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Replacing Teeth with Dental Implants

Missing teeth is an issue people may encounter if they practice improper oral hygiene, develop tooth decay, or experience some sort of dental trauma that was left untreated. Regardless of the reason why your teeth may be missing, the good news is that there are plenty of options to restore your smile. Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your natural teeth. You can talk to Dr. Edgar Yates at Smiles By Design to see which available options work best for your needs.

A dental implant is a titanium post that acts as a replacement tooth root. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once surgically placed. After an implant becomes integrated with the bone, a special connector called an abutment, and a custom implant crown are made. This allows the restored implant to look like a tooth and also be used for chewing. After a consultation and assessment of your dental condition, Dr. Edgar Yates will create a treatment plan adapted to meet your individual needs.

Healthy gums and adequate bone support are critical to the success of dental implants. If your bone is too thin or soft and unable to support the implant, or if there is not enough bone height in the upper jaw, further procedures may need to be explored. Dental implants are known to have a long-term success rate, and many patients are even able to keep them for a lifetime providing that they are efficient with their oral hygiene routine.

If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your restorative options, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.smilesbydesign.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Edgar Yates at Smiles By Design in Atlanta, GA call 404-636-5646.

General Dentistry

A general dentist is defined as a doctor who diagnoses, treats, and manages your overall health care needs, and Dr. Edgar Yates, at Smiles By Design, does just that. A general dentist educates patients about oral health and provides treatments that improve the health of teeth and gums. Dr. Edgar Yates will work with you to develop a customized dental hygiene plan that incorporates general maintenance of oral care and tooth health.

In addition to the preventative care that Dr. Edgar Yates provides, he also performs a wide array of dental procedures including cosmetic treatments such as fillings, crowns, veneers, and also performs other restorative care including dentures and dental implant restoration. Dr. Yates’s goal is to provide a comprehensive treatment plan customized for the individual patient’s needs. In some patients, this focuses on routine dental cleanings and prevention of tooth decay. In other patients with more complex needs, the plan may incorporate a variety of restorative procedures to treat decayed, broken or missing teeth or periodontal care for patients with periodontal disease.

If you live in the Atlanta, GA area and are searching for a general dentist, look no further and give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.smilesbydesign.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Edgar Yates at Smiles By Design, call 404-636-5646.

Cosmetic Dentistry

For many years, Dr. Edgar Yates at Smiles By Design has been dedicated to helping patients achieve the smile they’ve always dreamed of. By studying the concepts of smile design and dental materials to create what could best be described as works of art, Dr. Edgar Yates offers a wide variety of treatment options to create a positive change to your teeth and smile. These days, with modern advances in dentistry, cosmetic procedures can range from a basic color correction to replacing missing teeth, and everything in between.

From subtle changes to major repairs, Dr. Edgar Yates can perform numerous procedures to improve your smile. Common cosmetic procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers, as well as enamel reshaping and contouring. These improvements are not always cosmetic. In fact, many of these treatments can not only better the health of your smile, additionally, they can improve oral problems, such as your bite.

If you are unhappy with the smile you currently have, Dr. Edgar Yates can develop an individualized treatment plan to help you achieve your smile goals. At SmilesBy Designa wide variety of cosmetic options are available to improve tooth function and improve the presence of your teeth.

If you think you may benefit from cosmetic treatment, please give us a call to discuss your cosmetic options. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.smilesbydesign.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Edgar Yates in Atlanta, GA, call 404-636-5646.

From subtle changes to major repairs, Dr. Edgar Yates can perform numerous procedures to improve your smile. Common cosmetic procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers, as well as enamel reshaping and contouring. These improvements are not always cosmetic. In fact, many of these treatments can not only better the health of your smile, additionally, they can improve oral problems, such as your bite.

If you are unhappy with the smile you currently have, Dr. Edgar Yates can develop an individualized treatment plan to help you achieve your smile goals. At Smiles By Design, a wide variety of cosmetic options are available to improve tooth function and improve the appearance of your teeth.

If you think you may benefit from cosmetic treatment, please give us a call to discuss your cosmetic options. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.smilesbydesign.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Edgar Yates in Atlanta, GA, call 404-636-5646.

Veneers

At Smiles By Design, we know that even with the best of care, teeth will become discolored over time. As people age, their enamel wears thin, and the yellow dentin underneath shines through. Of course, stains aren’t the only cosmetic issue which can be present in teeth which are otherwise functional. Many patients are concerned with “gaps” between teeth or with teeth that are “crooked” or “chipped”. These are concerns which may not be severe enough to warrant orthodontics or new crowns, but which make them self-conscious. And then, of course, there are the cases where misshapen teeth really are causing a problem with chewing or speaking, but major correctives are impossible or undesirable. Patients in all of these cases might benefit from veneers.

Porcelain is the most popular material for restorations such as new crowns and bridges. Its color closely resembles natural teeth, but it is more resilient to decay and discoloration than the plastic and glass resins which are sometimes used for fillings. Veneers are porcelain shells or facings that fit over the fronts and ends of a patient’s front teeth. These shields not only are an attractive white color, they are strong enough to provide bite function and large enough to close “gaps” and spaces and can, in many cases, change the appearance of “crooked” teeth.

During a patient’s first visit after a consultation, Dr. Edgar Yates will reshape the patient’s teeth so that there will be room for veneers. An impression is then made of the patient’s mouth, which is sent to the veneer manufacturers, who will create ceramic, custom-fitted veneers for the teeth being treated. During the second visit, the veneers are tried in for the patient’s approval. Then, the teeth receiving veneers will be treated with a mild acid in order to open their pores for bonding and to provide more surface area for a strong bond between the veneer and the tooth. This is a safe process called etching. After the patient approves the appearance of the veneers, they will be permanently attached with an adhesive which dries upon being exposed to a special light for about a minute. Finally, the veneered teeth are polished. Concerned about the etched surfaces? No worries, the etched surface is sealed and protected beneath the veneers.

Veneers may need to be replaced, over time, so patients should consider this when budgeting for their long-term dental care. They also have to be cared for through regular hygiene. However, they are a much faster way of making teeth appear straight than orthodontics, and are much less invasive than full crown restorations. Only local numbing is necessary during veneer placement, and sensitivity after placement is usually minimal, lasting a few days, at most.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Edgar Yates at Smiles by Design in his Atlanta, GA office, you can call 404-636-5646 or visit us at www.smilesbydesign.net.

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