
Using a dental crown, we may have the ability to successfully treat a tooth ...