Are you debating whether it's worth it to replace your missing tooth? Even if the gap isn't in a visible location, failing to restore your tooth could affect your oral health. Our Somerdale and Voorhess, NJ, dentists, Dr. Joseph Sullivan and Dr. Jeffrey Turner of Sullivan & Turner, serving the Camden County area, share information on possible issues you could face and explain how replacing missing teeth with dental implants can help you avoid these problems.

What happens when I lose a tooth?

The gap in your smile is the most obvious consequence of tooth loss, but it's not the only one. Unseen changes can also affect your appearance and your oral health. Your jawbone, like all the bones in your body, is made of living tissue and needs stimulation to stay strong. Walking or running helps keep the bones in your legs strong, but your jawbone relies on a more subtle type of stimulation. Although you don't feel anything, the roots of your teeth constantly press on the bone and help it maintain its strength. The loss of a tooth eventually causes the bone to shrink.

A receding jawbone affects your mouth in several ways. When your jawbone shrinks, it may not be able to adequately support your teeth, and you may eventually lose even more teeth. Your jawbone supports the muscles in your face. When it begins to recede, the muscles may start to droop, which may prematurely age you.

The absence of your tooth may also cause your remaining teeth to change position. As teeth drift, they often overlap, detracting from your appearance and making it hard to remove cavity-causing plaque. If you've lost several teeth, you may find it difficult to chew foods thoroughly whether you visit Somerdale, Voorhess or Camden County restaurants or dine at home. You may also have trouble speaking clearly.

How can dental implants help?

Dental implants offer the only complete tooth restoration method. Dental implants, small titanium posts, are implanted in your jawbone. Once they fuse to your jawbone, they're topped with dental crowns, artificial teeth that look just like natural teeth. Your implants replace your roots and continue to stimulate your jawbone. Thanks to that stimulation, you won't have to worry about jawbone recession and the unpleasant consequences it causes.

Dental implants help you avoid the problems caused by missing teeth. Call our Somerdale and Voorhess, NJ, dentists, Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Turner of Sullivan & Turner, also serving the Camden County, at (856) 784-3440 to schedule an appointment to learn more about this innovative restoration option.

Dental implants can renew your smile, overhaul your look and leave you looking and feeling great about your teeth. However, determining whether this effective and permanent procedure is right for you can take some help from your dentist. Learn more about dental implants and what they can do for you with Dr. Joseph Sullivan and Dr. Jeffrey Turner at Sullivan and Turner Dental in Somerdale, NJ.

Dental Implants and Your Smile 
Dental implants have a huge effect on your smile. Gaps in your smile can cause you to feel as though your appearance is sub-par. Filling in those gaps with dental implants improves your confidence, leaving you feeling great and looking great, to boot. Aside from the aesthetic difference implants make to your smile, they also improve your teeth functionally. By restoring the biting surface of the teeth, chewing, eating and even speaking become easier and more effective. Implants lie within the jawbone, giving it the stimulation it requires to remain healthy and preventing the bone atrophy which occurs with a missing tooth.

Am I a good candidate for dental implants? 
Candidates for dental implants should be in good general and dental health. Implants may require general anesthesia to place the implant’s fixtures, the titanium posts which lie within the jawbone. Patients should also have realistic expectations for their results and the length of recovery time required after their placement procedure. Patients should have no signs of tooth decay or gum disease and have adequate bone volume at the implant sites to hold the implant securely in place. If there is significant bone loss at the implant site, your dentist may recommend a bone graft to rebuild the bone before placing the implants.

Dental Implants in Somerdale, NJ 
Dental implants can replace a single missing tooth, several teeth in a row or all of the teeth on an arch. Thanks to their versatility, dental implants are the most effective and permanent tooth replacement option available. For more information on dental implants, please contact Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Turner at Sullivan and Turner Dental in Somerdale, NJ. Call (856) 784-3440 to schedule your appointment with your dentist today!

Smile problems? Dental bonding can give you the beautiful smile you've always wanted. Sullivan & Turner in Somerdale, NJ, offers a full range of family dental services, including dental bonding. Here's everything you've ever wanted to know about dental bonding.

What is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is the application of a tooth-colored material using a light source, which bonds the material to the teeth to improve a person's smile. Dental bonding is used to repair decayed teeth, chipped teeth and cracked teeth. Composite bonding is also used to improve the appearance of discolored teeth and close spaces between teeth.

