Fluoride is a mineral that helps keep our teeth protected from cavities and strengthens our enamel.

Although toothpaste, water, and even some food contain small amounts of fluoride, fluoride treatments performed by a dentist offer a much higher concentration that helps remineralize your teeth and keeps them clean.

A fluoride treatment done at the dentist’s office is simple and pain-free.

Because our back teeth are more susceptible to decay, many people request dental sealants to help protect these teeth.

A dental sealant is a liquid that is placed on the chewing surface of the patient’s molars. A special light is used to dry the surface and this helps keep them protected from decay by covering the grooves of the teeth. Dental sealants are acceptable for both adults and children and can last several years.

It is important to remember that dental sealants do not take the place of proper brushing and flossing. If you are interested in you or your child receiving dental sealants, contact Dr. Cochran’s office today.

If one of your teeth has been removed, a dental bridge may be used to replace the missing tooth.

Bridges are generally made up of two dental crowns that hold a false tooth between them, called a pontic. Unlike dental implants that are inserted into your jaw bone to hold a fake tooth, the false tooth is held in place by two crowns that are placed over the teeth on either side of the pontic.

Receiving a dental bridge is a fairly simple procedure. Dr. Cochran will begin by shaping the teeth that are receiving the dental crowns. From there, an impression will be taken of your mouth and sent to a lab where the bridge will be made to fit your mouth. Once the bridge is complete, Dr. Cochran will place it and make sure it is a comfortable fit for you.

For patients that have had complete or major tooth loss from decay, disease or injury, Dr. Cochran offers both full and partial dentures.

Dentures help restore your smile and make it easier to eat and speak.

Partial dentures are used when you have teeth that are still healthy but a majority of your teeth are missing or need to be pulled. Full dentures are used for individuals that have all of their teeth from the upper and/or lower arch removed.

Dentures can also be created to fit immediately after the teeth are pulled or once the mouth has had time to heal. If you get immediate dentures, you may need to go back to the dentist once the gums have healed in order to adjust the fit of the denture.

There are a lot of issues that can affect our teeth, from discoloration to a chipped or cracked tooth. One of the ways to restore a tooth is by using a dental crown.

Dental crowns cover the visible area of a tooth and are used in many situations, including:

• Treating discoloration
• Supporting a dental bridge
• Covering dental implants
• Protecting a broken or cracked tooth

In the past, dental crowns could take weeks or even months to be created leaving you with a problematic tooth. At Dr. Cochran’s office, we are able to create a dental crown in just one appointment with the use of a method called CEREC, which stands for “chair-side economical restoration of esthetic ceramics.”

CEREC crowns offer our patients a comfortable and exact fitting dental crown that can be done on the same day. Feel free to contact us today to learn more.

In order to restore a tooth back to its normal function after you have been treated for a cavity, Dr. Cochran offers tooth-colored fillings.

A tooth colored filling, also called a composite filling, is used to seal a tooth once the decay has been removed.

A filling is generally quick and pain-free. Dr. Cochran will numb the tooth, remove the decay, clean the tooth and then seal it with the composite filling that is made to match the shade of the tooth.