Dental Veneers
Dental Bridge
We believe everyone deserves a beautiful, healthy smile. As part of our commitment, we offer the dental bridge at our Destin office as a customized solution for patients who suffer from missing teeth. Missing teeth not only leave visible gaps in one of your most important assets, they eventually cause the remaining teeth to shift and leave a person vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. In addition to the cosmetic enhancement aspects of the dental bridge our Destin-based practice offers, the dental bridges reduces the chances of gum disease, corrects bite issues, and improves speech.
A dental bridge is an artificial tooth that is affixed in the mouth by two porcelain crowns attached to the neighboring teeth. This procedure can usually be completed in two short trips to our facility. During the first visit, Dr. Dennis Lichorwic numbs the area with a local anesthetic and buffs the adjacent teeth on either side of the gap in order to make room for the added width of the porcelain caps. Dr. Lichorwic creates an impression of the gap, which will be used to craft a customized bridge in the laboratory. The patient is fitted with a temporary bridge and allowed to return home. The customized bridge is cemented into placed during the second appointment and adjusted so that it aligns perfectly with the other teeth. If properly cared for, the dental bridge may last up to ten years.
In additional to the traditional bridge, we offer two other types of dental bridges at our Destin office:
Resin: The artificial tooth is attached to a metal band that is permanently bonded to the neighboring teeth. The metal band is not visible once it is bonded to the teeth. This bridge is primarily used to rectify gaps in the front teeth because it requires less buffing of the surrounding teeth since porcelain crowns are not needed.
Cantilever: When natural teeth only remain on one side of the gap, this bridge is employed. The dentist bonds the artificial tooth to one or more of the adjacent, natural teeth. If you are missing teeth and are considering a dental bridge, contact Dr. Lichorwic in Destin today. He will help you decide whether a dental bridge is an appropriate course of treatment for your particular case.
As part of Dr. Lichorwic’s comprehensive dental restoration services, he offers dental veneers to his Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City patients. Dental veneers restore teeth that are chipped, cracked, irregularly shaped, or discolored to their natural radiance while looking virtually identical to surrounding original teeth. They also correct minor misalignment or gaps in between teeth, making dental veneers an ideal solution for Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City patients who desire beautiful, straight teeth without the inconvenience or the time commitment associated with braces.
During a patient’s first dental veneer appointment at our Dentin office, Dr. Lichorwic will take an impression of the targeted tooth, which will be used to custom design the permanent veneer. Then he will lightly buff the tooth to make room for the added thickness of the dental veneer. The patient will wear a temporary veneer home. When he or she returns to our office, the permanent dental veneer is bonded to the front of the tooth and the patient instantly has a new, beautiful smile.
At our office, we pride ourselves on always offering the latest technology in cosmetic dentistry to our patients. Our dental veneers are tailor-made with ultra-thin porcelain. Porcelain dental veneers not only resist staining better than traditional veneer material, they appear more natural as well. Teeth are translucent: when light hits a tooth, it penetrates the hard enamel surface before reflecting back off the inner tooth. This quality gives teeth their depth. Historically, dental veneer material was only semi-translucent, making them seem dull next to the natural teeth. Porcelain is a glass-like, translucent material, which makes porcelain dental veneers nearly indistinguishable from the original teeth.
For years, Dr. Lichorwic has employed dental veneers in the restoration of his patients’ smiles. If you believe you could benefit from the cosmetic enhancements associated with dental veneers, contact our Destin office, serving Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, and the entire Emerald Coast.
Crowns are restorations that are customized to fit securely over severely damaged teeth. When a tooth suffers extensive decay or has been cracked, it usually cannot support a filling and needs reinforcement. Crowns provide this by completely covering the tooth, essentially becoming the new outer surface of the tooth. The crown fortifies the structure of the tooth, prevents further decay, and restores the tooth’s shape.
During a patient’s initial visit, Dr. Lichorwic examines and preps the tooth, numbing the surrounding gum tissue and buffing the tooth to account for the added thickness of the crown. More of the original tooth must be removed with a crown than with a dental veneer, so Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City patients are advised to reserve this procedure for the most severe cases of damage. At this time, Dr. Lichorwic may recommend a root canal if he determines the decay is extensive. For our patient’s convenience, we have the ability to perform this procedure on-site at our Destin office. Once the tooth has been prepped, Dr. Lichorwic creates a mold of the tooth, which is used to form a customized crown at the laboratory. The patient is fitted with a temporary crown and allowed to return home. The discomfort experienced by the patient is minimal. When the patient returns, Dr. Lichorwic permanently cements the crown onto the tooth.
Whether you require crowns, dental veneers or dental bridges, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and all Emerald Coast residents can trust Dr. Lichorwic and his staff of experienced, friendly professionals to give them the radiant, beautiful smile they desire and deserve.
