Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. If you have missing teeth, Richard J. Stuart, DDS, specializes in prosthetic and cosmetic dentistry, including dental implants, for people in Indianapolis and the nearby Washington Township communities.
Replacing missing teeth with individual, custom dental implants restores your smile both functionally and aesthetically. If you lost one or more teeth to decay or an accident, call today to schedule a consultation or use the convenient online booking tool.
Dental implants are artificial teeth that look and function most like your natural teeth. Implants consist of a “root” that’s typically made from medical grade titanium. The titanium screw becomes a permanent part of your jawbone in a process called osseointegration.
During osseointegration, the titanium fuses to your jawbone, so it provides a strong support structure to hold the crown — the visible tooth part of the dental implant. Dr. Stuart surgically implants each individual titanium root into your jawbone, and once it fuses together, he adds the custom-fitted crown. Dental implants allow you to restore a single tooth or several, and you can even get a whole set of overdentures that snap into place on implants.
Dr. Stuart offers the convenience and comfort of All-on-4 dental implants. These overdentures are a full set of teeth that snap onto four implants in your mouth. You won’t need messy denture adhesives with All-on-4 implants, and you won’t have to worry about your teeth slipping out of place when you eat or talk.
In most cases, you can get overdentures in a single dental visit, so you don’t have to go without teeth. All-on-4 overdentures, like dental implants, become a permanent part of your mouth and can last a lifetime with proper care and good oral hygiene.
Because dental implants are restorations that are most like natural teeth, there are many advantages and benefits, such as:
You care for your dental implants as you would your natural teeth, too, so you don’t have to worry about special cleaning methods. Dr. Stuart designs your implants to seamlessly match the surrounding teeth, so nobody will be able to tell the difference.
If you have one or more missing teeth, replacing them with dental implants can save you from more extensive dental work in the future. Learn more about implants by scheduling an appointment online or calling the office.
Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
Knocked out teeth, chipped teeth, and loose crowns don’t always happen at the most convenient times. That’s why Richard J. Stuart, DDS, provides emergency dental services for families in Indianapolis, and the nearby areas. Dr. Stuart specializes in prosthetic and cosmetic dentistry and provides prompt emergency care when you or your child need it most.
If you or a family member has an accident and knocks out a tooth or is in severe pain, you may benefit from emergency dental services. Some common oral injuries and conditions for which you should contact Dr. Stuart’s office without delay include:
In some cases, you may be able to wait until office hours to have Dr. Stuart repair a loose filling or a chipped tooth, but if you have a tooth that was knocked out or severe pain, contact the office immediately.
If you lose a tooth to an injury or accident, try to handle the tooth as little as possible. If you can place it back in the socket and hold it there until you come to the dentist, that’s the best option. If the tooth won’t stay in your mouth or you fear you might swallow it, rinse the tooth of any debris, and place it in a cup of milk until you can get to the dentist.
If your mouth is bleeding where the tooth was knocked out, apply a cold, wet compress, gauze, or even a wet tea bag to minimize bleeding.
Depending on your condition, Dr. Stuart can offer a variety of emergency services to help you recover quickly. Sometimes, it’s best to go to an emergency room, especially if you have a severe injury such as a fractured jaw. However, Dr. Stuart performs common emergency dentistry, such as:
If you aren’t sure whether you need emergency dental services, call the friendly, knowledgeable team at Richard J. Stuart, DDS, or use the convenient online booking tool to schedule an appointment. It’s better to act promptly than to risk losing a tooth or living with severe pain
Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
Sleep apnea is a disruptive and potentially dangerous sleep disorder that affects approximately 22 million Americans. At the practice of Richard J. Stuart, DDS, in Indianapolis, Dr. Stuart specializes in prosthetic and cosmetic dentistry, and he expertly treats obstructive sleep apnea disorders with oral appliances. When you have sleep apnea under control, you help reduce your risk of heart conditions, diabetes, and a number of other serious health issues. Call the office today to schedule a consultation, or book online.
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that prevents you from sleeping soundly each night. There are different types of sleep apnea, including:
Obstructive sleep apnea
If you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), your airway becomes blocked when your tongue and soft palate collapse against the back of your throat while you sleep. This happens many times a night, and you wake up feeling tired.
