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We would like our website to be the ultimate source for your
dentistry needs online. If you’re curious about a term that
Dr. Kidwell or Dr. Albus mentioned during your
appointment or that you’ve seen on the site, you look it up in our
dental dictionary below. If you don’t see the definition that you were
looking for, call us at 214-369-3206 so we can help you.
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An amalgam is a mixture of silver and other metals that are used to
fill cavities in teeth. Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus use
almost exclusively composite resin or porcelain
to fill teeth. These silver fillings are only replaced when needed and
not for the sake of removing the silver or mercury.
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Bleaching (also called whitening) allows
patients to safely lighten the color of their teeth. During a bleaching,
a chemical solution is placed on the surface of your natural teeth to
remove stains or other discolorations. If you have existing
crowns or veneers,
bleaching will not change their color. The effects of the bleaching are
semi-permanent (only some of the color change is permanent) and patients
need to maintain their smile for the best results. Dentists
can use a variety of methods, from bleaching trays
to laser light, to bleach your teeth. Our practice uses the
Zoom!™ In-Office Whitening System.
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A bleaching tray is a clear mouthpiece customized to your mouth that
contains bleaching solution. Most
dentists offer trays as a method to bleach your teeth at home.
To use this method, Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus will take
impressions of your upper and lower teeth to create the trays and then
provide you with the bleach solution.
Many people prefer to use bleaching trays since they are convenient
and easy to use. To achieve the best results, follow the
dentists’ recommendations closely. In most cases, they will
recommend that you wear the trays for an hour a day for about one week.
You will notice the bleaching effects immediately. These trays can be
used for years as needed to maintain a bright smile. For more
information, see Bleaching.
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A bonded bridge bonds a replacement tooth to natural, healthy teeth.
In most cases, this is used to replace missing front teeth, although it
can be used on back teeth. For more information, see
Bridges.
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Bonding (also called composite bonding) is a long-lasting,
tooth-colored composite resin that is placed in
a cavity or on the surface of the tooth. Dr. Kidwell and Dr.
Albus use bonding to fill cavities, cover broken, sensitive, or
open areas on a tooth, mask imperfections, such as discoloration, and
change the size of your teeth.
In some situations, Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus may
discuss dental
bonding as an alternative to applying porcelain
veneers. Bonding is quicker, more immediate, and less expensive than
veneers, but it is not as durable or long-lasting.
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A bridge is a set of composite teeth that are used to replace your
missing natural teeth. When Dr. Kidwell or Dr. Albus
apply a bridge, they place support crowns on
healthy teeth on each side of the missing teeth and then anchor the
bridge to those teeth. The result is a healthy looking smile without
gaps.
While bridges help you have a beautiful smile, Dr. Kidwell and Dr.
Albus may also recommend them to stabilize your bite, prevent
gum disease, and keep your remaining teeth
from drifting out of position. The dentists may also
recommend applying a bonded bridge or a
fixed bridge to replace missing teeth.
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A composite is a natural looking resin that is used in tooth-colored
fillings and bonding. It is also used to apply
porcelain crowns and veneers to your teeth.
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Crown lengthening adjusts or moves the gum line to improve the
appearance of a smile. Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus may
suggest this procedure if you flash more gum than teeth when you smile
or if your teeth look asymmetrical, too small,
overly wide, or too short. It is sometimes called a
gum lift or gum recontouring. Unlike a
Gingivectomy (also called
Gingivoplasty), the dentists
may need to change the bone levels around the teeth in order to achieve
the correct tissue height.
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A crown is a tooth-shaped restoration that completely covers the
natural tooth to just below the gum line. They strengthen teeth and Dr.
Kidwell or Dr. Albus may recommend crowns if you have bite problems,
cracks or fractures, or need to improve the appearance of a tooth.
Before a crown can be applied, Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus
will create an impression of the tooth in order to create the crown.
Most crowns are porcelain, but they can also be constructed from
composite or gold.
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A dental implant is a titanium screw that is used as an artificial
substitute for tooth roots to anchor a single crown,
bridge, or denture in your mouth. The implant is
restored by dentists like Dr. Kidwell and Dr.
Albus who have extensive implant training. In most procedures,
the implant is placed during one appointment and after it heals, the
crown, bridge, or denture is applied. Since everyone is different, the
dentists will need to evaluate your mouth to determine
if an implant is right for you.
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Removable dentures replace all of the teeth in the mouth. They depend
on slight suction for stability, but can be anchored to implants for the
best stability. When anchored or attached to implants, they are referred
to as “overdentures” and are much more comfortable.
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Diastema
If you have a diastema and are interested in making it less
noticeable, please set up a consultation with Dr. Kidwell and
Dr. Albus to learn how porcelain veneers
or bonding may correct the problem.
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Digital radiography enables the dentists to obtain
images of the insides of your teeth. This system reduces the risk of
radiation exposure by 90% compared to conventional x-rays and produces
almost instant pictures.
