Dental Implants in Fairfield, CT

If you’ve lost one tooth or multiple teeth due to extensive decay, gum disease or facial trauma, we can provide you with the solution you need to restore your oral health in Fairfield, CT. Since teeth can shift out of place after a tooth has been removed, and since teeth that shift are more susceptible to disease and decay, our office offers dental implants to both restore the beauty of your smile and improve your oral health. While bridges or dentures can also be used to replace missing teeth, these options either require work to healthy teeth or are not permanent fixtures in the mouth. Dental implants, on the other hand, look and feel natural.

The first step of the implant process is to implant a titanium screw in the jawbone. This screw serves as your replacement tooth root and keeps your jaw from deteriorating or changing shape. Once the screw is in place, your jaw is left to heal around the implant in a process called osseointegration—a process that can take three to six months to complete. During this healing, you will receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

When the implant has healed, Dr. Keith Rudolph will install the abutment, which acts as the foundation upon which your permanent crown is placed. An impression is then taken of the area, and the permanent crown is custom made and adhered to the abutment to give you a new smile that looks and functions like your natural teeth.

With our help, you can achieve an attractive and complete smile with dental implants. Schedule a consultation by calling 203-930-1214. For more information, please visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Invisalign in Fairfield, CT

Straight teeth go a long way toward creating a beautiful smile, but they are also important for overall oral health. If you have crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth, correcting them can prevent dental issues from developing in the future. There are several options available for straightening your teeth, including Invisalign, and at our office in Fairfield, CT, Dr. Keith Rudolph can help you achieve a smile you can be proud of with quality orthodontics.

If you’re in need of a mild to moderate correction, Invisalign may be a great option for you. Using a series of virtually invisible aligners, Invisalign adjusts your teeth bit by bit with a new aligner used approximately every two weeks. The aligners are made of thin, comfortable plastic, and, unlike traditional braces, they are removable. This allows for convenient cleaning and eating, which mean your teeth will not experience the same discoloration and plaque buildup that can occur with metal brackets and wire. In addition, you will not have the same diet restrictions that you would have with traditional braces. You will still be able to eat all the foods you like, including popcorn, chips, pretzels, apples, nuts and corn.

Whether you’re an adult or teen, it’s not too late to straighten your teeth. At our office, we will make sure your smile is both beautiful and healthy. Schedule an appointment by calling 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Dr. Keith Rudolph Restores Patients Smiles with Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are two procedures that use the tooth structure as a base for restoration. Often called partial crowns, both inlays and onlays strengthen the tooth while restoring its shape and preventing further damage or decay. At our office in Fairfield, CT, we use these procedures to repair teeth when decay is too extensive to support a filling but not extensive enough to use a crown.

When there is no damage to the cusps of a tooth, Dr. Keith Rudolph uses an inlay for restoration, bonding it right on top of the tooth structure. Made of porcelain, inlays are both strong and natural-looking, providing an attractive solution for repairing your tooth. Dr. Rudolph uses onlays when damage is a little more extensive and repairs to the cusp of the tooth are required.

Inlays and onlays can be created at a lab out of porcelain, gold or composite resin. Fabrication normally takes between two to three weeks, and during that time, you will be provided with temporary restorations while you wait. Once they are ready, they are cemented in place.

To ensure that your teeth get the best dental care available, schedule an appointment by calling 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile with Dr. Keith Rudolph

Regular checkups and dental cleanings are a part of any good oral hygiene routine, and at our office in Fairfield, CT, we provide dental care services of the highest quality to ensure that our patients’ smiles stay healthy year after year.

 

A soft and sticky film of bacteria, plaque can build up on your teeth despite regular brushing and flossing. Because teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, which contains calcium and other substances to strengthen and protect teeth, tartar or calcium deposits can also build up over time. Dental cleanings work to remove both plaque and tartar from the teeth. If it is not removed and is allowed to accumulate, bacteria will be provided a perfect environment and thrive on the gums and teeth, which can cause cavities, infection and gum disease.

While good for maintaining oral health between dentist visits, at-home brushing and cleaning are not enough to make sure teeth stay clean; regular dental cleanings are required. We will clean and polish your teeth, leaving the surface clean and smooth. The smoother the teeth, the more difficult it is for bacteria to stick to them and the more effective at-home brushing will be.

We recommend checkups and dental cleanings every six months for optimum oral health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, call 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Bridge the Gap in Fairfield, CT

If you’ve had one tooth or multiple teeth extracted due to damage, decay or disease, it is important to have the resulting gap filled or your remaining teeth can shift out of position and become more susceptible to further decay. One way to replace your missing tooth or teeth and prevent this shifting is with a dental bridge.

Called a bridge because a prosthetic tooth is suspended between two crowns to fill in the missing space, this natural-looking tooth structure is usually made from gold, metal, alloys or porcelain to ensure a strong and durable smile that can last more than 25 years if properly cared for.

The process of creating a bridge usually takes two visits to our office in Fairfield, CT. During the first, Dr. Keith Rudolph will create abutments out of the existing teeth on both sides of your gap. This is where the bridge’s crowns will be attached. After the abutments are in place, a mold is made of your mouth for creating the bridge, which will fit and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. 

While you wait for the bridge to be fabricated in the lab, you will receive a temporary device for your convenience. Then, once the permanent device is completed, you will return to our office to have the crowns fixed to the abutments with an adhesive. The pontic is attached to the crowns to form the bridge and replace your missing tooth or teeth.

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