Our Services
Functional Comprehensive Dentistry
The goal of Functional Comprehensive Dentistry is to restore your teeth to their natural form and function so that they look, feel and work the way they were originally designed to.
Your teeth are just like any other part of your body, in that they change over time. Your knees, hips and neck don’t look today like they did 20 years ago, so why should we expect anything different from your teeth? Teeth are functional tools, and when you use a tool over and over everyday, chewing food, they can wear out.
But chewing is not the only cause for teeth to wear or break. Unlike most other parts of your body, your teeth can cause the most damage when you have absolutely no control – when you are asleep. That’s right, when you sleep, teeth can clench and grind with unbelievable force! They can even touch in ways at night that you couldn’t make them while you are awake, even if you tried!
Whether your teeth have changed over time because of decay, broken or lost teeth or just plain wear and tear, Dr. Camarata wants to turn back the hands of time and give you a beautiful and functional smile!
Do you have broken or missing teeth? Do you have fillings or bondings that keep falling out or seem to never last?
Unfortunately, these things are all too common and can be very frustrating. Sometimes what seems to be a “one tooth” problem needs to be looked at from a “whole mouth” perspective. Teeth, fillings and crowns wear and break for specific reasons, and sometimes the reason isn’t obvious.
To be able to explain WHY something broke, we might need to look at more than just the tooth. We need to look at the whole environment the tooth exists in. Something broke for a reason. If we just put it back together the same way, why wouldn’t it break again?
Dr. Camarata’s exam includes evaluating the way teeth come together, the way they function as a unit, looking for any signs of wear or damage caused by harmful, uncontrolled forces and movements. Your teeth should function as one harmonious unit and broken things are an indication that something isn’t right.
Do you notice that your teeth seem shorter than they used to be? Does it seem like your teeth don’t fill out your smile in a photo? Do your teeth look square and flat instead of long and softly rounded?
Even though enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, it can still wear away. The forces generated by the muscles that move your jaw combined with the way your teeth come together can create an environment that causes teeth to wear down over time.
Once enamel has worn away, it cannot be regrown, it must be replaced. Many times, the best option is to restore all of the worn teeth at once. However, the key is to design the restored teeth in such a way that those destructive forces are minimized. This way, the restored teeth don’t wear as fast as the originals.
Dr. Camarata can evaluate your worn teeth and design a new smile with restorations that look and feel like natural teeth all while minimizing the risk of wearing away those teeth again.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a simple easy way to enhance your smile and show the world your beautiful healthy teeth.
Whitening toothpastes work by scratching the surface stains away from the tooth surface. Be careful with these as they are more abrasive and can cause tooth sensitivity.
The over the counter bleaching strips whiten the teeth by using a peroxide based gel to remove the stain and discoloration from deeper in the tooth. They are safe to use and are effective. Because they are not custom fit, they can be less effective and have more side effects than other options.
Custom Whitening Trays also work by using a peroxide based gel to remove stain and discoloration from deep within the tooth. They are custom fit, so the bleach stays where you want it and keeps it from going where you don’t want it.
In Office Whitening is performed in the dental office over the course of about 2 hours. It is intended to give your whitening treatment a jumpstart, but you will usually need to continue whitening at home for best results.
Teeth-In-A-Day
The procedure has been developed in response to patients and dental providers seeking to improve the choices available to those at risk of losing major dental function due to periodontal disease, severe decay, severe wear or trauma. Advances in dental implants and restorative materials and techniques now allow us to permanently and efficiently replace all of the teeth in the arch at one time. This procedure utilizes multiple implants to attach a full complement of teeth that are stabilized permanently into place. The top or bottom arch may be restored individually or simultaneously during the procedure if necessary.
The process involves extensive planning and collaboration between the dental team and the dental lab for the procedure, but in most cases, this procedure can be completed in one office visit.
Cutting-Edge Dental Implant Technology
The Teeth-in-a-Day™ (or All-on-Four™) procedure is a relatively new strategy of helping people who have lost or are at risk of losing most or all of their teeth.
Root Canals
A root canal is a procedure that is done when a tooth is badly infected or when a tooth has been traumatized.
If a cavity gets deep enough, it can infect the nerves and blood vessels contained within the tooth. This is called an abscess and can be very painful, but not always. A root canal procedure removes the infected nerves and blood vessels from inside the tooth and thoroughly cleans out the bacteria. The tooth is then filled with a plastic-like filling material called gutta percha. This seals the tooth and helps prevent re-infection.
Sometimes, after a tooth has experienced a trauma or injury, the blood vessels and nerves within a tooth gradually die over time. This can cause the tooth to darken and possibly be sensitive to hot or cold. The root canal procedure is performed in this case so that the dead blood vessels and nerves do not become infected or cause pain.
If a back tooth requires root canal treatment, it is important to protect the tooth afterwards with a crown. These teeth endure great amounts of force when chewing and if left uncovered, can become brittle over time after the root canal procedure. Most front teeth only require a filling after a root canal procedure because they do not generate as much force. However, depending on the amount of quality tooth structure remaining, a crown may be indicated for front teeth after a root canal.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are quickly becoming the gold standard way of replacing missing teeth. Whether one or multiple teeth are missing, a dental implant is the restoration that most closely resembles and functions like a natural tooth.
- The implant: this is a small titanium screw that is placed into the bone that holds the teeth in. It stays completely under the gums. Think of this as the “root” of your new tooth.
- The abutment: this is a piece that attaches permanently to the implant and sticks out of the gums to hold a crown on. It will be completely covered by the crown.
- The crown: This is cemented permanently on top of the abutment and looks like the rest of your natural teeth.
