Your smile today may not be as brilliant as it once was. Years of wear and tear, injury, or poor care can hurt the look and function of your teeth. Dr. Lawrence and his team change lives every day through restorative dentistry. Rejuvenate your smile today!
Porcelain Crowns
Your teeth undergo a tremendous amount of stress during your lifetime. Teeth may show this wear in a variety of ways, including discoloration, chipping and cracking. Crowns restore your teeth and smile to look brilliant once again. Porcelain crowns can be made out of porcelain fused to metal or out of all porcelain and can be shaded to match your teeth. Crowns made of precious metal (gold) are also an option. After some tooth preparation, crowns are specifically fitted to restore functionality and to enhance the appearance of your smile. If you have pain when chewing or temperature sensitivity, ask Dr. Lawrence if crowns are right for you.
Same Day Crowns
If you’ve previously received crowns at the dentist, you may remember the process requiring at least two dental visits over a two or three week period. Now, Lawrence Family Dentistry can actually have your crowns designed, created, and positioned in your mouth all in one visit!
Today’s technology, allows your dentist to design and mill your crown chair-side. This precise and efficient technology saves you valuable time and gives you your dazzling smile faster than ever. Talk to the Lawrence Family Dentistry team about receiving a same-day crown.
Inlays/Onlays
Sometimes effectively removing tooth decay requires the removal of a portion of your tooth. The removed portion is then replaced with a porcelain inlay or onlay. Dr.Lawrence customizes an inlay or onlay to fill the space left behind when part of your tooth is removed. 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.
Bridges
When teeth are missing, your smile undergoes significant changes. Missing teeth cause you to chew differently, and may cause mouth pain. Also, as your remaining teeth work to compensate for the loss, gaps and spaces form that only make the situation worse. A porcelain bridge, custom designed by Dr. Lawrence, keeps your smile aligned and your bite functional. Bridges are anchored to existing teeth or crowns on either side of the missing tooth. They are semi-permanent, meaning they can only be affixed or removed by a dentist and are a long-term restorative solution to your damaged smile.
Dental Implants
Dr. Lawrence can restore a single tooth or multiple teeth using a dental implant. A dental implant utilizes an artificial root made from surgical-grade titanium that Dr. Lawrence places in your mouth. Your jawbone bonds to the artificial root, creating a secure foundation for the attachment of a natural-looking porcelain crown or a bridge that is custom created for you. Some of the biggest advantages of implants are that they are more similar to your natural teeth, the adjacent teeth do not have to be involved in the procedure, and the implants help prevent shrinkage of your jawbone that can occur from tooth loss. Implants can be used to replace missing teeth in the back of the mouth, as well as the front. Few dentists actually perform both the artificial root placement and the porcelain restoration, but Dr. Lawrence is highly skilled in both procedures, giving him a greater level of precision in restoring your smile, while also offering you a more convenient treatment schedule. Contact us today to learn more.
Dentures
A proper fitting denture is very important. A good fit ensures that your dentures will allow you to retain much of your function, which is important for maintaining natural muscle tone in your face and jaw. Dentures will keep you looking and feeling healthy, and will help you retain a natural lifestyle. A genuine smile and the best possible fit are two of the primary goals that your doctor will achieve if you need dentures to restore your smile. Dr. Lawrence also offers implant-supported dentures. Compared to traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures distribute your biting pressure more like natural teeth, stimulating the supportive structures of your teeth and preventing the bone and soft tissues from shrinking away.
Partial Dentures
A partial denture will provide you with a natural-looking way to restore your smile to its original brilliance. You will be pleased with how your new partial denture restores the gaps in your smile due to the missing teeth that cannot be corrected by a bridge. Your partial denture will be removable and will be made from a synthetic material supported by lightweight metal that mimics your gum tissue and teeth to give you a beautiful new smile. The partial denture will preserve your bone structure and the integrity of your existing teeth by preventing them from shifting and tilting in towards the gaps created by your missing teeth.
TMJ
One of the advantages of visiting Dr. Lawrence’s office is that we can often diagnose and correct problems that you may not even consider being related to dentistry. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can cause headaches, neck aches, and backaches; stuffiness or pain in the ears; and, dizziness or fainting, but rarely does the typical patient think to consult their dentist when suffering from any of these symptoms. Frequently, TMJ sufferers mistakenly believe that they have an ear infection. At Dr. Lawrence’s, we have provided safe, effective TMJ treatment and sleep apnea treatment for patients throughout the Morehead City, North Carolina area.