420 West 15th St Edmond, Ok 73013 405.348.2266

Cosmetic
Restorative
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Restorative Dentistry

Over the years, your teeth begin to show the wear and tear. Injury, diet and lifestyle habits play a role in the appearance and comfort of your teeth and smile. If you’ve felt like the only option is to just deal with it, think again. Think positive. Think smiles. Think Griffin and Reed. Sure, your life experiences can cripple the look and feel of your oral condition, but we can introduce you to restorative dentistry opportunities we use every day to change lives just like yours. Call us today so we can help you discover how to rejuvenate your smile!

Implants

If Dr. Griffin or Dr. Reed discover that you need a single tooth or several teeth replaced, a dental implant is the most stable and comfortable form of tooth replacement. Implants involve the placement of a medical grade tooth root shaped titanium post directly in the place of the missing tooth. As the bone bonds to the post, it forms a secure foundation for the attachment of a crown or a prosthetic tooth that is custom created for you.

Implant Supported Dentures

10% of Americans who need dentures can’t wear them. Dentures shift and often require the use of denture adhesives to keep them in place. For those who have kept some of their teeth, only 40% actually wear a partial denture. Missing teeth not only dramatically reduces your ability to chew, but also causes loss of bone and muscle in the face. Lost bone and facial muscle tone not only affect function but also make you look and feel older. Dental implants to the rescue! Gum sores, difficulty speaking and hesitancy chewing your favorite foods are a thing of the past thanks to implant supported dentures. Implant supported dentures and partial dentures fit solidly, reducing the problems associated with conventional dentures. Implant supported dentures distribute your biting pressure more like natural teeth. Implants stimulate the bone and reduce future bone loss. You can replace an entire set of teeth or a missing section of teeth with beautiful, natural-looking teeth that are held securely by your implants.

Dentures and Partial Dentures

A denture is an appliance for replacing missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and often even enhance your smile. 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, but prevents other teeth from shifting.

A conventional denture is made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed, which usually takes four to six weeks.  Immediate dentures are made in advance and placed immediately after the teeth are removed, thus preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. Once the tissues shrink and heal, adjustments 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. The process of getting dentures requires several appointments, usually over several weeks. 

Crown

Erase years of wear and tear with porcelain crowns.  Sometimes called “caps,” porcelain crowns are customized for you, covering broken, cracked, severely decayed or discolored teeth. Crowns are a durable, strong, long lasting method of enhancing both the look and functionality of your smile. After some preparation of the tooth or teeth that will receive the crown(s), your dentist will position a custom milled, lifelike porcelain crown over your damaged tooth, restoring and rejuvenating your oral health.

Bridge

Sometimes gum disease, injury, decay or simple every day wear and tear can result in the loss of a tooth. A large gap in your smile can create significant problems for your dental health. Neighboring teeth may begin to move about, moving into the gap and resulting in discomfort, pain and more problems down the road.  Unreplaced teeth that lead to malalignment will lead to increased chance of periodontal (gum) disease and TMJ disorder.  Porcelain bridges can fill the gap in your smile. Drs. Griffin and Reed create a lifelike, functional bridge to correct your smile, restore your bite and alleviate your discomfort. A porcelain bridge is created out of metal, alloys or porcelain and utilizes the teeth on both sides of the gap as its supportive structure. After some preparation of the two neighboring teeth, crowns are created for them. A prosthetic tooth, or pontic, is fused between the crowns to fill the gap. A bridge is a semi-permanent dental restoration, meaning it can only be removed by a dentist, so you can rest assured that your porcelain bridge will be a lasting restoration to your oral health.

TMJ

The temporomandibular joint, known as the TMJ, is in front of the ear where the upper and lower jaws meet. When the joint doesn't work properly, or becomes inflamed, it leads to headaches, locked jaws and other issues. In some cases, the symptoms of a TMJ disorder persist and Dr. Griffin or Dr. Reed must recommend one or more conservative, non-surgical treatments or behavioral interventions to alleviate pain, to correct dental problems that contribute to the disorder or to change habits that amplify the severity or frequency of the symptoms.

Treatment may include the use of a plastic biteplate or splint worn over your teeth to help align your upper and lower jaws. A biteplate may also reduce pressure in the joint structure. Some may benefit from the use of a night guard appliance. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, a night guard appliance, which is a soft or firm device worn over your teeth, can help prevent grinding and excessive wear of your teeth.

Inlays / Onlays

Sometimes removing tooth decay effectively requires the removal of a portion of your tooth. An inlay or an onlay is a restorative option that is utilized when the lost portion of the tooth is too large to be replaced with a filling, but not so great that a crown is necessary. Traditionally, inlays and onlays were made out of metal, much like traditional fillings. Now, porcelain-milled inlays and onlays are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth and provide relief from chewing pain, cavity pain and tooth degeneration.

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