Restore your damaged or decayed teeth

If you crack your tooth or develop a cavity, it is important to seek out dental restoration as soon as possible. At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we can help restore your tooth before the damage gets worse. If you delay treatment, you could be looking at more serious problems. By making an appointment with your dental restoration team right away, we can examine the damage or decay before it progresses. Then we can work out a treatment plan that suits your needs. Types of dental restoration work provided at C. Patrick Gray, DDS are:

Fillings: If you have a cavity — a tiny hole in the enamel of your tooth — we often suggest a simple filling. We remove the decayed section of your tooth, and replace it with metal, acrylic or porcelain.

Crowns: If your tooth is severely decayed, or already contains several fillings, a crown may be the best option for you. Made from gold, porcelain fused to metal, or pure white porcelain, a crown covers your existing tooth to protect it and keep it looking great. A crown is typically used to:

• Protect a weak tooth from breaking or to hold together a cracked tooth
• Restore an already broken tooth or one that has been severely worn down
• Cover and support a tooth with a large filling when little tooth structure remains
• Hold a dental bridge in place
• Cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a tooth that has been endodontically treated (root canal)

Dental Bridges: A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth. Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A typical bridge consists of two crowns (one on each side of the gap) and a false tooth/teeth that fill the gap and is attached to the crowns.

Benefits of a dental bridge include:

• Restores your smile
• Restores your ability to properly chew and speak
• Maintains the shape of your face
• Distributes the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
• Prevents remaining teeth from shifting out of position

A brand new smile

Who doesn’t want a perfect smile? While few people have one naturally, almost anyone can get one with the help of a cosmetic dentist. Almost no one is born with the perfect teeth they want. Even for those who have naturally beautiful teeth, a loss of confidence can occur over time as teeth change. Cosmetic dentistry is designed to improve the appearance of your teeth. Regardless of the severity of the issue you need fixed, C. Patrick Gray, DDS, your cosmetic dentist, has a solution.

Cosmetic dentistry can fix cracked teeth, repair gaps between teeth, and even change the color, shape and positioning of each tooth in your mouth.

Here are a few of our Cosmetic Services we offer:

VENEERS
A Veneer is a thin laminate that is cemented to the front of your teeth by a cosmetic dentist. This changes the shape and color of the tooth while closing gaps.

CONTOURING
Contouring is the process of resizing, rebuilding and reshaping your teeth to help bring your teeth to a more appealing aesthetic.

BONDING
Bonding is a process specially designed for closing gaps between teeth.

CERAMIC CROWNS
Ceramic crowns have a very natural look, and are a great option for some patients.

Let's brighten your smile

Brushing, flossing and avoiding discoloring substances are all great habits. They not only keep your mouth healthy, but slow the process of color degradation. No matter how much one may try, however, discoloration is inevitable.

Despite our best efforts, the shine and whiteness of teeth naturally decays over time. Teeth become more porous and susceptible to damage and discoloration, especially with the consumption of coffee, wine and cigarettes. Teeth whitening by the use of concentrated whitening substances are a popular answer to this problem.

At C. Patrick Gray, DDS we offer Venus In Office Whitening to rapidly wear away stains in the enamel of your teeth.

We also offer take home kits for those who wish to take a more gradual approach.

A comfortable, long-term solution for missing teeth

When someone takes your photo, do you flash a big, happy smile? Or do you smile with your lips pinched together, to hide your missing teeth?

When you’re served a delicious BBQ dinner of steak and corn on the cob, do you dig in? Or do you stick to the baked potato, because your missing teeth prevent you from biting and chewing everything else properly? Missing teeth can take a toll on your life. It can also change your physical appearance. When you’re missing a tooth, the surrounding teeth shift their positions to try to fill the space, and your jawbone begins to break down — causing you to look older.

At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we’re proud to offer dental implants in Michigan as a solution for your missing teeth.

Dental implants are small titanium screws that replace your missing tooth roots. They are placed into your jawbone and take the place of tooth roots, preventing your jawbone from breaking down. Then crowns are attached to your dental implants — giving you the look and feel of natural teeth.

Straighten, align and perfect your smile

Whether you're a teenager, a young adult, or even well into your adult life, you're never too old to care about your smile. At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, braces are a great option for patients of all ages.

