Crown Lengthening

A dentist’s first goal is always to save your teeth, which means that dental professionals have developed many dental procedures that help prevent tooth extraction. One such procedure is crown lengthening, which we use at Northland Dental Medicine in cases where decay has decimated a tooth to a point where there is not enough tooth structure left upon which to fix a crown.

If a tooth has broken below the gum line or if decay has developed underneath an existing crown or filling, crown lengthening allows a new crown to be placed rather than extracting the tooth.

While called crown lengthening, this common surgical procedure does not actually lengthen the crown. What it does is lower the gum line, and it does this by removing gum tissue, bone or both to expose more of the tooth and provide a foundation for the crown.

The procedure is performed with a local anesthesia to numb the area. When the area is fully numb, Dr. Michael Corsello will pull the gums away from the teeth and expose the roots and surrounding bone. In some cases, removing a little of the gum tissue will expose enough of the tooth for placing a crown. However, it is more likely that some bone will also have to be removed from around the roots of the teeth. After removing the necessary amount of tissue and bone, the area will be washed and the gums stitched.

Our office works hard to always protect your teeth and to provide the best quality of dental care available. To schedule an appointment at our practice in Pittsburgh, PA, call 412-453-5344. For more information, visit www.northlanddentalmedicine.com.

JUVÉDERM® and BOTOX®

At Northland Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, PA, we do more than take care of teeth. Our practice also helps patients feel truly confident with their smiles by providing facial rejuvenation procedures with JUVÉDERM® and BOTOX® Cosmetic dermal fillers.

JUVÉDERM® and BOTOX® are medications used in facial aesthetics to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe wrinkles and frown lines. JUVÉDERM® does this by filling in the lines and smoothing away the wrinkles that reside around your mouth and nose, while BOTOX® reduces wrinkles by reducing activity in the muscles that can cause them over time.

Used to rejuvenate multiple problem areas, JUVÉDERM® decreases the appearance of wrinkles and restores youthful contours. Able to remove up to two years off of patients 21 years and older, JUVÉDERM® uses hyaluronic acid, a hydrating substance that occurs naturally in healthy skin. Hyaluronic acid decreases naturally as you age and are exposed to sunlight and other factors. As it decreases, your skin begins to lose structure and volume, which creates facial wrinkles and folds, like those made around your nose and mouth.

The active ingredient in BOTOX® is botulinum toxin type A, which acts on nerve endings in muscles to prevent muscle fibers from contracting. If the muscles’ contractions are minimized, then frown lines can be temporarily reduced. The FDA-approved treatment can be used on patients between 18 and 65 years old and has effects that last for several months. It is most commonly used to treat crow’s feet and wrinkles on the nose, between the eyes, on the forehead and on the chin.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Corsello by calling 412-453-5344. For more information, visit www.northlanddentalmedicine.com.

Simplant

Whether performing regular cleanings or placing dental implants, at Northland Dental Medicine, we care about providing our patients with the best and most comfortable dental care we can. One of the ways we do this is by using state-of-the-art technology that enhances our procedures. One treatment technology we use is the Simplant system, an interactive, 3D system that determines the position of each dental implant with 100 percent accuracy. With this system, Dr. Michael Corsello is able to place each implant as precisely as possible, eliminating discomfort.

Simplant implant treatment planning software allows Dr. Corsello to access three-dimensional information that helps him coordinate every aspect of implant placement and care. By obtaining accurate information on the width and density of your jawbone, the exact location of neighboring tooth roots and the location of the nerves with Simplant, the dentist can ensure the procedure is more comfortable and more effective at restoring your smile and retaining your oral health.

With the precise information provided by the Simplant system, Dr. Corsello is able to plan the ideal location for your dental implants and achieve the best outcome. He will also be able to show you exactly how your new teeth will look before treatment even begins.

To schedule an appointment at Northland Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, PA, call 412-453-5344. For more information about our practice and services, visit www.northlanddentalmedicine.com.

Sinus Lift (Augmentation)

If you lose posterior teeth, it causes an increase in force to be placed on your remaining teeth, which can affect both your bite and oral health. This is why replacing extracted teeth is so important. Dental implants provide a long-lasting solution to filling gaps in patients’ smiles, but sometimes there is not enough room in the upper jaw for dental implants to be placed. This can be because of the position of the sinus or because of bone loss.

A sinus lift or augmentation, allows the sinus floor to be repositioned and bone added so that there is enough space for the implant to be inserted. For this procedure, Dr. Michael Corsello uses a variety of grafting materials to encourage bone to grow more quickly into the area and help stabilize the dental implant.

The bone used in a sinus lift may come from your own body (autogenous bone), a donor (allogeneic bone) or from cow bone (xenograft). During the procedure, the doctor will cut the gum tissue where the missing back teeth used to be in order to expose the bone. Then he will open a small oval window to the bone to gain access to where the sinus meets the jaw. The sinus is pushed up and away from the jaw, and granules of bone-graft material are then packed into the space where the sinus was, adding several millimeters of bone to the jaw.

Once the bone is in place, the tissue is closed with stitches and left to heal. Implants are usually installed four to nine months later while the grafted material meshes with your bone.

