Testimonials:

The results are amazing!  Dr. Loewen and his team made it a wonderful experience the entire time.  I can't believe I didn't do this sooner.
....Amy, Farmington Hills, MI

Admired by both your patients and peers.  I thank you for years of gentle, competent dental care.  You're the best!
....Darlene, Farmington Hills, MI

Dr. Loewen, thank you for the gift of an amazing smile, and thanks to your amazing staff who are so caring and attentive.
....Deanna, Farmington Hills, MI

More Testimonials

Each of your teeth depends on the others to help you eat and speak.  So, when one or more of your teeth is damaged or missing, the health of the others may be threatened.  It may become hard for you to chew, or the appearance of your smile may change.  If you are having problems with one or more of your teeth, Dr. Loewen can help you decide if a Crown, Fixed Bridge or Partial Denture can help restore your teeth to their normal function.

	Can you count on your teeth? quiz. -  No pop-up option
	What is a Crown? -  No pop-up option
	What is a Fixed Bridge?  -  No pop-up option
	What is a Partial Denture?  -  No pop-up option
	Root Canals -  No pop-up option

Can you count on your teeth?©

The more yes answers you have, the more likely it is that Dr. Loewen will recommend treatment to help restore your teeth.

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A crown (often called a cap) is an artificial cover that restores a decayed or damaged tooth to its normal shape and size.  It is useful for protecting the structure of a tooth that is cracked or broken.  A crown can also be used to change the shape of a tooth, to correct a bite or cosmetic problem, or to replace existing broken or poor-fitting crowns.  A crown may be made of gold, other metals or porcelain.

Preparing For Your Crown

Your dentist prepares your damaged tooth for a crown by reducing and reshaping the tooth so the crown will fit properly.  Then an impression of the prepared tooth and of the surrounding and opposing teeth is taken.  Before you leave the office, Dr. Leowen makes and applies a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth between visits.

Between Visits

Dr. Loewen sends the impression to a dental laboratory that specializes in making crowns.  Expect to wait three weeks between appointments while your crown is being made.  Meanwhile, take care of your temporary crown by avoiding hard or sticky foods.  Floss carefully around the temporary by pulling the floss out from the side of the tooth  -- not the top.

Fitting Your Crown

Dr. Loewen replaces your temporary crown with the permanent one that has been made by the lab.  He places the crown on your prepared tooth, making sure the crown restores the tooth to its proper shape, looks good, and feels comfortable against your opposing teeth.  If necessary, Dr. Loewen will adjust the crown by modifying the shape.  Once you both agree the fit is comfortable, he cements the crown into place.

Living With Your Crown

With good oral hygiene, your crown will last longer.

1. Brush and floss around your crowned tooth thoroughly to remove decay-causing germs.
2. See Dr. Loewen regularly to help prolong the life of your crown.

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A fixed bridge can replace one or more missing teeth.  It consists of one or more replacement teeth attached to crowns that are placed on two or more surrounding support teeth.  Along with replacing teeth, the fixed bridge helps restore the normal function and proper position of your bite.  A fixed bridge is made of various metals, porcelain or a combinations of the two.
 

Preparing For Your Bridge

Your dentist first reshapes the support teeth that will hold the crowns of your fixed bridge.  Then an impression of the prepared tooth, and of the surrounding and opposing teeth is taken.  Dr. Loewen selects a color from the color guide to make sure the replacement teeth match the color of your natural teeth.  To protect your prepared teeth while the fixed bridge is being made, Dr. Loewen will fit a temporary bridge that is help in place by temporary cement.

Between Visits

Dr. Loewen sends the impression and color recommendation to the dental lab making your fixed bridge.  Expect to wait about three weeks between appointments while the lab work is being done.  Be careful when cleaning your teeth or eating, because your temporary bridge can loosen easily.  To protect prepared support teeth, let your dentist know immediately if the temporary bridge comes off or is loose.

Fitting Your Bridge

After removing your temporary bridge, Dr. Loewen places the fixed bridge onto your prepared teeth, adjusting it in your mouth.  When the fit and bite are comfortable, the fixed bridge is cemented into place.

Living With Your Fixed Bridge

With good oral hygiene, your bridge will last longer.

1. Prevent decay-causing germs by brushing and flossing - especially around the bridge.
2. See Dr. Loewen regularly to help prolong the life of your bridge.

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Dr. Loewen may recommend a partial denture if you do not have strong enough support teeth on either side of you missing teeth to support a fixed bridge.  A partial denture helps to preserve the life of your remaining teeth.  It consists of a removable metal framework with one or more porcelain or plastic replacement teeth attached.  Unlike a fixed bridge, a partial denture can be taken out.

