Dr. Clarke may recommend you have a root canal if you have a badly decayed tooth. This is a dental procedure that involves removing the decayed tissue from inside the tooth, reshaping the canal and then filling it with a special filler. Root canals are often recommended when there has been a dental injury, severe decay, or an infection or inflammation of the tooth pulp. If left untreated, these types of problems can do extensive damage to the structure of the tooth.

The complete removal of a tooth is called an extraction. Dr. Clarke may recommend you have a tooth extracted if:

• A primary tooth is preventing a permanent tooth from erupting normally.
• The tooth has suffered extensive decay or trauma that cannot be repaired.
• You have severe gum disease.
• You have an impacted tooth like a third molar or “wisdom tooth”. Third molars often need to be extracted because they erupt long after the other teeth have grown in, leaving them little to no room to come in.

Depending upon the complexity of the case, an extraction can be done surgically or non-surgically. A mild anesthesia is used to ensure you are as comfortable as possible while your tooth is being extracted.

Missing teeth cause a host of problems from jawbone deterioration, difficulty speaking and eating to low self-esteem. Dr. Clarke advises all his patients to never give up on a healthy smile. Advances in dental materials and technology have made complete and partial dentures more lifelike and natural looking, not to mention extremely comfortable.

A partial denture consists of multiple teeth on a metal frame and a gum colored plastic base to replace the missing teeth. A partial denture is normally secured with clips or brackets, but unlike a bridge, it is removable. A complete denture replaces all the teeth of the upper or lower jaw on a gum-colored plastic base.

Implant-Supported Dentures: Dental implants are small titanium posts anchored into the jawbone which may be used to secure a complete or partial denture in the mouth. There are many different variations of securing the missing teeth to the implants, but they all increase the security, stability, and function of the dentures. Dr. Clarke will recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

A dental implant is a small, screw-like post that is surgically placed into the jawbone, serving as an anchor for a dental crown. The titanium metal material that the implant is made from is designed to seamlessly integrate with the bone in your jaw, resulting in a stable, more natural feeling tooth replacement. Once the implant has fused properly with the bone, a crown is permanently attached to the implant that looks and feels like your natural tooth.