- They are permanently cemented in place.
- It does not require you to alter neighboring teeth.
- You take care of them just like you would your natural teeth.
Dental Crowns
A crown is used to protect a tooth when it is severely weakened. A crown, sometimes referred to as a “cap,” surrounds the tooth 360 degrees. This helps protect the tooth from further damage. Typically, a tooth needs a crown when there have been previous large fillings in the tooth and fracture lines are seen in the remaining tooth structure.
Crowns are also done when there is a large amount of decay or when a tooth has had a root canal.
Traditional crowns have a metal substructure that is stacked with tooth-colored porcelain. These are commonly used on the back teeth because of their combination of esthetics, strength and proven track record.
All-ceramic crowns have no metal. These are typically used on the front teeth because they can be very esthetic and natural looking.
Zirconia is a new material that is all tooth-colored (no grey metal) and is very hard. This material is used when a person has a very “heavy” bite or a tendency to wear through the porcelain of traditional crowns over time.
All-metal crowns, also known as gold crowns, are sometimes used when there is very little room and porcelain would be at risk of breaking. This material is typically used on the very back teeth.
Each type of material has its appropriate uses and no one material fits each situation.
Dental Fillings
When a cavity develops in a tooth, we restore it with a filling. The infected area of the tooth is removed, and then the filling material replaces what has been lost.
White or tooth-colored fillings are known as composites
The filling material is called composite. It is a tooth colored, non-metal material that is bonded to the healthy, natural tooth structure. Composite is hardened by a curing light, which means the filling is as hard as it will ever be when you leave the office, so there are minimal restrictions.
Depending on the size of the cavity, local anesthesia may or may not be used. The affected area of the tooth is cleaned to ensure no decay remains. A bonding agent is applied to the tooth and is cured with a special light. Composite filling material is then placed in layers and is sculpted to the natural contours of the tooth. The curing light is again used to harden the filling material. The filling is then polished to a high natural shine.
Veneers are an all-ceramic restoration that can change the shape and color of natural teeth.
Veneers are thin sheets of porcelain that are custom made and bonded to the front surface of the front teeth. Veneers can be used to help correct misaligned teeth, eliminate gaps between teeth and help cover stain that cannot be corrected by whitening alone.
Because every smile is unique, planning is the most important step when considering veneers. Diagnostic models are the first step in smile design because this allows us to evaluate the teeth from a different perspective. The models can be used to communicate with the patient and with the lab to ensure the results are ideal. The lab will create a “wax-up”—they will alter the original models to allow us to see the end results before we begin treatment. If temporaries are required, they can be fabricated based on the “wax-up” to allow you to test the look and feel of your new teeth. The final porcelain veneers will be fabricated by the lab, returned to our office and then permanently bonded in place.
You may have heard about “prepless veneers,” which do not require any alteration of tooth structure. This can be done in very specific cases, but for the most natural looking restorations, most cases require some amount of tooth alteration. Careful planning allows us to be as conservative as possible, while providing superior esthetics.
Sleep Apnea
People with sleep apnea can actually stop breathing for extended periods of time while asleep. This stoppage of breathing causes a drop in the amount of oxygen that is distributed to the brain and other parts of the body. Breathing can become obstructed because the musculature of the throat and tongue become relaxed during sleep and impede normal airflow.
People who have sleep apnea and the partners of people who have sleep apnea often report:
- Severe daytime drowsiness
- Heavy, loud snoring
- Stoppage of breathing during sleep
- Difficulty concentrating while awake
- Drowsiness while driving
- Difficulty waking up in the morning
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people in America. It has been linked to many other systemic medical conditions including obesity, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. The relationship between these diseases is still being researched, but if left untreated, sleep apnea can negatively influence these other conditions.
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that must be diagnosed by a physician. If you have the risk factors for sleep apnea, your physician or a sleep specialist will conduct a “sleep study.” A sleep study is typically done at a specialized facility that has equipment to evaluate numerous aspects of your sleep quality. Sleep studies require you to spend a night or two at the facility so that your sleep can be monitored. Afterwards, your physician will determine what the results of your sleep study mean for you and discuss the findings with you. Based on the severity of the sleep apnea, your physician will recommend the appropriate treatment.
The most common treatment and the gold-standard treatment for sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP. A CPAP device works by using air pressure and airflow to force a collapsed airway to open. Patients that can tolerate a CPAP device see the greatest improvement in symptoms for all severities of sleep apnea.
There are surgical options that can be performed to treat sleep apnea. These options include altering the shape of the oro-nasal cavity and/or soft palate to prevent obstruction during sleep. Surgical options are typically reserved for extremely severe cases or as a last resort option when all other options have failed.
Oral appliances that can be made by a dentist are a relatively new and a very conservative option. Oral appliances open the airway by gently holding the musculature of the throat and tongue in a position that promotes airflow.
Oral appliance therapy can be a more comfortable alternative to CPAP therapy because it uses a relatively small device that fits entirely inside the mouth and allows you to breathe on your own. It does not require a mask, nasal cannula, or any air pressure.
The oral appliance holds the lower jaw in a forward position and allows better airflow, which can eliminate snoring and stoppage of breathing during sleep.
Unfortunately, Oral Appliance Therapy cannot be 100% effective for everyone. Oral Appliance Therapy is less effective than CPAP in treating more severe forms of Sleep Apnea. People wanting Oral Appliance Therapy must be in good dental health for proper fabrication of the appliance. Potential side effects include tooth movement over time and jaw joint changes over time.
Please call our office at 281-440-1050 to schedule an appointment to see if Oral Appliance Therapy is appropriate for you.
