Root Canal Diagram

Good Oral Hygiene

Tooth-colored fillings have replaced silver amalgam fillings as the filling material of choice these days. Our Westmont and Hickory Hills, IL, dentist, Dr. Frederic Mrugala, can share some information on the fillings. What are tooth-colored fillings? Tooth-colored composite resin fillings are tinted to match the shade of your teeth. As a result, they blend in with your tooth enamel and aren't obvious when you speak or laugh. When you visit our Westmont or Hickory Hills office for a tooth-colored filling, we'll remove the decayed portion of your tooth, replace it with composite resin filling, and use a curing light to harden it. Why are tooth-colored fillings used today? Silver amalgam fillings have a few limitations that tooth-colored fillings don't. Both the decayed portion of your tooth and a margin of healthy tooth structure must be removed when you receive a filling. Even though your tooth is restored with a filling, the process of removing part of your tooth weakens it. Tooth-colored fillings require the removal of a much smaller area of healthy tooth structure, which helps keep your tooth stronger. Silver amalgam fillings contain a mixture of metals that react to temperature changes. Every time you sip a hot beverage or enjoy an ice cream cone, your amalgam filling contracts or expands. Daily contraction and expansion can stress your tooth and eventually cause it to crack or even break. Tooth-colored fillings bond to your teeth and don't expand and contract, reducing the risk of damage to your tooth. Tooth-colored fillings also help you avoid noticeable discolorations. Large silver amalgam fillings tend to make teeth look dark, while tooth-colored composite resins fillings don't change the appearance of your teeth. Restore your smile with tooth-colored fillings! Schedule an appointment with Dr. Mrugala by calling (630) 963-8680 for the Westmont, IL, office or (708) 598-8363 for Hickory Hills, IL, to schedule your appointment.

Veneers don't just give your favorite celebrities Hollywood smiles, but can actually address a variety of cosmetic issues. Dr. Frederic Mrugala of Westmont and Hickory Hills, IL, explain how veneers can transform your smile. What do veneers do? Veneers don't change the structure of your teeth but cover the flaws visible in the front surfaces of your teeth. Unlike crowns, veneers don't require an extensive preparation process. If you decide to hide an imperfection with a crown, your tooth must be filed on all sides to ensure that its small enough to accommodate your restoration. When you choose veneers, only a very small amount of enamel will be removed from the fronts of your teeth. Will veneers help me? We may recommend veneers when you visit our Westmont or Hickory Hills office if: You don't like the way one or more teeth look. Smile issues, even if they're small, can affect your self-esteem. Luckily, minor cosmetic problems can be improved by attaching veneers to your teeth. When you want to keep cracks, chips, bumps, or pits under wraps or make crooked or oddly shaped teeth look more uniform, veneers are an excellent option. Years of wear and tear have had an impact on your smile. If your teeth have shortened a little due to wear or nighttime grinding, adding a veneer will eliminate the height discrepancy between your teeth. You don't like the spaces between your teeth. Although you'll need braces if the gaps are large, small gaps can be easily concealed with veneers. Your smile is dull. Veneers can brighten all of your teeth or ensure that a discolored tooth blends in with the rest of your smile.  What happens during the veneer process? After a small amount of tooth enamel is removed during your first veneer appointment, we'll make an impression of your tooth or teeth and send it to the dental laboratory that will create your veneers. When you return to our office two weeks later, we'll check the fit of your veneers and make adjustments as necessary. The final steps involve applying a special etching solution to your teeth to improve bonding and attaching the veneers with dental cement. Transform your smile with veneers. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Mrugala by calling (630) 963-8680 for the Westmont, IL, office or (708) 598-8363 for the Hickory Hills, IL, office.

