Procedures: Porcelain Dental Veneers, Dental Implants, and TMJ Treatment in the Hartford, Connecticut Area
Dr. Steven M. Balloch understands how important your smile is to you. It influences not only how others perceive you, but also how you perceive yourself. A beautiful smile projects self-confidence, warmth, and vitality – making you look younger and healthier. Dr. Balloch offers options such as dental implants and porcelain dental veneers at his Hartford, Connecticut -area office; when combined, these procedures can provide a comprehensive smile makeover. The best part about this approach is that we can give you such a smile in an office visit or two.
The staff also understands that a healthy and beautiful mouth consists of more than straight, white teeth. Improper occlusion (bite) is often caused by temporomandibular joint problems, also known as TMJ disorders. The staff at our Connecticut office encourages those with TMJ disorders to come in for an examination, during which time we will begin to correct the patient's alignment and alleviate any stress being put on the jaw.
We invite you to read about some of the cosmetic procedures that we offer and then to contact our office to schedule a free cosmetic dentistry exam. During this exam, Dr. Balloch will honestly discuss your options with you, showing you exactly how you can achieve the smile you have always dreamed of having.
- Porcelain Dental Veneers
- Dental Implants
- TMJ Treatment
- BriteSmile® Teeth Whitening
- Dental Bonding
- Cosmetic Dentures
- Reconstructive Procedures
- Full-Mouth Rehabilitation
- Tooth-Colored Fillings
- Porcelain Bridges
- Porcelain Crowns
- Periodontal Care
- Regular Cleanings and Oral Exams
Porcelain Dental Veneers
If you have chipped, stained, or otherwise irregular teeth, porcelain dental veneers from our Hartford-area practice are a durable and beautiful way to transform your smile. In the two decades since Dr. Balloch began his private practice, porcelain veneers have helped countless Connecticut residents to face the world with a dazzling, healthy-looking smile without having to undergo lengthy orthodontics or invasive surgery.
During your consultation, your dental goals and expectations will be discussed. Once it has been determined that you are a good candidate for dental veneers, he will take a mold of your teeth so the porcelain veneers can be made to his specifications. Crafted of thin layers of porcelain, dental veneers are custom made in Hartford labs to match the size, color, and translucence of the patient’s teeth.
When you come back to the office one or two weeks later, your dental veneers will be ready. In order to bond the porcelain veneers to your teeth, Connecticut cosmetic dentist Dr. Balloch will simply apply them with bonding cement, and cure them under a lamp.
Porcelain veneers are incredibly resilient; they are made of a material that is highly stain resistant and long-lasting. Dr. Balloch will give you the proper instructions for taking care of your new dental veneers, so you can enjoy a confident, stunning smile for years to come. To find out more about porcelain dental veneers, contact our Hartford, Connecticut-area office today.
Dental Implants
Dental implants, offered at our Hartford, Connecticut-area office, are a long-term solution to missing teeth that feel natural and are easy to care for. Consisting of artificial roots that are permanently placed into your jaw by an oral surgeon or periodontist, dental implants are completed when the patient visits our Hartford-area practice to receive an artificial tooth or bridge onto the implant. Because this tooth is matched perfectly to the surrounding teeth and anchored directly to the jawbone, you will regain the full function and feel of the missing tooth.
Dental implants have helped our Connecticut patients over the years with a myriad of dental problems. Some people are only missing one tooth, due to inherited genes or an unfortunate accident. Other patients, such as long-time denture wearers, have to wear dentures that are so loose and painful they can't even go out in public. For these people, dental implants are a life changing option. They can be used to support a full set of dentures, so that chewing, speaking, and smiling can be done with natural confidence.
To find out if dental implants are right for you, the staff at the Hartford, Connecticut-area office of Dr. Balloch would be pleased to hear from you. We can schedule you for an appointment with Dr. Balloch so you can have all of your questions answered.
TMJ Treatment
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint located directly in front of the ear where the lower jaw connects to the temporal bone. Given the complexity of this particular joint, those suffering from TMJ disorders may experience a number of different problems, including popping or clicking jaw, lockjaw, or faciocranial pain. When people with TMJ problems come to our Connecticut office, it is because they are experiencing constant, sometimes excruciating pain, affecting the ear, jaw muscles, cheeks, head, and neck. For some, simple tasks such as swallowing and talking become nearly impossible to bear.
TMJ dysfunction can result from many things, including chewing gum, stress, and chronic grinding of the teeth. Thankfully, when the dysfunction is diagnosed in its early stages, TMJ treatment at our Connecticut office is highly successful and fairly easy. Changes in diet and lifestyle may well be enough to alleviate the pain. However, in some cases, further treatment is necessary.
