When you lose teeth, your smile and mouth function can change. Most people lose one or more teeth by age 50 due to injury, disease or other factors. Missing teeth can impact your quality of life, appearance and health, but there are solutions. At Liberty Lake Smile Source, we offer the most advanced options in restorative dentistry at our dental center in Liberty Lake, WA. If you have lost teeth, we can help you get back your beautiful smile with our dental implant and denture restorations.

Replace Missing Teeth

At Liberty Lake Smile Source, we offer a variety of options for replacing missing teeth. From single dental implants to dentures, implant-supported overdentures and fixed hybrid dentures, we can find the right solution for you. Each patient has different circumstances when it comes to their oral health, preferences and budget. We can find the best restorative option to replace one or more missing teeth or complete a full mouth restoration.

Cracked Tooth Repair

When you chip the enamel of your tooth, the dentin underneath can be exposed and is at risk for decay or damage. Chipped teeth may not be painful, but they can cause oral health and aesthetic concerns. At Liberty Lake Smile Source, we offer quick repairs for chipped, cracked or broken teeth at our dental center. Come see us in Liberty Lake, WA, when you need a chipped tooth repair.

Chipped teeth can often be fixed in a single dental visit. Our dental team can use a filling, bonding, inlay or onlay to fix your tooth. Fillings and bonding can be completed using composite resin that is color-matched to your tooth. The resin is shaped to replace the missing tooth material, restoring the shape of the tooth and resealing the tooth to keep it protected. Severe chips or broken teeth may require a larger repair with inlays, onlays or a dental crown.

Repairs To Cracked Or Broken Teeth

Cracked and broken teeth need immediate repair to prevent further damage to the tooth. Broken teeth may be painful, but not all damaged teeth cause pain. The repair to the cracked or broken tooth will depend on the extent of the damage. Most can be fixed with inlays, onlays or dental crowns that strengthen the outside of the tooth.

Composite Fillings & Dental Bonding

Tooth fillings are used to repair teeth when tooth material is lost or needs to be added. Conventional fillings were once silver or metal, which did not match the color of the teeth. Improvements have been made to composite fillings, which are white and made from resin, offering a more attractive option in tooth repairs and cosmetic dentistry. At Liberty Lake Smile Source, we are happy to offer composite fillings that can be color-matched to your smile at our dental center in the Spokane Valley. White fillings or dental bonding can be completed in one visit, and they are one of the more cost-effective cosmetic treatments.

Root Canal Therapy

The interior of the roots of the teeth can be susceptible to infection or abscesses. When the pulp inside the root canal becomes infected, it can irritate the nerve roots and result in tooth pain. Not only are infected teeth painful, but the infection can also destroy the tooth. The only way to stop the pain and save the tooth is root canal therapy, also known as endodontics. As part of our general dentistry treatments at Liberty Lake Smile Source, we offer stress-free root canals at our state-of-the-art dental center in Spokane Valley.

The symptoms of an infected tooth include:

• Throbbing or severe tooth pain
• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
• Swollen gum around tooth
• Headache
• Darkening of the tooth

Root canal therapy is used to remove the diseased pulp and nerve roots from inside the tooth. The top of the tooth is removed to access the root or roots that are infected. The pulp is cleaned out and the inside of the canal is reshaped and disinfected. Once cleaned, sterilized material is used to fill the canal, and the tooth is resealed. Since significant material has been removed from the tooth, the structure is weakened. A dental crown is usually placed over the tooth to provide protection and strength for proper function.

Dental Crowns

When a tooth is damaged, the structure can be weak and prone to further problems. Trauma, root canals, fillings and other issues can weaken a tooth, requiring repair or restoration. Dental crowns are the best full-tooth repair, providing a complete cap that covers the entire tooth surface. At Liberty Lake Smile Source, we offer beautiful dental crowns to repair damaged teeth at our dental center in the Spokane Valley.

Dental Inlays & Onlays

Some damaged teeth do not need a complete dental crown for repair. If a tooth has a large filling that is failing or only one side of the tooth is damaged, dental inlays or onlays can be used. Like dental crowns, these are usually made from porcelain in a dental lab. The partial coverings are designed to replace the missing tooth material and cover the top or side of the tooth. Inlays and onlays protect the tooth and are bonded to the tooth.

Dental Bridges

Dental implants and partial dentures can be used to replace single missing teeth, but each has pros and cons. A dental bridge is less expensive than a dental implant, but it is fixed in place, unlike removable partial dentures. A bridge uses dental crowns to attach to teeth adjacent to the missing tooth gap. The gap is filled with pontics, which are prosthetic teeth. For example, if only one missing tooth needs to be replaced, a row of three teeth restorations is used in a bridge, a crown, pontic and another crown. The crowns are fitted over the adjacent teeth, supporting the pontic in between.

Dental bridges require the adjacent teeth be prepared for dental crowns. Some tooth material is removed to allow the tooth to be covered with the cap/crown. Once the teeth are prepared, an impression or 3D image is made of the involved teeth and missing tooth. The “mold” is sent to a dental lab which creates a dental bridge from tooth-colored ceramics or porcelain. Once the dental bridge is complete, the crowns are bonded onto the teeth, securing the pontics in place.

Dentures

Traditional dentures are a set of prosthetic teeth that have a plastic palate to fit over the gums. There are also partial dentures that replace multiple teeth and use existing teeth to support the denture. Dentures are functional and affordable, but they do require removal to clean, and it can take time to become accustomed to how they feel. However, many people love their new smile that is possible with dentures and the affordable price of this conservative restorative treatment.

Advanced Options In Dentures

Traditional complete dentures use the gum tissue and adhesive to keep the prosthetic arches in place. The longer you wear dentures, the easier it is to use your new teeth, but they do not have the same strength and stability as supported dentures. At Liberty Lake Smile Source, we are happy to create conventional dentures for our patients that prefer an affordable, conservative restorative treatment. However, we also offer advanced implant-denture solutions that can provide better function and appearance.

Implant-supported dentures come in many forms. We have hybrid dentures that are fixed in place with implants, or overdentures that connect to implants. Some require up to eight implants per arch while others only need three. The cost and function vary depending on the combination used. We can find the best option for your preferences, oral health and budget at our dental center in Liberty Lake, WA.