Amalgam vs Composite Resin Fillings

Fillings are used to restore teeth that have been damaged by tooth decay.

In the past, fillings were made primarily out of amalgam. This alloy, contains mercury, silver, tin, copper, and traces of other metals. Amalgam fillings have been used for 150 years. However, disadvantages of amalgam have prompted the use of composite resin, a tooth-colored, plastic alternative.

Disadvantages to Amalgam Fillings

  • They don’t blend with your surrounding teeth because they are dark metallic
  • They can corrode and leak over time
  • They expand and contract due to variations in temperature, and this causes potential fracturing of your tooth
  • They expose your body to the heavy metal mercury, which can lead to health issues depending on the amount of exposure and your level of sensitivity

Appreciating the disadvantages to metal fillings, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans prefer using the metal-free alternative, composite resin fillings.

Composite resin fillings are made from glass or quartz filler that is added to a resin medium, making the end product natural-looking. A composite resin filling is custom tinted to match the color of the tooth in which it will reside, and it’s permanently bonded in place.

Advantages to Composite Resin Fillings

  • They look completely natural
  • They are metal-free and mercury-free
  • They are durable and can last for years

If you are interested in learning more about composite resin or amalgam fillings, or you want to schedule your dental appointment, call Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans in Reno, Nevada today by calling  775-829-7700, or visit our website at www.wagerevans.com.

Your Teeth Are Not Tools

Everyone knows that you need to brush, floss, and go to the dentist regularly to maintain a healthy smile. Avoiding staining foods and drinks and limiting your sugar intake also contribute to a healthy and attractive smile.

What you may not know, however, is that how you use your teeth greatly impacts the health and appearance of your smile.

Do you crunch on ice? Cool it!

Anytime you crunch on a hard, solid object (whether it is food or something else), you run the risk of cracking, chipping, or otherwise damaging a tooth or several teeth, your tooth enamel, or existing dental work. Ice cubes, due partially to their cold temperature, increase this risk.

Also, because of its temperature, ice can potentially shock a nerve in your tooth, causing the need for root canal therapy.

Your Teeth Are Not Tools

Do you use your teeth to rip tags off of clothing, open wrappers, open bottles, and hold things when your hands are full? If so, you’re putting yourself at risk for severe dental damage and infection. Our teeth are meant to bite, chew, help us speak properly, and help us smile- that’s it. They’re not pliers, scissors, or spare hands.

They’re also not nail clippers. Biting your nails is one on the worst things you can do for your teeth. The pressure from pulling your fingers away from your teeth can cause misalignment, cracking, chipping, and damage to existing dental work. Also, your sharp nails (which are covered in bacteria, by the way) can scratch and cut your gums, causing an open sore in your mouth for bacteria to infect. Continue reading “Your Teeth Are Not Tools”

What can dental implants do for you?

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do I need a dependable replacement for lost teeth?
  • Do I value conservative dental solutions?
  • Are my dentures loose, or do they slip?
  • Am I tired of hassling with denture maintenance?
  • Do I want to reclaim a beautiful, solid, fully functional smile?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, implant dentistry may be perfect for you.

Dental implants are replacement teeth that feature a post and a crown and imitate the feel, function, and appearance of natural teeth. Implants can replace individual teeth or secure a denture, making them the most popular restorative and cosmetic dental procedure for a multitude of patients with missing teeth.

A few facts about dental implants include:

  • 50 million Americans have lost all of their teeth.
  • ¼ of people over the age of 65 have lost all of their teeth.
  • 26 percent of adults over the age of 74 have lost all of their teeth.
  • 69 percent of adults have lost at least one tooth.
  • Dental implants have a 95 to 98 percent success rate.

If you’re embarrassed by holes in your smile or you want to achieve a beautiful, fully functional smile and a renewed quality of life, call Wager Evans Dental at (775) 800-4845 to reserve an appointment. Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans can revitalize your smile with dental implants, and the process begins at your consultation appointment at our Reno, Nevada dental office.

Dentures Can Restore Your Smile

Studies show that by age 74, 26% of adults are missing all of their teeth. Proper dental care, including proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, can prevent tooth loss. But if you have already lost your teeth, it poses a threat to your health and appearance. Without all of your teeth, you are not able to chew a balanced, healthy diet and your facial muscles sag, which can age you by decades. You might also have difficulty speaking, which can hold back your social life and career. If you still have some teeth left, the remaining teeth could shift or even be lost as well. Dentures from Dr. William Wager or Dr. Brian Evans, Reno, NV, dentists, can replace your teeth, restoring function and beauty to your smile.