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Empress® is a brand of porcelain crown and
veneer. Popularized on several TV makeover shows,
this brand blends in with the surrounding teeth and is extremely
aesthetic. It is one of the strongest all porcelain crowns used on front
teeth.
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A fixed bridge bonds a replacement tooth to healthy teeth and/or
dental implants. It can replace from one to ten
teeth. For more information, see Bridges.
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Gingiva
The gingiva is another term for the gums.
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Gingivectomy
A Gingivectomy (or Gingivoplasty) is a
procedure where the gum tissue is sculpted around your teeth to create a
more aesthetic gum line. Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus may
suggest this procedure if you flash more gum than teeth when you smile
or if your teeth look asymmetrical, too small,
overly wide, or too short. Unlike Crown
Lengthening, Gingivectomy involves only the gum tissue.
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Gingivoplasty
A Gingivoplasty is a procedure where the gum tissue is sculpted
around your teeth to create a more aesthetic gum line. For more
information, see Gingivectomy.
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The Golden Proportions are a set of height to width ratio guidelines
for teeth. Dr. Kidwell or Dr. Albus will size your
teeth using these guidelines when you are undergoing a smile makeover.
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Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an inflammation in
the gums and other tissues that surround your teeth. Since the early
stages of gun disease aren’t painful, many patients forego treatment.
That can be a big mistake since gum disease is treatable in its early
stages. Many dentists are particularly concerned by gum
disease since it has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
respiratory disease, and premature low-weight babies. If you have gum
disease, Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus can treat the
problem and help you maintain good dental health.
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A gum lift is also called a crown
lengthening. This procedure adjusts or moves the gum line to improve
the appearance of a smile.
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Gum recontouring is also called a crown
lengthening. This procedure adjusts or moves the gum line to improve
the appearance of a smile.
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Home Bleaching Kits are over the counter products that allow you to
whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home. Although there are a
number of bleaching products on the market, most of these products are
not as effective as the bleaching methods available in the
dentist’s office. If you would like a recommendation on which
product is best, Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus are more
than happy to discuss this with you. For more information, see
Bleaching.
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An inlay is a natural looking filling that is shaped to fit a cavity.
Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus may suggest inlays if a tooth
cannot hold a filling. Inlays can be made of
composite or porcelain.
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Nightguard
A nightguard is a removable plastic barrier worn at night to protect
the teeth from night time grinding and clenching. This clear, plastic
device protects your teeth from the wear and damage associated with
grinding your teeth. Sometimes these are used to help treat TMJ
disorders.
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An onlay is a tooth-shaped restoration that completely or partially
covers the natural tooth. Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus may
suggest onlays as an alternative to a crown.
Onlays can be made of composite or porcelain.
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Overdenture
An overdenture is a full denture that connects to two or more
implants for retention and stability. Overdentures may be removable or
“fixed”, but are always more comfortable than a standard denture.
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A partial denture is a removable
device that restores multiple missing teeth. It usually clips onto solid
teeth for stability. A partial is the least expensive way to replace
missing teeth, but not the best.
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Periodontal Disease
See Gum Disease
A porcelain veneer is a thin layer
of porcelain that is applied to the tooth surface to change the size,
shape, and color of your teeth. Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus
may suggest veneers to improve the appearance of your teeth or when your
teeth have tough, bleach-resistant stains.
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A smile analysis is an appointment where Dr. Kidwell and Dr.
Albus look at the shape of a smile, the size, the smile line,
and the position of your teeth, lips, and gums when you smile. The
dentists listen to what you want to accomplish and any
concerns you may have. From there, they can suggest possible treatments
and provide a custom smile design.
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Symmetry is a quality dentists examine when they
analyze your smile. When Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus
look at your smile, they will examine if your tooth size, tooth shape
and gum contour follow the contour of your upper lip uniformly from one
side of your smile to the other. If it does not and you are interested
in enhancing your smile, Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus will
discuss how to improve the symmetry of your smile.
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Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a condition that occurs
when the hinge connecting your lower and upper jaws isn’t functioning
properly. When you have TMJ, you may feel a click or pop when you move
your jaw. Your jaw may even stick for a moment when you move it.
Dr. Kidwell and Dr. Albus check for TMJ during your
examination. Removable “splints” and “nightguards” are sometimes used to
help with joint problems. If you suspect you have this disorder, talk to
them and they will analyze your jaw and suggest possible treatments with
you.
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Teeth Whitening, also called bleaching, allows patients to safely
lighten the color of their teeth. For more information, see
Bleaching.
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Zoom!™ by
Discus Dental
is a light-activated teeth
whitening system that whitens your teeth in one appointment. When
you bleach with
Zoom!
Whitening, a bleaching solution is placed on your teeth. Then, one
of our dental assistans will use a heatless light to activate the
bleach. Whitening with Zoom!™ usually takes 60-90 minutes, but you will
have noticeable whiter teeth by the end of the procedure. Before we
recommend Zoom!™, however, Dr. Kidwell or Dr. Albus
will need to examine your teeth to see if this procedure is right for
you. For more information, see Bleaching.
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