Teeth are strong and built to withstand biting, chewing, and constant use, but they aren't impervious to damage, whether due to injury, decay, or accidents.

Chips, cracks, and cavities can leave your teeth in disrepair, but a dental crown can fix the damage and restore the health and appearance of your teeth. Your dentist, Dr. Michael Pugh of Artistic Dentistry in Huntsville, AL, can fix your teeth in no time so your smile is beautiful and healthy.

What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns are caps that conceal and protect the damaged portion of a tooth. Crowns can repair chips, cracks, rough surfaces, the void from a cavity that can't be filled, jagged teeth, or severe discoloration.

What are the benefits of dental crowns?

Dental crowns improve the health of your teeth by protecting the damaged portion from bacterial growth and infection, which could spread to the surrounding teeth and cause decay.

Because crowns are colored and sized to match your tooth, they are undetectable, looking natural, and attractive.

Your tooth will also function better, restoring your ability to bite and chew properly and comfortably.

How is a dental crown applied?

Your Huntsville, AL, dentist, Dr.  Pugh, will begin by lightly scuffing the surface of the damaged tooth to accommodate a crown, which will be custom-made to fit snugly. The crown will be cemented to your tooth and cured so it becomes permanent. Your dentist will make any necessary adjustments so the crown is the same shape and hue as the rest of your teeth.

How do I care for a dental crown?

Your crown can be brushed like a normal tooth. Avoid especially hard or sticky foods, which could damage your crown.

Make your damaged tooth look and feel its best with dental crowns from your dentist, Dr. Pugh of Artistic Dentistry in Huntsville, AL. Call us at (256) 536-3386 to schedule an appointment.

Feel more confident smiling with the help of porcelain veneers.

Want to make drastic improvements to your appearance? If so, dental veneers may be the best way to get the smile you’ve always wanted. Our Huntsville, AL, dentist Dr. Michael Pugh can help you achieve your dream smile, no matter whether you are dealing with discolored, chipped, or slightly crooked teeth. These custom porcelain shells can work magic for your smile, giving you the set of teeth you’ve always wanted but never had. Here are the main esthetic problems that porcelain veneers could help you fix.

Shape

Many people who aren’t happy with their smiles feel that way because their teeth aren’t perfectly symmetrical. Some teeth may be chipped or uneven. Some teeth may be worn down or shorter than others due to teeth grinding. If you’ve been born with abnormally shaped teeth or you have issues with the symmetry of your smile, veneers can help to reshape all of your teeth to make them rounder or squarer.

Size

Do you have what is called a “gummy smile," where teeth are shorter than normal and your gums are unnaturally prominent? If so, you may feel like your smile is out of proportion. Our Huntsville, AL, dental team understands that this can make you feel self-conscious. The good news is that dental veneers are custom-crafted to provide you with the ideal size that you want for your smile. This can help lengthen teeth quickly and easily.

Color

While there are a variety of cosmetic options on the market that can help to remove surface stains, if you are dealing with deep stains caused by antibiotic use then these stains may not respond as effectively to professional teeth whitening. In this case, the best way to get a whiter smile may be to get dental veneers here in Huntsville, AL. These shells can be matched to the ideal shade that you want for your smile, to give you vibrant but natural results.

Alignment

Do you have a gap between your front teeth? Are your teeth just slightly off-kilter or crooked? If so, you may have assumed that the only way to fix these issues is with braces. Of course, we understand that some of our older patients may not be too keen on wearing braces. In this case, veneers may be able to give you a straighter smile without ever needing braces.

If you are interested in what dental veneers can do for you, call Artistic Dentistry in Huntsville, AL, today at (256) 536-3386 to schedule a no-risk consultation.

Is your smile making you look older than you want to? Are your teeth dull and yellow? Do you want to make your smile whiter and more attractive? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are ready for a professional teeth whitening treatment.

Dr. Michael Pugh in Huntsville, Alabama offers a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental services including professional teeth whitening to enhance your smile.

You may have tried over-the-counter whitening products, only to find they didn’t whiten your teeth enough, made your teeth sensitive, or the results didn’t last. Professional teeth whitening is different. When you choose professional teeth whitening, you can be sure of:

• Excellent results, because you can whiten your teeth up to 8 shades whiter.
• Long-term benefits, because your results can last for years.
• Safe treatment, because professional teeth whitening products have been approved by the American Dental Association.

There are many things that can make your smile dull and yellow. Aging is one of the main factors. As you age, your enamel becomes thinner, allowing you and others to see the layer underneath, called dentin. This layer is naturally yellow, so the more dentin you can see, the more yellow your smile will look.