Partial Dentures

If you are missing many, but not all, of your teeth, partial dentures can replace multiple teeth on the upper or lower arch. Partial dentures fill spaces between teeth so that your smile looks and functions like natural teeth. Normally, partials attach to adjacent teeth with inconspicuous clasps. Continue reading “Dentures Can Restore Your Smile”

Beautiful Dental Crowns in Reno NV

Sometimes a filling is not strong enough to repair a tooth. In cases of deep decay, chipping, or fracture, dental crowns (aka caps) can often provide stability and repair the functionality of teeth. We’re Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans, and we offer beautiful dental crowns in our Reno, NV, dental office.

After we have determined that you require a dental crown, we will choose the best option for you. We offer porcelain, metal (gold), porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns. Porcelain crowns mimic the color and opacity of natural teeth, and we will select the color that matches your teeth. Because porcelain crowns are not as strong as our other options, we place them on front teeth. In cases where teeth are under high pressure—like back teeth, or front teeth in patients with bruxism (nighttime grinding)—we will place gold or PFM crowns, which are much stronger than porcelain alone.

You will need to come to our office twice for crown placement. During the first visit, we will prepare the tooth for the crown, take dental impressions, and send the impressions to a dental lab that will make your restoration. Once we receive the crown from the lab, you will come in for a final adjustment and we will cement the crown in place.

If you are interested in dental crowns or other restorative dental procedures, please call Wager Evans Dental at (775) 800-4845. We offer restorative, preventive, and cosmetic dental services to patients in Reno, Lawton, Spanish Springs, and Sparks, NV.

Complete Your Smile with Dentures

Missing teeth can be a source of embarrassment, but your oral health and appearance may decline, as well.

Without a full set of teeth, the structure of your face is less supported, causing your facial muscles to sag and make you look older. The inability to bite and chew properly can lead to malnourishment or improper nourishment, which can lead to overall health issues. Speaking may become difficult, limiting your social interactions. Additionally, missing teeth prompt remaining teeth to shift in an effort to compensate for the gaps.

If you’re missing most or all of your teeth, you know how debilitating the condition can be. Dentures may be the best treatment option for you.

We offer two kinds of dentures at Wager Evans Dental. A partial denture replaces multiple teeth on the upper or lower arch. Partial dentures fill the spaces between your teeth so that your smile looks complete, healthy, and functions properly. Partials attach to neighboring teeth with unnoticeable clasps.

Full dentures, on the other hand, are a complete row of prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-colored base. A set of full dentures can replace all upper and/or lower teeth.

The one complaint that we hear the most about dentures is that they can loosen, wobble, or slip out of place. Over time, the ridges on your jaw will wear down from friction, which can cause your dentures to fit less securely. In this situation, dentures must be realigned and adjusted.

Adhesive creams can secure your dentures, but we suggest implant-retained dentures for the most natural and secure fit.

We’re Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans, and we recommend dentures for patients looking for a solid, reliable, and attractive smile. Call our dental office in Reno, Nevada, at (775) 800-4845 to learn more about dentures and dental restorations.

Stay Away from a Mouth Full of Metal

If you had a cavity filled when you were younger, it’s extremely likely that it was filled with a dark, amalgam filling, which were initially developed from a combination of silver, zinc, copper, tin, and mercury. Over time, these fillings wear down and can start to deteriorate. Often, this deterioration can lead to leakage, which allows you to come in contact with these heavy-metal materials, which can be harmful to your health. This leakage can also lead to further tooth decay.

Traditional fillings are dark in color and, therefore, draw attention away from your otherwise bright, white smile. To avoid these cosmetic and health problems that are associated with amalgam fillings, we use metal-free composite resin to create dependable, natural-looking dental fillings.

Metal-free fillings will protect your oral health and keep your smile’s appearance intact. If you need to have a cavity filled, we will tint the composite resin so that your restoration blends in with your surrounding tooth structure. All-white fillings bond directly to your tooth, so your restoration is durable and functions just like a natural tooth would. These fillings also allow for less removal of healthy tooth, so they are a conservative treatment option for cavities and tooth decay.

We’re Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans, and we encourage you to call our office at (775) 800-4845 to make an appointment so that we can discuss transforming and restoring your smile with all-white fillings. Wager Evans Dental, conveniently located in Reno, Nevada, serves families from Spanish Springs, Sparks, Incline Village, Dayton, Fernley, and the surrounding areas.