Vienna Teeth Whitening, Dental Implants, Veneers

From routine cleanings and fillings to bruxism devices, Eva M. Pleta D.D.S. is equipped to handle all your dental needs. To help you understand your options, we've included descriptions of some of our leading services on this page.

Initial Oral Examination
Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, periodontal probing, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.

Bonding
Bonding is a procedure that fixes cosmetic problems with the teeth. A composite material is adhered to the existing tooth which is smoothed to conform to the tooth properly. The teeth are then polished to perfection. This procedure can repair chips or cracks. Bonding can also make teeth appear straighter, smoother, or give them a different shape.

Cosmetic contouring
Cosmetic contouring is a quick, painless procedure which involves gently shaping the tooth to have a smoother edge. This is perfect for people with slight ridges or angles in their teeth, overlapping teeth, crooked, or even cracked teeth. This is used for people who want small adjustments that can lead to a more perfect smile.

Sealants
Sealants are placed on the teeth to help make a smoother surface. A plastic resin is placed on the tooth to fill uneven surfaces and grooves in hopes of preventing cavities. Bacteria has more trouble finding hidden awkward places that a toothbrush can’t always reach. Thus there is less chance that tooth decay will form. Also teeth with more grooves can have a thinner layer of enamel in these places. A sealant can help to act as a protective layer so that tooth decay can’t make its way through and damage the tooth.

Specialty Dentures
Dentures can either be partial or full sets of replacement teeth. These are made to look like real teeth and are very light weight. They are usually made of acrylic resin. Smaller partials can be made to replace just a few missing teeth or a complete upper or lower denture can be made for a whole section of the mouth. Dentures have a very natural look and are quite low maintenance.

Scaling and Root Planning
This is a treatment used to eliminate periodontal disease. This procedure removes plaque and tarter that have become attached to the teeth and also below the gum line. Plaque generally sticks to surfaces that are not smooth, so this process smoothes down the root surface. Plaque and calculus are removed and all areas of the root surface are smoothed out.

Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are placed on teeth that have decay. These are both much more conservative alternatives then crowns. They are made in a lab unlike a normal filling and then cemented on to the tooth. They help to restore the tooth’s surface. Inlays are used to treat the top surfaces of the tooth whereas onlays treat one or more cusps of the tooth. Both are made with a material that is the same color as the tooth so that it will blend in with the tooth and be unnoticeable.

Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a treatment that removes infected tissue inside the tooth. This is the area where the nerves of the tooth are located. If root canal therapy is not performed the infection in the root can spread, affect the bone and will eventually make the tooth unable to stay in place. This is why it is important to keep routine cleaning appointments so that decay can be taken care of right away and is unable to spread and cause root canal therapy to be performed.

Implants
Before development of dental implants, dentures were the only alternative to replacing a missing tooth or teeth. Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures. Implants are so well-designed, they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Implants are usually made of a synthetic yet biocompatible material like metal or ceramic.

Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. Diabetics and people with chronic bruxism (teeth clenching) are generally not favorable candidates. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene. In general, good candidates who have dental implants can expect high success rates with the procedure.

Types of implants

• Full upper replacements: The upper set of teeth is replaced with implants.
• Anterior replacement: Implants are used to replace the front teeth (also called incisors and cupids).
• Full lower replacement: The lower set of teeth is replaced with implants. Full lower replacement usually only uses six implants (near the front), which are used to anchor a denture. This obviates the need for denture adhesive.
• Posterior replacement: Implants are used to replace the bicuspids and molars (the back teeth).

Single tooth replacement

Steps for these procedures include:

• Missing tooth roots are replaced with implants, which are covered under the gum line.
• A healing period of three to six months allows implants to take.
• The implants are uncovered and extensions attached.
• Replacement teeth are affixed to the implants and extensions.

Crowns
Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth. They are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth. Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve a cosmetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.

Procedure
A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. A cast is made of the existing tooth and an impression is made. The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. In some cases, a temporary crown is applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented in place.

Veneers
In just two or three dental visits, a veneer can reverse years of stains caused by foods, caffeine and tobacco use. Special thin laminates, called veneers, can also be used to correct discolored, worn down, cracked and chipped teeth. Veneers can also be used to close unsightly gaps between teeth. Stronger types of veneers made of porcelain, also called composite veneers, typically last longer because they are bonded to the tooth.

An impression of the tooth must be made and a veneer molded by a lab technician. Because veneers require a small amount of enamel to be removed, they are permanent and non-reversible.

The process involves buffing the tooth, removing an extremely thin layer of the tooth to allow for the thickness of the veneer, an impression of the tooth, and final bonding of the veneer to the tooth with special cement. A special light is used to complete the process.

Fillings
Fillings, are synthetic materials that are used to restore a portion of a tooth damaged by decay or traumatic injury. There are different types of materials used to fill cavities, including gold and metal alloys.

Alternative Materials
There are alternatives to conventional substances used in amalgams, such as gold and metal alloys. These include materials made from porcelain and composite resins, which are colored to match natural tooth enamel. Unfortunately, few materials can match the strength and durability of conventional dental amalgam and may need more frequent replacement.

Common amalgam alternatives include:

• Composite fillings - As stated, composite fillings are just what the name implies: a mixture of resins and fine particles designed to mimic the color of natural teeth. While not as strong as dental amalgam, composite fillings provide a pleasing aesthetic alternative. Sometimes composite resins need to be cemented or bonded to a tooth to allow for better adhesion.
• Ionomers - Like composite resins, these materials are tooth-colored. Ionomers are made from a combination of various materials, including ground glass and acrylic resins. Ionomers are typically used for fillings near the gum line or tooth root, where biting pressure is not a factor. They are more fragile than dental amalgam, however. A small amount of fluoride is released by these compounds in order to facilitate strengthened enamel in the affected area.
• Porcelain (ceramic) - These materials are usually a combination of porcelain, glass powder, and ceramic. Candidates for porcelain fillings are typically crowns, veneers, and onlays and inlays. Unlike ionomers, porcelain fillings are more durable, but can become fractured if exposed to prolonged biting pressures.