Replace Old Silver Fillings

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Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, Restorative Dentistry

white fillings Provo

Superficial cuts in the skin subside without a trace, infections are wiped out with antibiotics, broken bones mend, and inflamed tissues subside. Our teeth, unfortunately, can’t regenerate. Decay can be halted in its progress, but scientists are still years away from actual enamel regeneration. That’s why the team at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT always emphasizes preventative dentistry.

The healthiest mouths have all teeth intact and free of current or former decay. But how many smiles can boast such an admirable record? Very few. The stark reality is that most people get one or more cavities over the course of their lifetime.

In fact, most individuals probably don’t even know someone who has never had a cavity. Tooth decay is second only to the common cold as the most frequent health dilemma in childhood. When we reach middle age, many of us have even had a root canal or two.

At our practice, we help with cavities and other ailments, and always make sure to send you home with a toothbrush and proper care information. This way, you can prevent the next visit with consistent, proper brushing and flossing.

Restorations Have Come a Long Way

For those who are not lucky enough to have a good dental history, modern restorations might be the answer. Restorative dentistry has changed over the years, and new dental treatments have many advantages over those in years past. You might recall a time when fillings were all silver and did not blend in with the existing enamel.

Nowadays, we can match the exact tone of your natural smile with tooth-colored fillings. Combine it with teeth whitening, and you’ve got yourself a brand-new smile!. In general, restorations are made of stronger and more natural-looking materials these days, so you don’t have to worry about anyone noticing your dental work.

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we offer complete general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry and focus on patient comfort. Patients from American Fork and Lehi visit us and leave with brighter, healthier smiles. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

Want to Fill Those Gaps in Your Smile?

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Categories: Dental Health, Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

tooth replacement Provo

Do you have gaps in your smile? You’re not alone! Missing or failing teeth are among the most common problems we treat at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT.

Missing teeth not only detract from an attractive smile; they also do a number on your self-confidence. Do you find yourself covering your mouth when you laugh, or smiling for pictures with your lips tightly sealed? 

That’s no way to live. We provide multiple ways to maintain, or regain, your ability to eat, drink, speak, laugh, and smile in selfies.

We help hundreds of patients restore missing teeth. If you are interested in tooth restoration, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Your consultation will include a treatment plan to restore missing teeth, an outline of the cost of required procedures, and a schedule for completing the services. 

Tooth restoration includes a wide array of services. A dental bridge can help rejoin a gap between teeth. An artificial tooth, that is indistinguishable from the real thing, is attached to the surrounding teeth. Dental bridges have been used successfully for decades.

A dental implant, on the other hand, consists of an artificial tooth AND an artificial root, usually made of biocompatible titanium. It’s a much more extensive procedure, but the results last longer, and look and feel more natural, than other restoration options. With local anesthesia, your dentist anchors the artificial root into the jaw bone. In the following months, it integrates and meshes with the jaw bone tissue.

There are three components to a dental implant: the artificial root or post, the connecting abutment, and the final crown or denture. An implant is often the most successful restoration, as it offers beauty, strength, and natural function. In addition, it offers something many patients don’t realize is important: protection from bone recession that often take places at the site of a missing tooth.

Finally, there’s dentures. Most people have heard of them. They consists of a plate holding artificial teeth, that can be removed by the wearer. These are individually-constructed and can contain varying numbers of teeth. Sometimes the entire set of upper and lower teeth have to be extracted, and a custom denture created. Modern dentistry offers a myriad of custom dental implant-denture combinations to restore missing teeth.

If implants and other restorative dentistry options at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT sound too good to be true, we invite you to visit us and see for yourself! Patients from all over American Fork and Lehi also come to us for cosmetic dentistry options like tooth whitening. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

ArticleID 8679

7 Surprising Causes Of Bad Breath

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Categories: Dental Health, Family Dentistry

Anyone with chronic bad breath understands the embarrassment and frustration associated with this condition. As unpleasant as it is, rest assured we can help at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT.

