General Dentistry Services in Skokie, IL

Dental bridges can be used when several teeth in the same area of the mouth need to be restored. This dental prosthetic is designed with one or more replacement teeth to bridge the gap and fill in the empty spaces in the mouth.

Tooth bridges are usually designed using porcelain materials, and anchored on neighboring teeth with crowns. If the nearby teeth aren’t strong enough to support the bridge, then an implant bridge can be used as the foundation for the dental restoration.

One of the most effective ways to protect the health and beauty of your smile is to maintain regular appointments for exams and professional teeth cleanings. The general advice is that everyone should visit the dentist every six months for teeth cleaning and an exam, unless otherwise recommended by your dentist.

During this appointment, the teeth are polished and cleaned, including an optional fluoride treatment to strengthen the teeth and prevent tooth decay. Additionally, a thorough dental exam is completed to identify early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health concerns. Early diagnosis is the goal so that minimally-invasive treatments can be used to avoid bigger issues in the future.

When a tooth has been severely damaged, sometimes a filling isn’t enough to restore the structure of the tooth. Dental crowns, also known as caps, can be placed over the structure of the tooth. This treatment offers an effective alternative to tooth extraction. Not only are tooth crowns used to strengthen the structure of the tooth, but they are designed with the right color, size, and shape to provide a natural, beautiful restoration.

Crowns are often used for general dentistry purposes, such as when a tooth is cracked or is treated with a root canal. This treatment can also be used for cosmetic purposes if the tooth is badly discolored or misshaped.

When all of the natural teeth need to be removed, then dentures offer one of the most cost-effective solutions to restore the smile. These dental appliances are designed to fit the shape and size of your mouth. Not only is the appearance of the smile restored, but dentures are also important for daily activities, such as eating and speaking.

Traditional dentures are designed as a removable dental appliance with special adhesives used to hold the dentures in place. Many patients are choosing implant-supported dentures so that the dentures don’t move around in the mouth. After the original teeth have been extracted, dentures can be used when the gums have healed.

When a tooth emergency arises, immediate treatment is essential to avoid complications. Dental emergencies encompass a range of problems with your smile. Any time trauma occurs that affects the teeth and gums, it is important to contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Emergency dental services are also available for patients experiencing a sudden toothache.

In most situations, the debilitating pain won’t subside until you have obtained the right treatments from a qualified emergency dentist. Our team offers emergency dental care for a chipped tooth, broken tooth, teeth that have been knocked out, infected, cracked, and more. Immediate treatment can save the tooth and protect the surrounding tissue.

Often, damaged teeth can be restored using dental fillings that replace the empty area of the tooth. If a tooth is chipped or a portion needs to be removed due to decay, then tooth fillings are used to restore the appearance and function of the tooth. This treatment offers an effective way to strengthen the tooth and improve the shape and structure of a tooth that has been damaged.

During the cavity filling treatment, the area will be numbed using a local anesthetic. A drill is used to remove the decay and prepare the tooth for placement of the filling. Then, composite materials are placed in the open space of the tooth and bonded using special dental lights. Finally, the filling is shaped to match your bite and polished for a beautiful appearance.

When problems occur with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the muscles that move your jaw can become tense and painful. Often, these issues can cause a disorder leading to grinding or clenching of the teeth, which eventually cause the teeth to be damaged because they are worn down, cracked, and chipped.

The simplest treatment for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is to wear a night guard while sleeping. The mouth guard is designed to maintain a gap between the teeth so that you don’t clench or grind while sleeping. Each night guard is custom-shaped based on the size and shape of your mouth.