If you drink coffee, tea, or red wine, the pigments in these beverages can give you dark stains in your smile. Even blueberries, a healthy food, can stain your teeth. If you use tobacco products, they can add layers of stains to your teeth.

The good news is, professional teeth whitening can eliminate stains and yellowing, giving you the bright, white smile you deserve. Professional teeth whitening treatment is quick, offering excellent results in about an hour. That means you can have a bright, dazzling smile just in time for a special event like a wedding or reunion when you want to look your best.

You don’t have to settle for a dull, unappealing smile when a brilliant smile is just a phone call away. It’s time to discover the magic of professional teeth whitening by calling Dr. Michael Pugh in Huntsville, Alabama at (256) 536-3386. Let professional teeth whitening improve your look by calling today.

A couple of dark and chipped teeth can ruin your whole smile. If this describes your dental situation, consider porcelain veneers from here at Artistic Dentistry in Huntsville, AL. Beautifully crafted from high-grade ceramic, these thin laminates disguise a variety of cosmetic flaws and improve tooth strength, too.

Are veneers right for you?

Here at our Huntsville office, Dr. Michael Pugh can give you sound cosmetic dentistry advice through an examination and X-ray screening. Customized to exactly fit your teeth, veneers are thin, realistically-colored, and can camouflage dental flaws such as:

• Hairline cracks
• Large chips
• Craze lines
• Chips
• Small gaps and crowding
• Tooth rotation
• Stains which don't lighten even with professional whitening
• Uneven or worn teeth

The best outcome starts with a plan

During a consultation, you will discuss how you wish to improve your smile. Dr. Pugh will then offer you options that fit your goals and budget. In the case of porcelain veneers, your dentist will take pictures and impressions and actually preview how your finished smile will appear.

A two-visit procedure

Once your treatment plan is in place, Dr. Pugh will prepare your teeth. For proper placement and bonding, porcelain veneers require tooth resurfacing—a gentle removal of a half millimeter of enamel.

While you wait for your permanent veneers, you'll wear temporary laminates. At the next visit, Dr. Pugh will remove the laminates and use a tooth-colored cement to bond the permanent veneers in place. Because your dentist carefully adjusts and positions your veneers, you'll experience a comfortable fit, perfect bite, and best of all, no dental or gingival sensitivity.

Caring for veneers

If you already have solid brushing and flossing habits, you're well on your way to maintaining your new veneers. Additionally, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recommends:

• Six-month hygienic cleanings and examinations with your family dentist
• Limiting highly staining foods and beverages
• Avoiding hard foods and biting on objects such as pencils, bottle caps, or plastic packaging

With this care regimen, your veneers can last for over ten years!

Look at that nice smile!

For more information or to arrange a consultation with your dentist, please contact the team here at our office in Huntsville, AL, by dialing (256) 536-3386.

Here at Artistic Dentistry in Huntsville, AL, your dentist, Michael S. Pugh, D.M.D, uses crowns and bridges to rebuild smile. If you have been feeling the need to improve your damaged smile, read on to see if these treatments are right for you!

What are dental crowns?

Crowns are porcelain caps that are placed over a tooth in order to restore a biting/chewing functionality and improve aesthetic appearance, especially after a restorative procedure like a root canal. They also prevent tooth cracks from worsening and can protect teeth with thin enamel.

In addition to being an individual restoration, crowns are also used in conjunction with a variety of other procedures such as bridges and dental implants.

What are bridges?

These natural-looking dental appliances are used to help patients that need to replace multiple missing teeth. Consisting of a series of porcelain crowns, bridges are placed over already-existing teeth, in order to replace a missing middle tooth. Custom-made bridges are inconspicuous and can restore the natural look and functionality of your smile.

Two types of bridges exist:

• Fixed dental bridges which are bonded to existing teeth or implants and cannot be removed
• Removable bridges, which obviously can be removed if need be, and are easier to clean.

How do you care for crowns and bridges?

• Avoid biting into ice
• Eat healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables, instead of sugary foods that decay teeth
• Brush and floss your teeth every day
• Wear a nightguard if you have a jaw clenching/teeth grinding problem
• Visit your dentist on a regular basis for a dental examination
• Have your teeth cleaned every six months by a hygienist
• Use fluoride-containing products like toothpaste and mouthwash
• Drink plenty of water to wash away food debris

Need dental work? Call our Huntsville office today

For more information about crowns and bridges in the Huntsville, AL area, contact Artistic Dentistry by calling (256) 536-3386 today!