Dental crowns help your smile by strengthening weakened teeth, restoring normal tooth functioning, and improving the appearance of teeth with cosmetic imperfections. Crowns can also replace missing teeth when installed with a dental implant, as well as anchor a dental bridge securely in place. Whether you wish to correct cosmetic flaws or strengthen weakened teeth, crowns can help your smile in multiple ways. Dr. Frederic Mrugala is your Westmont, IL, dentist for installation of dental crowns. What are Crowns? Crowns look like natural teeth, but actually fit over the tops of your existing teeth like a cap. Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, but porcelain tends to be a popular choice as it closely resembles the look of natural tooth enamel. Once a crown is installed, the natural tooth is completely encapsulated by it. The serves to protect the tooth against further damage or wear and tear, strengthen the tooth, conceal cosmetic flaws, and restore normal tooth functions, such as biting into and chewing food, for teeth too weak and sensitive to function without pain. Installation of Crowns The size, shape, and color of crowns are all custom matched to the patient. An impression is first taken of your teeth so that the size and shape can be tailored to be a perfect fit over your existing teeth. The color of crowns made from porcelain, ceramic, or resin can also be customized for a perfect match to your existing teeth. Metal crowns, such as those made from gold, cannot be color matched to your teeth. Once your custom crowns are ready, your Westmont, IL, dentist will apply a dental adhesive to permanently cement them in place. How Crowns Help Some patients get crowns to strengthen damaged teeth, while others get them for cosmetic reasons. Whatever the reason, crowns can help your smile in several ways. Some of the ways in which crowns help include: Improving the appearance of flawed teeth Concealing discolorations Covering cracked or chips Correcting the shape of oddly-shaped teeth Strengthening weakened teeth that have been worn down Restoring normal biting and chewing functions in weak or sensitive teeth Covering dental implants and replacing missing teeth Anchoring dental bridges in place Crowns help your smile by concealing imperfections, strengthening weak, or sensitive teeth, restoring normal functioning, and so much more. For installation of crowns, schedule an appointment with Dr. Mrugala, your Westmont, IL, area dentist, by calling the Westmont dental office at (630) 963-8680 or the Hickory Hills office at (708) 598-8363 .

Pain should never be the norm, so if you are noticing achy, painful jaws on more days than not then you may be wondering what’s going on. Our Westmont and Hickory Hills, IL, dentist, Dr. Frederic Mrugala, is here to provide information about common conditions and problems that could be leading to your symptoms and what should be done about it. Some of these conditions are more common than others. It’s important that you don’t try to diagnose and treat yourself without first visiting our Westmont and Hickory Hills general dentist for a proper evaluation. Here are some things that could be responsible for your jaw pain: TMJ Disorder This is a fairly common condition that affects how the jaw joint functions. As a result of this dysfunction, you may experience pain and stiffness when opening or moving your jaws. You may find that opening your mouth too wide can also result in the jaw locking up or clicking. Luckily, TMJ disorders often go away on their own and managing symptoms can easily be done through simple measures such as:  Icing the jaw for 10 minutes at a time Taking over-the-counter pain relievers Performing jaw exercises each day Getting a custom night guard to protect teeth from grinding and clenching Reduce stress Teeth Grinding Are you someone who grinds their teeth in the middle of the night? If so, this bad habit not only puts a lot of pressure and wear on teeth but it can also cause issues with the jaw. Teeth grinding may happen if you are stressed or you may do it while you are asleep. To prevent teeth grinding from causing dental or jaw issues it’s a good idea to talk to our Westmont and Hickory Hills family dentist about whether a night guard might help reduce your jaw discomfort and protect your teeth while you sleep. If stress is the culprit, it’s important to find an outlet to reduce your stress (e.g. meditation; yoga; therapy). In some situations, a condition that doesn’t directly involve the jaws can still lead to referred pain. This could happen if you have gum disease, a deep cavity or abscessed tooth. While the jaws aren’t impacted the pain can still radiate to the jawbone. We offer comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages in Westmont and Hickory Hills, IL. Whether you are trying to get jaw pain under control or you just need to schedule your routine cleaning, call us today to schedule your next visit.

Root Canal, Toothache

gum disease

Has it been more than six months since your last dental exam? Regular visits help you keep your smile healthy. Dr. Frederic Mrugala, your Hickory Hills and Westmont, IL, dentist, explains how you benefit from your checkups. Prompt detection of dental and general health issues During your regular dental visit, you'll receive a thorough exam and X-rays, if necessary. If your dentist detects any cavities or other problems, such as a deteriorating bridge or a cracked tooth, he'll recommend the appropriate treatment. Treating a cavity in its earliest stage prevents tooth decay from damaging your entire tooth or spreading to other teeth. During the examination, your Hickory Hills and Westmont dentist will also look for conditions that can affect your oral health, such as tumors, cysts or gum disease, or signs of general health problems. No more plaque and tartar Dental cleanings, part of every checkup, help reduce plaque and tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that coats your teeth. The clear bacterial film is particularly noticeable when you wake up in the morning and may make your teeth feel rough. Plaque combines with sugars in food to form a strong acid that attacks teeth and causes cavities. Brushing and flossing are excellent ways to remove plaque, but it's not always easy to reach every nook and cranny of your mouth. Plaque removal is an important part of the cleaning process. When plaque remains on your teeth long enough, it turns into tartar, a hard deposit that can cause gum disease. Tartar buildup pushes your gums away from your teeth, which causes pockets to form around the teeth. When bacteria grows in the pockets, a painful infection that can cause bone and tooth loss can occur. Regular visits get rid of tartar before it can cause gum disease.  Protect your oral health with regular dental visits. Call Dr. Mrugala, your Hickory Hills and Westmont, IL, dentist, to schedule your visit.