Central sleep apnea
With central sleep apnea, your airway isn’t blocked, but your brain fails to signal to your muscles to keep you breathing. As a result, you momentarily stop breathing while you sleep.
Complex sleep apnea
Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
If you have a severe sleep apnea condition, it isn’t unusual to stop breathing hundreds of times each night. As you can imagine, this recurring poor sleep quality has negative effects on your health and wellbeing. It can lead to attention deficit disorders, depression, and it increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and other serious health problems.
Some of the most common signs of sleep apnea include:
If you or a family member snores loudly or makes choking sounds during sleep, it could be a sign of the disorder. Most people don’t realize how serious sleep apnea can be if left untreated. Over time, the effects of the disorder are cumulative and can lead to high blood pressure or even heart attacks.
Several different factors increase your risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. If you have a small upper airway, or large tongue and tonsils, it could contribute to the problem. Additionally, structural issues, like having a recessed chin, a small jaw, or a large overbite, also increase your risk of experiencing sleep apnea.
Other risk factors for OSA include:
Certain ethnicities tend to suffer from higher instances of OSA, too, including Hispanics, African-Americans, and Pacific-Islanders.
After a thorough examination, Dr. Stuart may recommend a leading-edge oral appliance to minimize the symptoms of sleep apnea. This custom-fitted appliance gently repositions your lower jaw during sleep to increase the size of your upper airway. It allows you to breathe more easily and minimizes airway obstructions from the soft tissue and tongue.
A sleep apnea dental appliance is usually more comfortable than using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Along with lifestyle modifications and a healthier nighttime routine, the dental device can dramatically reduce or even eliminate sleep apnea.
To learn more, call the office to schedule a consultation, or book online.
Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
Periodontal disease is prevalent in the United States, with nearly half of Americans over 30 years old having bleeding gums.Patients of all ages in Indianapolis and the surrounding communities turn to Richard J. Stuart, DDS, an expert prosthetic and cosmetic dentist, to help prevent and treat the stages of periodontal disease. If you or your children have swollen, bleeding gums, it’s best to seek professional dental treatment before the disease advances to more serious stages. Preventing periodontal disease means preventing tooth loss. Book an appointment online today, or call the office.
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition that affects your gums and soft tissue that support your teeth. “Periodontal” means “around the tooth,” and often begins as gingivitis. Gingivitis is a bacterial infection in your gums that occurs as a result of excess plaque and bacteria buildup along your gum line.
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more advanced stage of gum disease. Periodontitis often leads to decayed, loose teeth, or teeth that fall out altogether from lack of structural support. Periodontal disease can eventually destroy your jawbone, so it’s important to seek treatment as early as possible to prevent permanent damage.
If you have periodontal disease, you may experience any of the following signs and symptoms:
It isn’t normal for your gums to bleed each time you brush and floss your teeth. If you do experience frequent gum sensitivity, bleeding, and other symptoms, Dr. Stuart customizes an effective treatment plan to minimize damage and restore your oral health long term.
Without proper treatment, periodontal disease can lead to systemic infections and health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or bacterial pneumonia.
Your treatment depends on the severity of your condition. In the early stages of gingivitis, Dr. Stuart and the dental team begin with a thorough professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. They recommend how to improve your at-home dental routine to prevent a recurrence.
For more advanced stages of periodontitis, you may need a deep cleaning, root planing and scaling, and other professional interventions to remove bacteria and debris from pockets in your gum tissue. Once your gums pull away from your teeth, you’ll need to continue to with more frequent maintenance cleanings and an improved at-home oral health plan to prevent periodontitis from recurring.
If it’s been more than six months since you or your children have had a professional dental cleaning, and you have signs of periodontal disease, don’t wait to make an appointment. Call the office, or book online today.
Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
If you’re a teen or adult with crooked teeth, the thought of having a mouth full of metal braces is probably not very appealing.
Fortunately, if you live in Washington Township or the nearby Indianapolis communities, Richard J. Stuart, DDS, offers the Invisalign® teeth straightening system. As a prosthetic and cosmetic dentistry expert, Dr. Stuart provides Invisalign as an effective, discreet alternative to traditional metal braces. Are you ready to improve your smile? Call today to schedule an Invisalign consultation, or request an appointment online.