What Are the Benefits of Bonding?

Composite bonding can usually be done in one office visit, unless several teeth are involved. Very little tooth enamel is removed with this procedure, which gives it an advantage over options like dental crowns and veneers. Also, unless composite bonding is being performed to repair a cavity, anesthesia is not required.

Dental Bonding Consultation

A consultation with your Somerdale dentist will determine what cosmetic dental problems can be solved with dental bonding. Your dentist will conduct an examination of your gums and teeth that may involve x-rays. During your dental bonding consultation, your dentist will discuss if you are a candidate for the dental problems that bonding can correct.

Are you ready to take your smile from ordinary to extraordinary? When you're happy with your smile, it can really improve your quality of life. Call Sullivan & Turner in Somerdale, NJ, at (856) 784-3440 to schedule your dental appointment today. We believe that everyone deserves a healthy, gorgeous smile.

Curious about how cosmetic dentistry in Camden County can help your smile? Find out today!

Are you ready to give your smile the makeover it deserves? Are you tired of noticing stains, chips and other defects that make you feel less confident about your appearance? It’s amazing how much your smile can affect the way you feel about yourself. Fortunately, our Camden County, NJ dentists--Dr. Joseph Sullivan, Dr. Jeffrey Turner and Dr. Jonathan Limberakis--offer a multitude of cosmetic services to give you the smile you’ve been dreaming of.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a fast and inexpensive way to revamp your smile. Dental stains can make you appear older than you actually are, not to mention, yellowing teeth can be a bit embarrassing. But with our in-office whitening, we can instantly get smiles up to several shades whiter in just one session. If you aren’t keen on sitting in our dental chair, we won’t take it personally. We can also offer you our at-home whitening system. It will produce amazing results over the course of a couple weeks.

Dental Bonding

Another completely non-invasive and inexpensive way to improve the shape and look of your smile, this cosmetic treatment uses a tooth-colored resin that has a putty-like consistency. This resin is applied over discolorations, chips, cracks and small gaps between teeth and then trimmed, molded and polished. Bonding is painless and takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.

Dental Veneers

These wafer-thin shells are designed to mimic tooth enamel and are bonded to the front surface of your teeth to hide dental flaws. Before these veneers can be placed, about a half of a millimeter of enamel will need to be removed to accommodate the veneers.

Dental Implants

An implant is designed to take the place of your missing tooth roots. It’s surgically inserted into the jawbone in the socket where your tooth once was. Over the course of several months, the implant and the bone fuse together to become one. Once this occurs, the implant becomes a reliable and durable way to support a dental crown or other restoration that can replace one or more missing teeth.

Are you interested in getting cosmetic dentistry to breathe new life back into your smile? You’ve chosen the perfect time to do it. Call Sullivan & Turner in Camden County, NJ to schedule a no-risk consultation. Let’s talk about what we can do for your smile.

Like the rest of the body, our teeth are vulnerable to the effects of everything from the foods and medications we consume, to aging, oral hygiene habits and lifestyle factors like smoking. One of the first and most visible signs of damage to our teeth is staining and discoloration, which can range from gradual yellowing and dullness, to darker and more pronounced stains.

The dentists at Sullivan & Turner LLC in Camden County, NJ offer the most advanced and effective professional teeth whitening procedures for all types of staining and tooth discoloration.

Teeth Whitening Solutions in Camden County

The best method for whitening teeth depends on the cause and type of stain. Surface stains caused by the effects of food and drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, dark colored sauces and berries occur when the enamel wears down over time. Some stains (those caused by certain medications or trauma) develop in the dentin, the layer below the enamel. (Surface teeth whitening treatments are not effective for removing stains that result from damage to the dentin, which can typically be treated with cosmetic dental treatments like bonding or porcelain veneers).

How other people perceive us - from friends and family to colleagues and potential employers - plays an important role in our overall quality of life. A dull and yellow or discolored smile can make it difficult for us to feel confident and actively pursue social and professional goals. Teeth whitening treatments are an affordable and non-invasive way to improve the quality of our smile. Whether for an upcoming wedding, public speaking engagement or just a little well-deserved self-care and improvement, a whiter smile can make all the difference.

Find a Dentist in Camden County

There has never been a better time to get whiter teeth. For more information on professional teeth whitening treatments, contact Sullivan & Turner LLC by calling (856) 784-3440 to schedule an appointment with a dentist today.