Dentures & You

‘Dentures’ is a term that is thrown around a lot, especially in certain circumstances. Jokes about dentures falling out or being eaten by the dog are not new. However, secure and excellent fitting dentures are not made by accident, nor are they something to joke about. Dr. Judy Strutz, a Board Certified Prosthodontist in San Bernardino, California prides herself on taking the time to create dentures the right way. 

“Creating great looking and fitting dentures is a complicated procedure in that it requires multiple visits,” says Dr. Strutz. “There are also different types of dentures that can help rebuild your beautiful smile, and depending on which type you need or want, it will impact how long the procedure takes.”

From your first to your last visit with Dr. Strutz, her warm and friendly staff will greet you.  Your first visit will be an extensive exam that evaluates the health of your gums. “You do not want an appliance placed on gums that are infected,” says Dr. Strutz. “Treatment to control the infection might be the first step.” 

Once the exam is completed, and if your tissue is healthy, accurate impressions and measurements will be taken in order to allow for the proper fit of your dentures.  You may need to have several try-in appointments once they are created in order to ensure the right color, fit and shape. However, in the end you and Dr. Strutz will work together to build a beautiful, restorative smile that meets your needs.

Bonding A Tooth

 If Dr. Strutz is going to use a bond to restore a chipped tooth, she will first analyze your entire smile. She believes in a comprehensive plan to fixing your teeth, not just solving one problem at a time without understanding the cause behind the problem. After the root cause is determined she will determine the best color choice for the bond. The purpose will be to match the color of the bond to the rest of your teeth as closely as possible.

Bonding material is a hard resin that attaches to the enamel of the teeth. An etching gel will be placed on the teeth first. This gel allows for the bond to better attach to the tooth.  Then, a dental resin is placed and then bonding material is placed on the tooth and the area is shaped. You may need a few layers depending on the size of the area being bonded. Throughout the process an ultraviolent light is used to harden the bonding material. Shaping of the bonded area is required in order to make sure the occlusion / bite is correct. For example, if you had too much bonding, it would need to be taken down some to protect your bite.

This process does not take long and shortly after Dr. Strutz will have you well on your way to impressing everyone with a fantastic, restored smile.

 

Restore Your Occlusion:

Prosthodontist are able to complete a variety of restorations in order to get your mouth back in working order.   Prosthodontist attend dental school and then receive an extra years of specialized schooling. Dr. Strutz is a graduate of Loma Linda and provides extensive support to you as a patient prior to any procedure.  When you first visit her office, with a chipped tooth, doesn’t panic she will work with you to provide the best fit.

When you have chipped teeth it usually means that your bite is off. This can occur for multiple reasons. Your jaw may not be lining up correctly, so when you bite down your biting down on top of other teeth. Your jaw should be in a state of rest when your mouth is closed.

When fixing your chipped tooth, Dr. Judy Strutz, recommends first taking a look at your bite. If she spends time fixing your chipped tooth but your bite is still “off” as soon as you leave the office, your run the risk of chipping that tooth again.  The idea is to not just fix one tooth, but to assure your bite is correct as well.

Once, Dr. Strutz has completed a full exam and has determined the best course of action, she may be able to re-contour, readjust or perhaps bond the tooth.

Meet the team

Who is Dr. Judy Strutz, D.D.S.,M.S.,Ed

"Patients tell me, 'You really love what you do.' And I wonder, how do they know? But it's true. I do!" - Dr. Judith Strutz

Excellence in dentistry begins with listening, a careful co-diagnosis and then a treatment plan to establish the goals that will be achieved together. Communication and long-term personal relationships are important to us. Let us know what is on your mind and ask questions. We will help you realize an investment in yourself pays dividends for a lifetime.  We are caring, skilled professionals, dedicated to simplifying what is often a very complicated and confusing area of health care. We want all our patients to be informed and knowledgeable about their dental health care, from treatment plans and services, to insurance coverage.