Oral Health Treatments

No matter the procedure, our office is committed to providing gentle and caring services to make your visit as comfortable as possible. The following are treatments that Dr. Cheong may recommend after a dental examination, all of which can lead to a healthier smile and help to ease any pain or discomfort that your oral health concern may cause. If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment, please feel free to call our office at 573-499-0300.

Composites

These are also known as “tooth-colored fillings”that can repair a tooth that's been damaged by cavities, or fractures. In many cases, composite fillings are a good choice of treatment because they're mercury-free, strong, and usually invisible. If you feel like your bite has been somewhat altered by your fillings, contact our office so we can adjust it.

Implant Crowns

​​​These "replacement teeth" not only remedy cosmetic concerns that come with having a missing tooth, but also help with the inconveniences of eating with missing teeth. Made from biocompatible materials, implants are essentially artificial replacements of the roots of missing teeth that connect to the jaw bone, which then serve as bases of artificial teeth. We coordinate this procedure with oral surgeons. Our patients will have implant surgery in the area of the missing tooth/teeth in the referred oral surgeon’s office. After the healing period, our office will have patients for the crown procedure. Dr. Cheong will create a natural-looking crown (the “artificial tooth”) to attach to the implant. The result is a stable, strong and realistic tooth replacement.

Extractions

​​​​​Sometimes teeth need to be extracted when the decay is too severe, there's a root fracture or periodontal disease, or orthodontic overcrowding. Wisdom teeth causing pericoronitis, pain or gum infections, also need to be extracted. Our office is committed to making you as comfortable as possible during this procedure. The most common post-op complication is dry-socket. It may occur if the blood clot does not stay in the extracted site, and it occurs easily if you smoke immediately before or after the extraction. We provide a detailed post-op care instruction on the day of extraction, however should you have any concerns or questions, please contact us.

Crowns & Bridges

It's important to protect a tooth with a full coverage crown when it has lost an extensive amount of structure. Crowns are caps made out of cast metal, porcelain or porcelain-fused metal. It is also important to replace missing tooth/teeth to prevent supereruption of the opposing teeth, tilting and shifting of adjacent teeth. It's not only aesthetic concern, but also a functional concern for better chewing. A bridge is one of the options for the missing teeth replacement.

Dentures

Dentures can be a great option for patients needing replacements for some or all of their natural teeth and surrounding tissue. Dr. Cheong offers three types of dentures, depending on the patient’s case – complete conventional dentures are removable and are placed after the natural teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed, usually taking about 8 weeks. Complete immediate dentures are removable dentures that can be fitted and worn as soon as the teeth are removed, allowing the patient to avoid being without teeth while the gums heal. However, since immediate dentures often require adjustments and re-fittings and are not considered a permanent solution, you will most likely be fitted with a conventional denture after the healing is completed. Removable Partial Dentures (RPD) are for patients retaining several of their natural teeth. It can be acrylic or cast metal.