Invisalign uses state-of-the-art technology and materials to gently move your teeth into their desired position. Using a series of custom-made clear aligners, these plastic dental trays fit snugly over your teeth so you can barely notice them.
You wear each set of aligners up to 22 hours a day. They apply gentle pressure to your teeth to help them move gradually. You can remove the aligners to eat, drink, and brush your teeth, making good oral hygiene a breeze.
The Invisalign system offers plenty of advantages and benefits over traditional metal braces. First of all, Invisalign helps you have straighter teeth without metal. No metal in your mouth means less irritation from broken wires or sharp brackets.
The advanced SmartTrack® material from which the Invisalign aligners are made is smooth and clear. Nobody will even notice you’re wearing Invisalign — yet another advantage over metal braces. Invisalign is engineered for a predictable outcome, too, so Dr. Stuart can accurately determine how your teeth will move.
In most cases, when you choose Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you can get the results you desire up to 50% faster than with metal braces. Most treatments take just 12-18 months to achieve the desired results. Additionally, being able to remove Invisalign to eat and brush your teeth means you can still enjoy all your favorite foods without worry.
You may be a good candidate for the Invisalign system if you have any of the following dental conditions:
Invisalign is highly effective at correcting most common conditions that you’d otherwise need traditional braces to improve. Teenagers and adults who want to enhance their smiles without the hassle of metal braces are often ideal candidates for Invisalign, as long as you’re willing to wear your aligners 20-22 hours each day. Since the aligners are comfortable, most people have no problem wearing their aligners for the required amount of time that ensures their effectiveness.
If you’ve been putting off getting braces because you’re dreading the whole experience, Invisalign could be an ideal alternative solution. Find out if you can get a straighter, more beautiful smile by calling the office to schedule an Invisalign consultation, or request an appointment using the convenient online system.
Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
Do you shy away from cameras and try not to smile too much so as not to show the world your dental imperfections?
At the practice of Richard J. Stuart, DDS, in Indianapolis, Dr. Stuart specializes in prosthetic and cosmetic dentistry and often recommends porcelain veneers to men and women who want a more beautiful smile, without invasive dental work. Veneers are durable restorations that can correct a variety of cosmetic dental problems so you can feel confident about your smile. Call the office to learn more about veneers, or schedule a consultation online.
Veneers are a custom-made, thin, tooth-shaped layer of porcelain that Dr. Stuart fits onto your teeth. Every single veneer adheres to the outside of each tooth so the overall result is a more perfect, uniform, brighter smile. Dr. Stuart helps you decide which shade of white is best for your veneers, so your teeth look natural, yet aesthetically enhanced.
Since porcelain veneers require minimal preparation and alteration to your teeth, veneers help maintain the integrity of your natural teeth. They can actually help strengthen your teeth, and they’re resistant to stains. Veneers are a great way to permanently improve your smile and work for a variety of cosmetic dental issues.
Since veneers correct many different cosmetic dental concerns, you may be an ideal candidate for veneers if you have:
Dr. Stuart examines your teeth and discusses your options for creating a more uniform, evenly spaced, brighter smile. If you have good oral hygiene habits and a few cosmetic concerns, and you need to undergo major dental restorations, you may be a good candidate for porcelain veneers.
The process of getting custom veneers is uncomplicated and helps preserve the health of your teeth. To accommodate your new veneers, Dr. Stuart removes a very thin layer of enamel from your teeth. Next, he takes impressions, so your custom veneers can be precisely created for your teeth.
When you come in to have your veneers placed, a member of Dr. Stuart’s team first cleans your teeth with a professional solution. This removes any debris and bacteria and ensures that the veneers will bond optimally to your teeth. After the cleaning, Dr. Stuart applies each veneer one at a time, using a special dental bonding cement.
A light source helps bond the cement to your tooth, so the veneer permanently adheres. Once all the veneers are in position, you walk out of the office with a more dazzling smile. It’s that simple!
If you’d like to improve your teeth so you feel more confident when you smile, call the office to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online.
Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
Whiter, brighter teeth mean you’ll want to smile more, and smile with confidence.
At the practice of Richard J. Stuart, DDS, in Indianapolis, Dr. Stuart, a prosthetic and cosmetic dentist, offers Zoom!® professional rapid teeth whitening treatments. Choose from chairside whitening or the convenience of an at-home system. With the Zoom professional in-office teeth whitening treatment, you can have whiter, brighter teeth in an about an hour. Are you ready to have a more dazzling smile? Call to schedule a consultation or book online.