Have you considered braces, but aren't sure if you need them? Here's how they help you:

• Bite problems: Your upper teeth are designed to slightly overlap your lower teeth, so they can bite together in proper occlusion. If your jaws and teeth are naturally too far forward or too far back, you may have a bite problem. Bite problems can cause painful damage to your teeth if left untreated. Talk to us about how orthodontics can improve your bite.
• Crowded issues: When your teeth are properly aligned, they form a U-shaped arch. This makes it easy to brush them and floss between each one. If your teeth are crowded together, it makes it difficult to clean them properly, and that puts them at risk for decay. Some people are self-conscious about having crowded teeth, and wish their smile was properly aligned. Talk to us today about how our braces can correct crowded teeth.
• Spacing issues: If you have spaces between your teeth, the gaps can cause problems with your alignment and occlusion (bite). Spaces can be corrected with the help of orthodontics. When you’re missing a tooth, the surrounding teeth slowly shift their position in an attempt to fill the gap. After losing a baby tooth, it’s important to allow room for an adult tooth to grown in. Talk to us today about how orthodontic splints can help maintain that space.

*Not offered at all locations, please check with your individual location.

Keeping your whole mouth healthy

The word periodontal means "around the tooth". Periodontal disease attacks the gums and the bone that support the teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of food debris, bacteria, and saliva. If plaque is not removed, it turns into calculus (tartar). When plaque and calculus are not removed, they begin to destroy the gums and bone. Periodontal disease is characterized by red, swollen, and bleeding gums.

Four out of five people have periodontal disease and don’t know it! Most people are not aware of it because the disease is usually painless in the early stages.

Not only is it the number one reason for tooth loss, research suggests that there may be a link between periodontal disease and other diseases such as, stroke, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and increased risk during pregnancy. Researchers are determining if inflammation and bacteria associated with periodontal disease affects these systemic diseases and conditions. Smoking also increases the risk of periodontal disease.

Good oral hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Bleeding gums – Gums should never bleed, even when you brush vigorously or use dental floss.
• Loose teeth – Also caused by bone loss or weakened periodontal fibers (fibers that support the tooth to the bone).
• New spacing between teeth – Caused by bone loss.
• Persistent bad breath – Caused by bacteria in the mouth.
• Pus around the teeth and gums – Sign that there is an infection present.
• Receding gums – Loss of gum around a tooth.
• Red and puffy gums – Gums should never be red or swollen.
• Tenderness or Discomfort – Plaque, calculus, and bacteria irritate the gums and teeth.

Care for the whole family

At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we enjoy working with children. Let us make a visit to the dentist an enjoyable and educational experience for you and your child.

The doctors and staff at C. Patrick Gray, DDS understand that teaching children the importance of routine brushing and flossing can be a challenge. Our offices have the talent for relating to our young patients, and will teach your child the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Our doctors and staff in Michigan make learning fun, and use games, coloring books, and easy-going, friendly conversation to create an interactive and positive experience for children.

So, if you are worried about how your children will react to visiting the dentist, look no further. We work to maintain an atmosphere of calm and relaxation. This positive attitude allows us to create an environment in which children can be happy and receptive to dental education.

We'll work with you to save your injured tooth

You've probably heard of a root canal, but do you know why they’re used? Root canals are an endodontic therapy — and endodontics is a special area of dentistry that focuses on the tooth’s nerves and roots.

At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we offer endodontic treatments and therapies — such as a root canal — that can help save an injured tooth. Why would someone need a root canal? The centre of every tooth contains a pulp made up of nerves, arterioles and tissues. If that pulp becomes diseased or damaged, we can perform a root canal — removing the damaged pulp and sealing off the space for protection.

You may also need endodontic treatment if you crack your tooth, or experience another type of trauma that affects its inner workings.

Preventative care to keep your teeth healthy

When was the last time you had an oral hygiene visit? Did you know that you're supposed to have these visits twice a year, in order to keep your smile in the healthiest possible shape? It’s true. Brushing and flossing are incredibly important, but they’re not all you need to do.

During your oral hygiene visits at C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we'll begin by scaling your teeth — removing tartar build-up — and then move on to polishing the surface to remove minor stains. A fluoride treatment is also an option, depending on patient preferences.

