If you’re looking for a great family dentist to take care of you and your loved ones, look no further! At Darien Dental Associates in Darien, CT, we combine a state-of-the-art approach to dental care with proven, effective techniques and a friendly, compassionate team that cares deeply about your well-being. Book your appointment online or give us a call to get started!
Cleanings & Exams
Dental cleanings are procedures used to remove plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the teeth over time, and if it’s not removed regularly, it can harden into tartar. Tartar can only be removed with professional cleaning tools, so if it’s not taken care of, it can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems.
Dental exams are procedures that allow your dentist to look for any signs of oral health problems. During a dental exam, your dentist will check your teeth and gums for any signs of cavities, gum disease, or other issues. If any problems are detected, your dentist can recommend the appropriate treatment plan.
Crowns & Bridges
Single crown
bridge (anterior impression)
Dental crowns and bridges are both dental prostheses that are used to restore teeth that have been damaged or lost. A dental crown is a cap that is placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength. A dental bridge is a series of artificial teeth that are attached to adjacent teeth or implants to fill in the space where the tooth is missing.
Crowns are often made out of porcelain, ceramic, or stainless steel/metal to match the color of natural teeth. They can be made out of gold in cases where metal crowns cannot be used because of allergies or other reasons. There are many different types of bridges that vary depending on the type of teeth they are replacing and the condition of the surrounding teeth. A fixed bridge is cemented in place, while a removable bridge can be taken out by the patient. Bridge work often requires more time for installation than other dental procedures, but it is still typically less expensive than other forms of cosmetic dentistry such as porcelain veneers.
Tooth Extractions
Surgical removal of wisdom teeth
Tooth extractions, also called exodontia, are the surgical removal of teeth. There are many reasons why your dentist may recommend you have a tooth pulled. He or she might suspect decay deep in the root of the tooth, where standard fillings can’t reach. Maybe there’s an abscess causing pain or swelling. Or the tooth may be so badly damaged that it can’t be saved.
Whatever the reason, tooth extractions are a common dental procedure. In fact, more than 30 million teeth are extracted in the United States every year. Tooth extractions can be performed on any tooth in the mouth, including the molars. However, they’re most commonly done on the front teeth, which are more likely to be damaged or lost.
If you need to have a tooth extracted, your dentist will first numb the area with a local anesthetic. Then he or she will use special tools to loosen and remove the tooth. After the extraction is complete, the dentist will apply an antibiotic ointment to the gum. You’ll also receive prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics.
At Darien Dental Associates, we also offer sedation dentistry to help make your experience as comfortable as possible. Enquire today!
Dentures
bridge vs. implant
implant surgery
implant supported bridge
Dentures are removable false teeth that fit over your natural teeth. They can be made from acrylic, metal, or a combination of both. Dentures are used to replace missing teeth, help keep the jawbone strong, and improve your smile.
Dentures can be used to replace one tooth or several. A complete set consists of a dental plate and 2-8 teeth. Dentures that replace just 1 or 2 missing teeth are called partial dentures. There’s no age limit to getting dentures. If you’re missing some or all of your teeth, and want to look and feel better, you may be a good candidate for complete or partial dentures.
Sealants
Sealants are a great way to protect your or your child’s teeth from cavities. Thin coatings that are painted over the grooves of teeth, sealants can help preserve tooth structure in places where there is a high risk of tooth decay. They form a protective barrier between a tooth and any harmful sugar or acid on their chewing surfaces.
There are many different kinds of sealants, but the most common type is resin. This is a plastic material that is put into a liquid form and then painted onto the teeth. It hardens quickly to form a protective barrier.
TMJ Treatment
Dental TMJ treatment is a process that is used to help relieve pain and other symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). The goal of dental TMJ treatment is to help improve the function of the temporomandibular joint and to reduce or eliminate pain. There are a number of different treatments that may be used as part of dental TMJ treatment, including:
- Manual therapy – This involves the use of hands-on techniques to help improve the function of the temporomandibular joint.
- Orthodontics – Braces or other orthodontic devices may be used to correct problems with jaw alignment that can contribute to TMJ.
- Dental splints – These are devices that are worn in the mouth to help keep the jaw in a corrected position.
- Medications – Pain relievers and other medications may be prescribed to help reduce inflammation and pain.
- Surgery – In rare cases, surgery may be needed to treat TMJ.
Sleep Apnea Appliances
Dental sleep apnea appliances, sometimes referred to as oral appliances, are devices worn in the mouth while sleeping. A dental sleep apnea appliance is used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or instances of shallow breathing during sleep. In OSA, the airway becomes blocked or narrowed, preventing air from flowing into or out of the lungs. This can lead to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Dental sleep apnea appliances are often recommended as an alternative to CPAP therapy, which is the most common treatment for OSA. A dental sleep apnea appliance may be recommended when CPAP therapy is not an option, due to the user’s mouth being too dry or their teeth too tightly-spaced.
Custom-fit oral appliances are created by taking impressions of the patient’s mouth and sending them to a lab for fabrication. Once they are received in the lab, they are fitted for the patient and then carefully crafted to ensure comfort, stability, and durability.
Root Canal Therapy
root canal procedure
Root canal therapy is a dental procedure in which the pulp inside a tooth is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. The pulp is the soft tissue inside a tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. If the pulp becomes infected, it can damage the bone and tissues around the tooth. Root canal therapy removes the infection and saves the tooth.
Root canal therapy is often needed when a tooth is infected or damaged. The infection can cause pain, swelling, and a bad taste in the mouth. If the pulp is damaged, it can’t heal itself and the tooth may need to be extracted.
During root canal therapy, the dentist will remove the tissue that is infected or damaged, clean the inside of the tooth, and seal it. Root canal therapy often requires more than one visit to the dentist.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural mineral that serves a great purpose in preserving oral health. At our office, we offer fluoride treatments to strengthen tooth enamel—making your teeth less susceptible to decay. Fluoride is found in toothpaste, mouthwash, and even the water you drink! While this is helpful, the concentration of the mineral in these substances are not as strong as what we provide.
Our fluoride solution is applied to the teeth and left for a few minutes before being wiped away. The procedure is highly effective in reducing tooth sensitivity, preventing cavities, and even reversing some small cavities.
Dental Fillings
We use dental fillings to restore the health and integrity of a tooth following decay removal. Upon detecting a cavity, our team will carefully remove all areas of decay before repairing the tooth with a filling. Once the filling material has been applied, we use a special light to harden the substance before shaping it to fit the tooth.
Fillings can be made from a variety of materials, all of which are durable and can last for many years. Composite resin material is a favorite among our patients because it blends with the shade of the natural teeth to ensure a smooth, undetectable finish.
Book An Appointment Today!
Ready to schedule a visit for yourself or a loved one? Book online or call our friendly team today!