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Preparing For Your Denture

Dr. Loewen designs your partials denture by first taking an impression of your opposing and surrounding teeth.  To ensure that the denture fits properly, sometimes the surrounding teeth may need fillings or crowns.  In some cases, oral surgery may be needed.  Depending on your particular problem -- such as missing front teeth or difficulty chewing -- Dr. Loewen may prepare a temporary partial.

Between Visits

After preparing your teeth, your dentist sends the impression and detailed instructions to the dental laboratory making your partial denture.  It usually takes between one and three weeks for the dental laboratory to make the framework for your partial denture.  If you have a temporary partial denture, Dr. Loewen will tell you how to care for it between visits after it has been positioned in your mouth.  Be sure to take the temporary partial out at night to clean it.

Fitting Your Denture

When your partials denture is ready, Dr. Loewen fits it to your mouth, checking for pressure spots on your gum, and evaluating the denture's effect on your bite and appearance.  Dr. Loewen will show you how to put the denture in and take it out, so you won't harm your natural teeth or the partial.

Additional Visits

It may take a few more visits to make sure your partials denture fits properly against your teeth and gums.  After you and Dr. Loewen are pleased with the fit, make at least one follow-up visit, so Dr. Loewen can recheck your bite and make sure your gums are healthy.  Call Dr. Loewen immediately if soreness develops.

Living With Your Denture

There are some easy steps you can take to adjust to your partial denture.

1. Practice reading out loud until your tongue adjusts to the denture.
2. Be prepared for extra saliva for the first few weeks as you mouth adjusts to having something new in it.
3. Eat soft foods at first to get used to eating with the denture in place.
4. Clean you dentures with a special dental brush every day, and soak it daily in water to keep it from losing its shape.
5. See Dr. Loewen if the denture needs adjusting or isn't comfortable.  Do not adjust it yourself; it may break.

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Understanding your teeth may help take the mystery out of root canal therapy for you.  Each tooth is covered by a tough outer shell that protects the underlying structures, and soft tissue inside your tooth helps keep your tooth nourished.  But if the soft tissue becomes damaged, the health of your tooth is at risk.

The goal of root canal therapy is to improve the health of you damaged tooth.  During treatment, the pulp is removed from your root canals through a small opening in the crown.  Then the canals are sealed with special materials to prevent bacteria from reaching your bone.  Dr. Loewen then restores the outside of your tooth so it will function properly and have a healthy appearance.  After root canal therapy, your tooth continues to be nourished by your surrounding gums and bone.

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Your treatment may take one or more visits.  Your visits may last about one to two hours.  A rubber dam (a protective sheet of rubber that covers your mouth) may be used to isolate your tooth and prevent bacteria from entering it.  Your dentist may take x-rays periodically to make sure the full length of your root canals is being treated.  If your roots are unusually shaped or there are other complications, you may need to have apical surgery.  If you need this surgery, your dentist will discuss it with you.

Cleaning and Shaping Your Root Canals

First, Dr. Loewen makes an opening in your tooth and removes any filling and decay.  Then he removes unhealthy pulp with tiny, flexible files.  Using delicate, up-and-down motions, he gently cleans and smoothes your canals to prepare them for the canal-filling materials.

Filling Your Root Canals

After the pulp has been removed from your root canals and they have been smoothed, your root canals will be filled.  Dr. Loewen may fill the canals with tiny cone-shaped pieces of gutta-percha, a firm, rubber-like materials, or use another dental material, or use another dental material.  A sealer-cement is used to seal the filling material into place.

Between Visits

If you need more than one visit for root canal therapy, your tooth may be protected by a temporary filling over a small piece of cotton.  Pamper your treated tooth: avoid foods like popcorn, carrots, candy, and sticky foods because they may loosen your temporary filling.  Brush and floss as you are instructed.  Dr. Loewen may prescribe antibiotics to fight infection or pain medication to minimize discomfort.  Call Dr. Loewen if your filling loosens or falls out, your gums swell, or your tooth is sore after several days.

Restoring Your Tooth

After the inside of your tooth has been treated, the outside will be restored, usually by your general practitioner, to protect your tooth's underlying structures and give your tooth a healthy appearance.  If you tooth needs extra support, your dentist may remove some gutta-percha and insert a post before the filling and crown are applies. 

1. A Post - stainless steel or another material, is sometimes cemented into your root canal to build up your tooth after root canal therapy.
2. A Filling - usually a tooth-colored dental material, may be used to fill the opening in the top of your tooth.
3. A Crown - usually porcelain, may be used to cover a tooth that has a large opening after root canal therapy.

Follow-Up With Dr. Loewen

After root canal therapy, your tooth should function and feel like your other teeth.  You and Dr. Loewen may schedule an appointment for a routine follow-up.  Call Dr. Loewen if you experience any problems with your treated tooth; like pain, swelling, or a loose filling or crown.

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