There are several possible causes for bad breath, some that you may overlook:

  1. Poor oral hygiene
  2. Digestive problems
  3. Systemic infection
  4. Bacteria on dentures
  5. Gum disease
  6. Food particles on tonsils
  7. Dry mouth

If your bad breath is the result of poor oral hygiene, you’re in luck – this is one of the easiest types to treat. Make sure you brush for a full three minutes before you climb into bed. Don’t forget to floss!

People who have no idea how long they brush can set a timer – there is probably one on your smartphone. In addition to cleaning tooth surfaces, scrub your tongue! Then take the time to floss around each tooth to wash away the plaque between your teeth and keep your gums healthy.

You can also brush after each meal to prevent food debris from sitting on their teeth. In addition to freshening your breath, brushing after each meal will improve your dental health.

Treating bad breath starts with a visit to Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT. Be sure to mention it! People from American Fork and Lehi come to us for our comprehensive general dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E
Provo, Utah
84604

 

Missing Teeth? Don’t Miss Out On A Beautiful Smile

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Categories: Dental Health, Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

Provo cosmetic dentistry

If you have lost one or more of your natural teeth, dental implants from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT may be just what you’ve been hoping for.

Why is that? Dental implants support replacement teeth that look and function like the real thing. Not only that, they help to preserve your jaw bone, which can deteriorate after you lose teeth.

A dental implant, strictly speaking, is not a replacement tooth. It’s a titanium post that is inserted into your jaw. Because it fuses with the bone, it becomes a part of your body. An implant is strong enough to support an artificial tooth, just like a natural tooth root. Several implants can support a bridge, and even a full dental arch.

Other artificial tooth options, including conventional dentures, need to be replaced every few years. This is because the bone beneath it gradually deterioriates.

Dental implants, on the other hand, can last a lifetime. They prevent bone loss, because the implant is part of the jawbone. Furthermore, the artificial tooth or teeth attached to the implant will never decay.

Replacement teeth supported by dental implants from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT are indistinguishable from other teeth, and most people won’t realize they’re there. You may forget, too! We’ve placed them in patients from American Fork and Lehi, who also come to our practice for cosmetic dentistry options. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

5 Tools For Tooth Transformations

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Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health

porcelain veneers price Orem

Teeth that are damaged or misshapen can really detract from your smile, but thanks to cosmetic dentistry from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, you can do something about these and other issues. There are fixes for nearly any tooth problem!

Some of the most popular and effective procedures include:

  • Veneers: Porcelain veneers are extremely thin shells of medical-grade ceramic, custom-made to match the from of your teeth. They are cemented in place to dramatically improve your smile.
  • Bonding: This procedure uses a strong tooth-colored resin to close spaces, repair chips and cracks, or change the shape. The resin is molded into place and hardened for secure adherence.
  • Recontouring: This means reshaping a tooth by removing small bits of enamel to improve its shape or length.
  • Crowns: Natural-looking dental crowns cover the tops of damaged teeth.
  • Clear Braces: Patients of all ages are transforming their smiles with Insivalign® clear braces. They are removable, so they come out at mealtime and when you brush your teeth. Best of all, they work!

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we use cosmetic dentistry to improve smiles every day. Patients from all over American Fork and Lehi also come to us for general dentistry services. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

ArticleID 6632

Oral Cancer: Early Diagnosis Makes A Big Difference

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Categories: Dental Health, General Dentistry

oral cancer screening Provo

Cancer remains one of the scariest diagnoses anyone can get. Oral cancer is especially frightening, because it generally has a higher mortality rate than other cancers. Please keep reading this post from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, because we actually have some encouraging things to tell you.

The reason that the death rate for oral cancer tends to be higher than in other types is not because of the disease itself, or that it’s hard to diagnose. The reason is that it is often discovered late in its development. The oral cancer screenings we provide might just save your life, or the life of someone you love.

The symptoms for oral cancer don’t always produce any pain or other obvious symptoms. That’s why it tends to be discovered in later stages. The goal of screenings is to detect any precancerous lesions that could develop into cancer.

When oral cancer is found in its early stages, of course, the chances for successful treatment are at their highest.

If you have any concerns about the state of your oral health, be sure to talk to us about it at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT. Patients from American Fork and Lehi come to our office for general and cosmetic dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

ArticleID 7428

Are Dental Implants Experimental?

