Sealants

Although brushing and flossing are effective methods for removing food particles and plaque from the smooth surfaces of our teeth, sometimes these methods are ineffective at thoroughly cleaning the nooks and crannies in our premolars and molars. Because molars are the hardest to clean and the teeth most used in the chewing process, they are the most susceptible to cavities and decay, which is why Dr. Keith Rudolph recommends sealants soon after molars emerge when children are between the ages of 6 and 14.

Dental sealants are a thin, plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars to prevent cavities and tooth decay. The sealant is applied by Dr. Rudolph, who first roughens the surface of the molar with acid and then paints on the sealant. The sealant bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, hardening and forming a shield over the enamel to protect it for approximately 10 years.

Sealants are normally applied to children’s molars because their teeth are especially susceptible to cavities. However, sometimes they are applied on adult molars if they have hard-to-clean grooves that are causing cavities.

To schedule an appointment, call our office in Fairfield, CT at 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

CEREC Crowns

If your teeth are decayed, cracked or chipped, they can be restored with crowns, and CEREC is an advanced dental technology that can create full crowns right in the dentist’s office. Offering a variety of benefits, including strength and quick production, CEREC restorations are the first choice for dentists who have their patients’ best interest in mind. At our office in Fairfield, CT, we use CEREC technology to restore our patients’ smiles.

CEREC restorations are made of compressed porcelain, which is stronger than the layered porcelain crowns created in a laboratory. In addition to being stronger and longer-wearing, CEREC restorations can also be created and installed in only one visit, unlike laboratory restorations, which can take weeks to complete and require a temporary crown or restoration to be placed in the meantime.

The placement procedure for a CEREC restoration is easy and doesn’t require you to bite on any goopy and uncomfortable impression material. First all the decay is removed from your teeth, and then dr. Keith Rudolph shapes the tooth in preparation for the digital 3D video impression that is taken with the digital camera, which is attached to a computer screen that displays the 3D image. This allows the dentist to design the restoration in front of you. Then the CEREC machine will create a crown or restoration in about 15 minutes for the dentist to place. The entire process, from design to installation, takes around an hour for each tooth.

In less than an hour, we can design and place a CEREC crown or restoration for a rejuvenated and renewed smile. To schedule an appointment, call 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Rotary Endodontics

If you’ve had root canal treatment to save an infected tooth, it probably didn’t occur to you to ask what types of tools your dentist used. But if your dentist used the old, manual file for removing the infected tissue, the procedure may have been pretty nerve wracking. Rotary endodontic tools, however, provide a much smoother, more comfortable experience during root canal procedures, which is why Dr. Keith Rudolph chooses to rely on them to treat infected teeth in Fairfield, CT.

Rotary endodontics allows the dentist to remove the infected pulp in the inner root canal more quickly, more smoothly and with less chance of complications. These electric instruments prove to be superior to the traditional, stainless steel files in a multitude of ways since they are made of nickel titanium, which is much more flexible than stainless steel. Increased flexibility allows the tool to be inserted into the curved root canal without damaging the passageway.

The tools are also much quieter and do not produce a grinding noise like the other tools. This helps to soothe patients’ nerves during the procedure. While the manual method can adequately save teeth during root canals, rotary endodontic tools are easier and preferred by both the dentist and his patients. 

To schedule an appointment at our practice, call 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Sedation Dentistry

Between 5 percent and 8 percent of Americans avoid going to the dentist due to dental phobia, but your oral health shouldn’t suffer because of fear. At our office, Dr. Keith Rudolph offers various sedation methods to provide a safe and comfortable environment where patients can receive the dental care they need.

Dr. Rudolph can sedate patients with Nitrous Oxide, intravenous sedation or oral conscious sedation. None of these methods will put you in an unconscious state, but they will put you in a deep state of relaxation for your treatment.

The most common sedation method we utilize is Nitrous Oxide (N2O), which works very rapidly, reaching the brain within 20 seconds. To use this method, Dr. Rudolph will place a small mask over your nose and ask you to breathe normally. Within a few short minutes you will begin to feel its effects. N2O wears off quickly and without a “hangover” effect.

IV administration is another way that the dentist can sedate you. It is administered through the veins, which allows for quicker effects and less recovery time.

Patients who have trouble with needles and gas, can receive an oral sedative, like valium. This method is utilized for patients with mild to moderate anxiety since it is not as powerful as the others. It is as simple as taking an aspirin.

To set up an appointment in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533. You can also visit www.drkeithrudolph.com. 

Mini Dental Implants

Dental implants are a great solution for replacing missing teeth. However, full-sized implants cannot be used in all situations, such as in narrow spaces, and when that is the case, mini implants prove an effective alternative. Roughly half the size in diameter as conventional implants, mini implants can be used to replace smaller teeth in the mouth, as well as serve as a base for dentures.

Because mini implants are so small, often no incision is needed to place them in the gums. They can usually be inserted directly into the bone. This eliminates much of the recovery time and allows the restoration to be placed immediately or shortly after. Like regular implants, mini implants are made of titanium. However, they are one solid piece, which give them roughly the same strength as a regular implant, which is made of an implant and a separate abutment that is added after installation.

When used for dentures, four to six mini implants are placed along the gum line, and an entire set of uppers or lowers can be attached directly to the gums, which is advantageous to the patient since, unlike adhesive, implants do not shift or slip. This makes dentures more comfortable while eating, speaking and smiling.

If you want to know if implants or mini implants are the right solution for your missing teeth, schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph in Fairfield, CT by calling 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.