Many patients think of these oral hygiene appointments as "teeth cleanings," but there's actually much more to the visit than that. These appointments also allow your dentist to check your teeth and gums carefully, ensuring we can catch any problems in the early stages — and then take action before the problem gets any worse.

We can ease the pain and headaches with a simple extraction

Wisdom teeth often erupt when a patient is in their late teens or early twenties. It can cause severe headaches and jaw pain. Unfortunately, it usually strikes during a time when young adults are busy with schoolwork and exams — making the pain even more unpleasant.

If you or your child is suffering from the pain of erupting wisdom teeth, we can help. At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we perform wisdom teeth extractions regularly. It's a very simple procedure, and it's ideal to perform it on young adults — usually 24 years old or younger — because their bones haven't yet become rigid.

After a wisdom teeth extraction, patients can expect to take medication for a few days to ease any pain and swelling. We suggest they stay home from school or work for 1-3 days to rest and recover after having their wisdom teeth removed.

We can help protect your teeth from harm

There are several key ways we can harm our teeth. If you grind your teeth and clench your jaw while you sleep, you're inflicting serious damage on your teeth. And if you play rough contact sports — like rugby, football, or hockey — you’re putting your teeth in direct danger by being vulnerable to hits, falls, and tackles.

Did you know you can prevent or reduce the damage to your teeth with sports guards or bite splints? At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we fit you for these custom splints and have a unique one created just for you. It will fit your teeth like a glove, keeping them protected from harm.

Bite Splints: If you're often waking up with a headache — or a sore jaw — you are probably grinding and clenching your teeth in your sleep. This is called "bruxism," and it's very common — and often gets worse during times of stress. It can leave you with chipped teeth and damaged fillings, and can even loosen your teeth. A custom bite splint cushions and protects your teeth, preventing them from grinding together.

Sports Guards: If you're involved in sports, you've probably seen your share of injuries. Your teeth can be easily damaged during contact sports — especially rugby, football and hockey — so it's extremely important to protect your teeth by wearing custom sports guards every time you play or practice.

Smile with confidence when you have dentures from C. Patrick Gray, DDS

Did you know that you don't need to live with missing teeth? At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we offer dentures — both full and partial — as an option to replace your missing teeth.

Choosing the right dentures is an important decision, and we're here to help you. There are advantages to full dentures and to partial dentures — it's all a matter of determining what works best for your lifestyle.

At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we can provide you with great looking dentures that feel secure in your mouth. You'll feel confident when you eat, speak, and smile. We can even use mini implants to secure your dentures — giving you the added security that they won't be budging.

If you snore, you may suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Did you know snoring may be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea? It's a common disorder where you have short pauses in your breathing while you sleep, and snoring is one of the key identifying factors.

The team at C. Patrick Gray, DDS is experienced with Sleep Apnea. People who suffer from this condition often feel tired all the time, because they stop breathing hundreds of times a night — and their body is waking them up each time.

Here are some of the common symptoms of Sleep Apnea:

• Loud or disruptive snoring
• Excessive daytime fatigue
• Gasping or choking while you sleep
• Headaches in the morning
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Depression
• Irritability

If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can increase your risk for:

• High blood pressure
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Diabetes
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Driving accidents
• Work-related accidents

Your snoring could be serious, so it’s time to seek out professional help.

We're your first line of defense against oral cancer

Did you know that your dentist is your first line of defense against oral cancer, and C. Patrick Gray, DDS is proud to offer oral cancer screenings? They're quick and easy – performed during your dental examinations.

During an oral cancer screening, you will be thoroughly checked for lumps, bumps and lesions that could indicate a problem. This gives us a good indication of whether or not you may be at risk for oral cancer – and if we suspect a problem, we can also perform more in-depth cancer screenings.

At C. Patrick Gray, DDS, we use an exciting new technology called VELscope Vx. It's a new instrument that's used in combination with traditional head and neck exams to detect abnormal mucosal areas that may not be visible to the naked eye — including oral cancer and premalignant dysplasia.

To learn more about our oral cancer screenings at C. Patrick Gray, DDS, contact us today. This is a serious matter, and we're serious about helping to keep our patients healthy.