Lab Services

Complete & Partial Dentures

A denture is a removable dental appliance and a replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile. There are many styles and types of teeth to choose from. We use only the best! You are involved in this process so that the shape and size of your smile is what you have always wanted.

There are two types of dentures – complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all of the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. A partial denture not only fills in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from shifting.

A complete denture can be either “conventional” or “immediate.” A conventional type is made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed. During this time, the patient will go without teeth.

Immediate dentures are made in advance and immediately placed after the teeth are removed, thus preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. An Immediate denture acts like a band aid and shapes the gum for proper healing. Once the tissues shrink and heal, around a six month period, a permanent reline will have to be made.

Dentures are very durable appliances and will last many years but may have to be remade, repaired, or readjusted due to normal wear.

Reasons for dentures

• Complete Denture – Loss of all teeth in an arch.
• Partial Denture – Loss of several teeth in an arch.
• Enhancing smile and facial tissues.
• Improving chewing, speech, and digestion.

What does getting dentures involve?
The process of getting dentures requires just a few appointments, usually over a period of a week or two. Because we make our own dentures in our own state of the art Lab. Turn around time is quicker than having to send it out somewhere else.

Highly accurate impressions (molds) and measurements are taken and used to create your custom denture. “Try-in” appointments may be necessary to ensure proper shape, color, and fit. At the final appointment, your dentist will precisely adjust and place the completed denture, ensuring a natural and comfortable fit.

It is normal to experience increased saliva flow, some soreness, and possible speech and chewing difficulty, however this will subside as your muscles and tissues get used to the new dentures. You will be given a cleaning kit with instructions for your new dentures. Proper cleaning of your new dental appliance, good oral hygiene, and regular visits will aid in the life of your new dentures.

Remember as you age, gain/lose weight, your denture will need to be adjusted to fit you properly. We are here to assist you in that.

Call or contact us today and we’d be happy to assist you with any of our patient or lab services!

Surgical Dentures

Following dental implant surgery, patients must take detailed care of the area surrounding their new implant. For the first month the dental implant is still integrating with the bone and tissues so the patient’s care routine will be slightly more involved during this initial period. Above all, do not disturb the wound in the initial days that follow surgery. Avoid rinsing, spitting, and touching the mouth for 24 hours after surgery to avoid contaminating or irritating the surgical site. After dental implant surgery it’s important to follow these care instructions:

• Antibiotics – Patients should take all prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection at the surgical site. Twenty-four hours after the surgery, patients should begin using the prescribed oral rinse twice daily alongside a warm saltwater rinse 4-5 times daily (preferably after every meal/snack).
• Bleeding – Blood in the patients’ saliva is normal during the first 24 hours following surgery. We suggest biting on gauze pads to help control and lessen blood flow. Gently bite down on the gauze pad and try to maintain constant pressure, repeating as often as needed, or until bleeding lessens.
• Dealing with pain – Shortly after your dental implant surgery the anesthetic will wear off. You should begin taking pain medication before this happens. Any over-the-counter pain medication can be taken (e.g., Tylenol®, Aleve®, ibuprofen, etc.).
• Diet – We recommend an initial diet of soft foods, but patients can resume a normal diet as soon as they feel capable of doing so. Stay hydrated. It is critical that you are drinking plenty of fluids.
• Hygiene – In order for the dental implants to heal properly, the surgical site must be kept clean. Continue to brush your teeth as you normally would, but avoid any sutures and do not brush the implant. The antibiotic and saltwater rinses will disinfect the implant itself.
• Swelling – After dental implant surgery some amount of swelling is to be expected. To help minimize swelling, try to keep your head elevated and lower your activity level as much as possible. Use ice packs for the first 48 hours and apply continuously, or as frequently as possible to minimize facial swelling.
• Wearing your prosthesis or night guard – Partial dentures, flippers, full dentures, retainers, or night guards should not be used for at least 10 days following surgery. If there are any special circumstances, our practice will discuss those with you during your pre-operative consultation.
• Smoking – Smoking after dental implant surgery has an increased risk of infection which also increases the risk of dental implants failing to integrate. We recommend that patients do not smoke for a minimum of 2 weeks after dental implant surgery.

What does recovery involve?
While each patient’s case is different, recovery after dental implant surgery happens in a series of phases. With your new dental implants, maintaining proper oral hygiene should be your primary focus. In order for the implant to properly fuse with the jawbone, it must remain clean. Also keep in mind that when properly cared for, a dental implant can serve its owner for life.

When maintaining proper hygiene, oral discomfort should gradually lessen. Swelling, bruising, and minor bleeding may still occur. If any pain does continue, feel free to continue using the pain medications. Healing time differs depending on whether a patient receives immediate crown placement, or waits for the implant to fuse with the jawbone. Your recovery time frame will depend on your individual case and treatment plan; follow-up appointments will be scheduled accordingly.

Call or contact us today and we’d be happy to assist you with any of our patient or lab services!

Relines and Repairs

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Splints

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Ortho Appliances

Our laboratory technicians provide expert fabrication of orthodontic appliances. Each appliance is custom made to your specifications and offers a consistently accurate fit.