To schedule an appointment with our office, call 412-453-5344. For more information on Northland Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, PA, visit www.NorthlandDentalMedicine.com. 

Scaling and Root Planing

At Northland Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, PA, we strive to help our patients maintain optimal oral health and retain their original teeth. By offering scaling and root planing to treat early gum disease, Dr. Michael Corsello can restore your health and save your smile in a noninvasive way.

Periodontal disease is responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, making it critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. An infection of the gums, periodontal disease starts when a buildup of plaque on your teeth hardens into tartar and creates a suitable environment for bacteria to collect and attack the surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis, and periodontis can destroy your gum tissue, lead to tooth loss and even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone. Heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it develops into more serious periodontal disease. The procedure allows the dentist to clean between your gums and teeth all the way down to the roots in order to smooth the root structure and remove the tartar that is causing your inflammation.

The procedure is an incredibly effective and can stop the progression of gum disease before it irreversibly damages your teeth. If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or you have red, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with our office by calling 412-453-5344. For more information, visit www.NorthlandDentalMedicine.com.

Bonding

Of all the cosmetic and restorative procedures, dental bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable. Called bonding because tooth-colored resin is bonded to your teeth, the procedure is used to repair teeth that are discolored, unevenly shaped or chipped. At our office, we can even use bonding as an alternative to amalgam fillings if only a small filling is required.

Bonding is achieved by applying incredibly strong resin to the tooth in need of restoration. The procedure can usually be accomplished in one visit and allows you to keep most of your tooth’s original enamel, which makes bonding preferable to veneers or crowns in many cases. Once the right color resin has been chosen for your smile, Dr. Michael Corsello will slightly abrade your teeth to roughen the surface. Then a conditioning liquid is applied to help the resin adhere. The putty-like resin is then applied to your tooth and molded and smoothed until it is in the proper shape. It is hardened with an ultraviolet light or laser. After the bonding material has hardened, Dr. Corsello will trim and shape it even more and then polish it until it shines like a tooth. Altogether, the procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour for one tooth.

If you’re unhappy with your teeth but unwilling to go as far as veneers, bonding can be used to improve your smile quickly and effectively. The schedule an appointment with Northland Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, PA, call us at 412-453-5344. For more information, visit www.NorthlandDentalMedicine.com.

VIP Amentities

Our goal is to keep you happy and healthy! At Northland Dental Medicine, we are always looking for ways to improve our patient’s experience. Our office is completely state-of-the-art and offers amenities that no other dental practice in the area can offer. 

 

Not only is our staff extremely well trained, our facility has some of the most recent technological advances ready and waiting for your next appointment. We offer the following amenities at our Pittsburgh, PA practice:

• Fresh juices & warm beverages
• CEREC – 1 hour premium ceramic restorations with no additional cost
• Emergency care access – free to our regular patients
• Implant placement with complete surgical and prosthetic care in one office
• Digital X-Ray & CT Scans with low, low radiation exposure and handheld units available
• Online registration, hygiene scheduling, e-account review & payment, & more
• Video entertainment in every room
• Rewards for your thoughtful referrals

When it comes to your comfort, especially during your procedure, we do whatever we can to facilitate your needs. One of the best amenities we offer at Northland Dental Medicine is known as "the chair." Our patients are offered a serene escape with a relaxing massage, while lumbar heat warms muscles for further relaxation. Personal preferences are easily adjusted with your remote control. Call today to schedule your appointment! 

Inlays/Onlays

At Northland Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Michael Corsello wants to provide you with options when it comes to repairing damaged teeth. Since each everyone’s dental needs are different, the best treatment for one patient may not be the best treatment for another.  That’s why we provide options for replacing teeth damaged by decay or injury.

 

Inlays/onlays are used to repair a tooth that has been damaged by decay or injury. These molded dental prosthetics are applied to the damaged tooth, preserving its structure and the health of your smile. Some advantages of an inlay/onlay are it often covers less area of a tooth than a traditional filling. This means more of the natural tooth is preserved. In addition, inlays/onlays fit precisely, which reduces the amount of bacteria that can get between gaps or spaces. Inlays/onlays are also stronger than traditional fillings and tend to last longer.

 

Dr. Corsello will be happy to discuss inlays/onlays with you and help you decide what works best for you. For more information or to schedule an appointment call us at 412-453-5344!

TMJ

If you regularly experience morning migraines, swollen cheeks and sore jaw muscles, they could be caused by a condition known as TMJ. TMJ occurs when night grinding, stress or injury put a lot of pressure on the temporomandibular joint.  Fortunately, this common condition can be easily fixed. 

 

Patients that visit our office can find relief with custom night guards that reduce pressure on the affected joint.  In addition to the long term relief that night guards provide, you can take a few steps to relieve pressure at home:

• Eat soft foods
•  Avoid chewing gum
• Perform exercises that stretch and strengthen the jaw muscles
• Apply heat or ice to temporarily relieve pain

For long term relief from TMJ, visit us at Northland Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, PA where we can better diagnose any issues.  We look forward to helping all of our patients better their dental health and find relief from your pain.