Zoom is a professional teeth whitening treatment that safely and effectively removes most common tooth enamel stains, such as ones from coffee, tea, or tobacco. The ingredients in the Zoom professional whitening treatment target these surface-level stains so your teeth appear whiter and brighter. Zoom is a noninvasive, easy way to enhance your smile after years of enjoying your favorite foods and beverages, or after having braces removed.
Dr. Stuart offers the Zoom in-office treatment or a take-home whitening system. The in-office treatment combines a whitening gel and an LED whitening lamp to accelerate the results. You can get up to eight shades whiter teeth in less than an hour.
If you opt for the at-home whitening system, Dr. Stuart and the dental team provide you with the whitening gel and custom trays. They walk you through each step so you know how to get optimal results at home. With the Zoom at-home system, you can have noticeably whiter teeth in just seven days.
The Zoom professional teeth whitening system safely and effectively removes typical stains that accumulate on your teeth as you get older. These include:
Additionally, your teeth naturally appear increasingly more yellow as you get older, and the dentin — the inner part of the tooth — appears darker. Enamel naturally gets thinner over time, wear, and exposure to certain foods, so the dentin reflects through the enamel and your teeth appear darker.
Zoom professional whitening gel gets absorbed into your teeth, so they appear whiter and brighter. Dr. Stuart ensures that your whole smile evenly whitens to a color that best matches your complexion. He recommends Zoom because of its safe, proven, effective ingredients and treatment protocol that minimizes tooth sensitivity.
Zoom teeth whitening treatments are formulated to deliver long-lasting results. If you continue to brush and floss, and minimize your consumption of dark-colored foods and beverages — and of course, quit smoking — you can enjoy whiter, brighter teeth from six months to two years.
Find out if you’re a good candidate for the Zoom in-office or at-home teeth whitening systems. Schedule an appointment online, or call the office.
Prosthetic and Implant Dentistry located in Indianapolis, IN
Restoring your smile with dental crowns and bridges not only helps enhance the appearance of your teeth, but they also help keep your mouth healthy long-term.
Richard J. Stuart, DDS, is a highly skilled prosthetic and cosmetic dentist serving Indianapolis and the nearby communities. Dr. Stuart and his dedicated dental team provide the highest standard of cosmetic dentistry, including custom crowns and bridges, in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. If you have missing, or decayed teeth, a crown or bridge might be the solution that restores your smile. Book a consultation online, or call the practice to schedule.
A dental crown is a “cap” that fits over an existing tooth or becomes the visible part of a dental implant.
Crowns can restore a damaged tooth or cover a weakened tooth after a root canal.
Crowns restore teeth that are otherwise too far decayed to be repaired with fillings or other dental restorative procedures.
Typically, crowns are made of porcelain or ceramic because these materials look most like your natural teeth.
Dr. Stuart offers porcelain CEREC® crowns so you can receive a new crown that’s made right in the office.
The CEREC machine uses a digital scan of your teeth to create your customized crown in a single visit.
Crowns can provide the support for a dental bridge.
A dental bridge is a restoration that replaces more than one missing tooth or severely damaged teeth.
Bridges are cemented into place, so they become a permanent part of your mouth.
They can attach to your natural teeth or to a dental implant and crown.
The bridge holds an artificial tooth, or several teeth, called pontics between the surrounding teeth.
There are several different types of bridges, but Dr. Stuart usually recommends fixed bridges
that become a permanent part of your mouth, rather than removable bridges that may slip out of place.
Beyond the aesthetic value of replacing missing or decayed teeth with crowns and bridges, there are many reasons to consider when you’re missing teeth. Crowns and bridges can help:
The bridge holds an artificial tooth, or several teeth, called pontics between the surrounding teeth.
There are several different types of bridges, but Dr. Stuart usually recommends fixed bridges
that become a permanent part of your mouth, rather than removable bridges that may slip out of place.
Crowns and bridges can help you avoid future, more complicated dental procedures, too. Custom-made dental crowns and bridges restore more than just your teeth; they help you talk, eat, and smile with confidence.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, don’t delay in exploring dental restoration options like crowns and bridges. Call the office to schedule a consultation, or book online today.
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