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Categories: Dental Health, Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

tooth implants Orem

Dental implants are tooth replacement marvels that have been placed in millions of people. They look and function just like the real thing, and are available at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT.

Technically, dental implants are not replacement teeth. The actual implant is a titanium post that is inserted into your jaw. In a few months’ time, it fuses with the bone. One implant is a solid support for one artificial tooth. Several can support a bridge or full dental arch.

Humans have tinkered with implanting teeth for thousands of years. The origins of modern dental implants date back to the early 1950s, when it was discovered that titanium can fuse with bone.

An implant was successfully placed in a human in 1965. The technology has steadily improved, and, today, dental implants have gone from experimental to mainstream.

It’s the ability to fuse with the bone that make implants so successful. Some studies have shown a success rate as high as 98%! Cases of the body rejecting them are rare.

Dental implants dramatically improve your ability to bite and chew. In most patients it is normal to near-normal. They restore your smile, too. But they also prevent the bone loss common to people with missing teeth.

Are dental implants experimental? Far from it! At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we have placed implants on patients from American Fork and Lehi. People also come to us for general dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

ArticleID 8258

Fluoride Treatments: Not Just For Kids

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Categories: Dental Health, Fluoride, General Dentistry

fluoride treatment Provo

You rarely hear the word “toothpaste” without it being preceded by “fluoride.” Fluoride toothpaste is good for teeth, and at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we encourage its use.

Fluoride is an essential mineral that helps your teeth stay strong. It is found in some foods and water and makes toothpastes more effective at fighting cavities. It helps teeth by making them stronger and more resistant to the harmful acid that is formed by bacteria.

If you wonder if you or your child is getting enough fluoride, talk to us about fluoride supplements. We will let you know if they are required and determine the precise supplement dosage.

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we are committed to maintaining the dental health of each of our valued patients. Patients from American Fork and Lehi come to us for general dentistry and dental implants. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

ArticleID 7073

Think It’s Not Necessary To Replace Missing Back Teeth?

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Categories: Dental Health, Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

dental implants Provo

Sometimes when people lose a back tooth, they wonder whether they should bother doing anything about it. After all, the gap doesn’t show when they smile and there are other teeth to do the chewing. Why not leave it be and save some money? Actually, there are several very good reasons to replace a back tooth with a dental implant from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT.

The adjacent tooth (or teeth) may start shifting. If a tooth tilts, moves, or rotates, it can impact the bite. The unopposed tooth can also move, though it generally moves outward from the bone (over-eruption). Teeth that are displaced can become more vulnerable to gum disease, decay, or TMJ pain.

The underlying bone will begin to atrophy. Without the tooth root, the jaw bone shrinks. This changes the dimensions of the face and gives it a sunk-in look due to a decline in supporting bone. The vertical shortening progresses and becomes more pronounced as you get older.

There will be additional stress on the teeth that take over the chewing functions. This can bring about excessive wear, fracture, or pain.

If you have a missing back tooth and want to learn about dental implants, call Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT. People from American Fork and Lehi come to us for dental implants and for comprehensive general dentistry services. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

ArticleID 7768

Tooth Whitening: What The ADA Has To Say

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Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening

Lehi cosmetic smile makeover

When a procedure such as teeth whitening gets popular, it’s only natural to wonder what the fuss is all about. But at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we think it’s also proper to know what the American Dental Association has to say.

The ADA recommends that patients speak with a dentist before starting a home bleaching regimen. An oral examination will help us know if teeth whitening is right for you. This is especially critical when you have dark stains on your teeth, or multiple crowns and/or fillings.

Everyone, it seems, would like to have teeth that are whiter. The good news is that it has never been easier to get them. Just take a look at all the whitening products in any grocery store and you’ll see what we mean. From whitening toothpastes to strips and other products, there is a lot to choose from; but none can match the results you’ll get from professional whitening.

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, teeth whitening is just one of the cosmetic dentistry procedures we use to improve smiles every day. We have helped patients throughout American Fork and Lehi. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

 

ArticleID 6599