Fillings:  This practice has been “mercury free” since the 1970’s. Dr. Risbrudt does not believe that the silver/amalgam fillings of old are of benefit to your physical or dental health. For that reason, there are a variety of alternatives offered:  tooth colored restorations such as porcelain, porcelain-fused-to gold and direct and indirect composite restorations. Cast gold is still one of the best restorative materials and if used properly can be nearly a lifelong restoration.

Crowns/Caps:   When the size of the restoration required exceeds a certain size or structural ability to support the tooth it can require a crown or a cap. Dr. Risbrudt’s office uses top-notch, internationally renowned dental labs to create his all porcelain crowns (Empress, Procera and Zirconia), porcelain fused-to-gold and all gold crowns.

Bridges:   Used to replace missing teeth by attaching to the adjacent teeth.

Implants:   Titanium root forms placed in the jaw bone where the tooth is missing. This can be similar to a normal tooth and subsequently accepts a crown to restore function and beauty. Probably one of the best treatments available to patients missing teeth today.

Precision Partial Dentures:   Removable replacements used when inadequate bone or natural teeth are present for other replacements, such as bridges or implants. Precision partial dentures can replace multiple missing teeth economically. This type of partial denture can be designed without exposing “hooks” or “wires” on the anchor teeth.

Occlusal Treatment:   Everyone knows about the obvious dental disease process of decay and gum disease. But even more important is recognizing the process that we call “occlusal disease.” Occlusal disease is widespread in the dental population. The reason it is not routinely recognized and treated is that only a small portion of the dental healthcare professionals have been trained to recognize it. Occlusion is not heavily dealt with in the dental school, due to its perceived difficulty to teach at the graduate level. The average dental student is so overwhelmed with learning about the two traditional processes, gum disease and tooth decay, that occlusion takes a back seat.

Unfortunately, those of us who have “paid the price” in terms of postgraduate education and experiencing patient care “in the trenches” as it were, see occlusal disease as the paramount disease process, often contributing to the other two! The teeth and the gums are but a portion of the equation for oral health. The stomatognathic system consists of teeth, the bony housings that support the teeth (upper and lower jaw) the muscles of mastrication and the temporomandibular joints. (TMJ)

It’s been our experience that in today’s fast-paced lifestyle nearly 89+% of our patients exhibit some signs or symptoms of occlusal disease. Grinding or clenching of the teeth usually occurs at night, although more and more patients acknowledge holding their teeth together during waking hours. This is a sign of stress release, nutritional challenges, or functional discrepancies between where the teeth are positioned compared to where the muscles would like the teeth to be. This discrepancy quite often results in head, neck and jaw joint or inner ear pain. The other more obvious signs are broken fillings and cracked teeth, especially in the back part of the mouth, and front teeth that become worn down and shorter-looking, often with thin edges that are breaking off.

Any of these signs or symptoms pertain to you? Something to think about!

Invisalign:  Invisalign makes it easy to straighten your teeth without bands, brackets, or wires. This is beneficial for crowding, spacing, crossbite and more. Invisalign is comfortable to wear and it doesn’t require you to change your busy lifestyle. You visit your doctor every month or two to check your progression and get new aligners. Average treatment time is only about a year. Because aligners are removable, your can continue to eat your favorite foods while brushing and flossing normally to keep your teeth and gums healthy. (Interest free financing is available through CareCredit).