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.  

Dental Bonding with Dr. Keith Rudolph

Of all the cosmetic and restorative procedures we offer at our office in Fairfield, CT, bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to enhance your smile. Called bonding because tooth-colored resin is bonded to your teeth, the procedure is used to repair teeth that are discolored, unevenly shaped or chipped. At our office we can even use bonding to prevent further enamel erosion and as an attractive alternative to amalgam fillings.

Bonding is achieved by applying incredibly strong resin to the tooth in need of restoration. The procedure can usually be accomplished in one visit and allows you to keep most of your tooth’s enamel, which makes bonding preferable to veneers in many cosmetic cases. Once the right color resin has been chosen for your smile, Dr. Keith Rudolph will apply an adhesive gel to your tooth or teeth to help the resin adhere. The putty-like resin is then applied to your tooth and molded and smoothed until it is in the proper shape. After it is hardened with an LED light, Dr. Rudolph will trim and shape it even more and then polish it until shines like a tooth. Altogether, the procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour for one tooth.

If you’re unhappy with your teeth but unwilling to go as far as veneers, bonding can be used to improve your smile quickly and effectively. To schedule an appointment with our office, call us at 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.   

Lumineers vs Veneers in Fairfield, CT

You have probably heard a lot about veneers, but do you know about Lumineers? If not, you should know that they can transform your smile in less time and more comfort than you ever imagined. Similar to veneers, Lumineers are hard, porcelain shells that can be applied seamlessly over your teeth. They are digitally designed to be ultra-thin and give you a beautiful, natural-looking smile.

Because traditional veneers tend to be thicker, they can require more aggressive removal of healthy tooth enamel in order to place them. Lumineers, on the other hand, are about as thin as a contact, so they require a less-invasive procedure than traditional veneers, and it usually only takes two visits to our office to get them. Additionally, since very little enamel has to be removed from the teeth to make room for the device, the procedure does not typically require shots or temporary veneers as you wait for your custom-made Lumineers to be crafted.

While Lumineers offer many benefits, Dr. Keith Rudolph recommends that they be used for minor cosmetic adjustments and not for a major makeover. If you want to extend the size of small teeth, fix minor chips, make teeth appear straighter or change the color of your smile, Lumineers are an exceptional option. However, if your teeth are especially dark or require more extensive cover up, veneers are the better choice.

To get a smile that you will love showing off, schedule an appointment with our office in Fairfield, CT by calling 203-930-1214. For more information about our practice, please visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Teeth Extractions in Fairfield, CT

If decay has reached too deeply into one of your teeth or if an infection has damaged too much of the supporting bone or tissue, you will need a tooth extraction, and in Fairfield, CT, Dr. Keith Rudolph can perform one to help you restore your oral health.

Before the procedure is performed, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the extraction site, and if it is a simple extraction, the tooth will be loosened with an elevator and then extracted with forceps. Dr. Rudolph may choose to smooth and contour the underlying bone afterward, and once he is finished, he will suture the gums.

After the extraction, it is critical to keep the area clean to prevent infection. A dry, sterile gauze will be placed over the gums to limit bleeding. You must make sure to keep it in place for 30 to 45 minutes while the blood clots. During the 24 hours after the procedure, you should not smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously or clean the teeth immediately adjacent to the extraction site. Strenuous activity, hot liquids and straw drinking should also be avoided. A certain amount of pain and discomfort accompanies an extraction, so a painkiller may be prescribed.

If you are suffering pain from decay, infection or impaction, the dentist can determine if a tooth extraction is required to save the rest of your smile. Schedule an appointment at our practice in Fairfield, CT by calling 203-930-1214. For more information, please visit www.drkeithrudolph.com. 

Dr. Keith Rudolph Uses Electric Handpieces

While you might not think to ask what type of tools your dentist is using during your procedures, the type and quality of dental tool matters, and at our practice, Dr. Keith Rudolph uses electric handpieces to provide high-quality dental care in Fairfield, CT.  

There are basically two types of handpieces used in dentistry: air-driven and electric. Electric tools, which are what we use, are much stronger than air-driven ones because a motor is used to spin the bur, instead of air. With a stronger force created, Dr. Rudolph can remove decay more quickly and cut down on the amount of time needed for a procedure. Often used to prepare teeth for restorative procedures, electric handpieces offer many benefits.

Whether you are getting a filling, crown, bridge or inlay/onlay, we are dedicated to providing the best dental care possible with state-of-the-art tools. By using the best equipment in all his dental procedures, the dentist ensures that his patients are comfortable and their oral health is well cared for.

While you may not know the difference between dental tools, you will be able to feel the difference that top-of-the-line tools afford Dr. Rudolph.

To schedule an appointment with our office, call 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.keithrudolph.com.