3×3 Spring Clip Retainer
Let your patients experience a tough device that provides gentle corrective force to realign their beautiful smiles. The 3×3 spring clip retainer is used to make minor corrections to anterior teeth and is one of the most popular appliances used to correct minor orthodontic cases. A spring retainer may also be used to maintain relapsed teeth, shifting them back to their original position.

Fixed Lingual Retainer (FLR)
Fixed lingual retainers (FLR) are one of the simplest ways for your patients to maintain their newly aligned smile. It allows them to forget about caring for a removable retainer device, without affecting the visible esthetic of their smile. Because the FLR remains in the patient’s mouth permanently, they will experience little, if any, relapse; some level of relapse often occurs with removable devices because they aren’t always worn as recommended. When ordering a FLR for your patient, please indicate the type of stainless steel wire you prefer, as well as whether you want optional mesh pads.

Hawley Retainer
Hawley retainers are the most popular and most versatile type of final retention device. With a metal wire that extends cuspid-to-cuspid, anchored by an acrylic arch, the Hawley retainer maintains the alignment of the teeth. Hawley retainers can be adapted to incorporate nearly any additional component, such as anterior springs, bite plans, QCM bows, etc. Additionally, the metal wire can be adjusted to slightly shift teeth into a more desirable position. Any type of clasp can be integrated with the Hawley. Simply tell us your needs and we can accommodate them.

Contraindications

• Cases where an opposing arch interferes with the movement of teeth
• Non-compliant patients
• Severe crowding of the anterior teeth

Invisible Retainers
Invisible retainers typically have a shorter lifespan and are very easy for patients to lose. Should either case arise, our skilled technicians have your patients covered. We offer invisible replacement retainers that are made of strong, thin plastic. Simply send us your mold and we’ll provide your patient with the perfect device that will continue to prevent their teeth from undesired movement.

Contraindications

• Cases requiring settling of the posterior teeth
• Patients treated with Rapid Palatal Expanders
• Phase I retention

Phase I Retainer
If your patients have undergone Phase I or Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment, we want to help them maintain the space you’ve created for their adult teeth. Phase I retainers preserve the work completed during the initial phase of orthodontic treatment, which makes Phase II shorter and more efficient.

Spring Retainer
Spring retainers are customized removable appliances that help align anterior teeth on the upper or lower arches. Comprised of acrylic and flexible wire, the device helps align moderate cases of crowding and assists retention.

Contraindications

• Cases where an opposing arch interferes with the movement of teeth
• Non-compliant patients
• Severe crowding of the anterior teeth

Call or contact us today and we’d be happy to assist you with any of our patient or lab services!

Sleep Apnea Appliances

Sleep apnea is a serious, sometimes fatal medical disorder that affects around 10% of American men over the age of 40, and 6% of American women of the same age. Sleep apnea sufferers completely stop breathing during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times in a single night. Normal breathing ceases because the airway becomes obstructed, causing a serious reduction of airflow to the lungs.

There are a number of dental devices that can be used to alleviate this condition. The goal of most of these devices is to separate the jaws and push them forward slightly. This slight repositioning opens up the airway, and allows oxygen to flow freely again. Wearers of sleep apnea dental devices report that they stop loud snoring, feel more rested in the daytime, and are much more comfortable going to sleep. Sleep apnea appliances work best on patients who are not significantly overweight. They offer a viable alternative to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).

Sleep apnea appliances fall into two categories: fixed and adjustable. Here are brief descriptions of some commonly used sleep apnea dental appliances:

TAP® 3 (Thornton Adjustable Positioner)
The TAP® 3 is the smallest, most comfortable member of the TAP family. It is a two-part custom-created sleep apnea appliance that fits over the teeth in much the same way as a sports mouthguard. The TAP® 3 projects the jaw forward to prevent the tongue and soft tissues from impeding the airway. The lower jaw positioner is adjustable, which means that it can be altered to suit the comfort level of the wearer. The TAP® 3 appliance can accommodate the three main types of malocclusion, and allows the lips to fully close.

OASYS Appliance
The OASYS appliance is designed to move the base of the tongue toward the front of the mouth by gently repositioning the jawbone (mandible). This shift opens the oropharynx and strengthens the upper airway. An extension of the upper shield projects toward the nose, creating a larger nasal opening and less resistance to normal airflow. This adjustable appliance is comfortable to wear and extremely patient friendly.

KlearwayTM Appliance
The KlearwayTM Appliance is generally used to alleviate obstructive sleep disorder and eliminate snoring. The patient or dentist can project the jaw forwards in increments of .25mm at a time. This ensures maximum comfort for the sleeper. The KlearwayTM appliance is made from VariflexTM heat softening acrylic, which makes it easier to insert. Running warm water over the appliance makes it pliable, but once placed in the desired position, the acrylic hardens again.

Herbst Telescopic Appliance
The Herbst appliance is held in the mouth by clasps and friction grips. It is made of acrylic, and contains adjustable metal wiring. The advantage of this appliance is that the wearer is able to move vertically and laterally without dislodging the appliance. The Herbst appliance is usually used in mild and moderate cases of sleep apnea, and can also alleviate loud snoring effectively.

Call or contact us today and we’d be happy to assist you with any of our patient or lab services!