NTI Nightguard
Most people who grind their teeth are unaware that they are doing it. Chronic grinding of the teeth is often an unconscious manifestation of stress, affecting people both when they are awake and when they are asleep. For these patients, the NTI nightguard may be the ideal solution to their TMJ dysfunction. Available at our Connecticut office, the NTI is a small splint fitted specifically for your mouth. It is meant to be worn while you sleep to prevent clenching of the teeth, and is the only bite guard recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an effective headache and migraine suppression device. To date, Dr. Balloch and other dentists around the country have had remarkable success with the NTI, helping to reduce TMJ pain, even in those patients who had not responded to any other treatment. The process of custom fitting the NTI can be completed in a single office visit.
To learn more information about the NTI Nightguard, please click here.
If you are suffering from headaches, and/or TMJ pain, please contact our Connecticut office today. Conveniently located near Hartford, we are dedicated to finding and correcting the cause of your pain.
BriteSmile® Teeth Whitening
The BriteSmile® teeth whitening system can help revitalize and beautify your smile in just one hour. Able to improve the whiteness of your teeth by six to eight shades after a single treatment, BriteSmile® is a quick and convenient way to improve the appearance of your teeth.
Learn more about BriteSmile® teeth whitening
Dental Bonding
For patients who may not be able to afford porcelain dental veneers or have the time for crowns, dental bonding may be a good solution. Dental bonding not only delivers beautiful results, but is often accomplished during only one visit to our office. Dr. Balloch will apply tooth-colored dental resin to the affected teeth, sculpting it into the desired shape and location. After the resin is hardened with a high-intensity light, your teeth will be polished and you will be given instructions on how to keep your bonded teeth looking beautiful for years to come.
Cosmetic Dentures
Dr. Balloch partners with the best dental laboratories in the country so he can provide his patients with the highest quality, most natural-looking dentures available. Depending on the needs of each patient, he can provide both traditional dentures and dentures that are attached to dental implants. Many of his Connecticut patients are surprised to learn how far dentures have come in the past decades.
With the ongoing advances in cosmetic dentistry, dentures look and fit better than ever before. Patients who come to Dr. Balloch for dentures can be assured that he will fit them with appliances that readily restore function and beauty to their mouth. Whether you are investigating dentures for the first time, or seeking out a replacement for dentures that are years old, the aesthetic sensibilities of Dr. Balloch ensure that you will leave his office with a full set of teeth that look beautiful and healthy.
Reconstructive Procedures
For many people, the mere mention of visiting the dentist is enough to induce cringing and extreme anxiety. Perhaps they had a bad experience with a previous dentist, or are postponing dental care because they fear the possible pain that may occur when correcting the problem.
Fortunately, because modern dentistry continues to evolve, there are now plenty of options for pain-free, fast treatment of complicated dental problems. One of the most popular of these is sedation dentistry, which makes multiple or complicated procedures far more comfortable and less intimidating than ever before. Another improvement in dentistry is the overall reduction of post-operative pain and recovery time, meaning that patients are back to their normal routines quickly and painlessly. In addition, Dr. Balloch prides himself on a gentle chairside manner and will take as much time as necessary to answer any questions that you may have.
Full-Mouth Rehabilitation
Dr. Balloch is one of the rare dentists who specializes in full-mouth rehabilitation, one of the most challenging of all dental procedures. Full-mouth rehabilitation involves the restoration of every tooth in your mouth in an effort to improve your bite and relieve discomfort in the jaw. In this procedure, Dr. Balloch identifies your ideal bite and the most comfortable position for your jaw. Using this information, he creates a complete set of porcelain crowns that will be permanently bonded to your existing teeth. With proper planning, the entire process may require only a few visits, after which the health and beauty of your smile will be restored. Full-mouth rehabilitation can help to alleviate a variety of ailments, including TMJ dysfunction, headaches, soreness in the jaw, neck and back pain, and numbness of the limbs.
If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for this extraordinary procedure, please contact our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Balloch.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
In the past, all fillings were made of silver or amalgam, presenting an unattractive sight when the patient opened their mouth to talk or laugh. However, with the advent of tooth-colored fillings, patients are able to have restorative work done on individual teeth without having to worry about the appearance of the tooth afterwards. Tooth-colored fillings are durable, in addition to being attractive; many times, a small filling may last a lifetime, never needing repair or replacement.
During your consultation with Dr. Balloch, ask about tooth-colored fillings. Even if you have no new cavities, he may be able to replace your old fillings with this aesthetically pleasing alternative. Contact our office today for an appointment.
Porcelain Bridges
A dental bridge, used to bridge the gap caused by a missing tooth, is an excellent option for a person who is not a good candidate for dental implants. The Hartford, Connecticut-area office of Dr. Balloch is proud to offer their patients the option of porcelain bridges. A porcelain bridge is made of an artificial tooth that is attached to two porcelain crowns. The crowns are bonded to the teeth on either side of the gap, and carefully matched to the surrounding teeth to camouflage the appliance as much as possible.
Because it is made from tooth-colored porcelain, these bridges are very natural looking and durable; after receiving their bridges, our patients report that they are able to speak, eat, and laugh with confidence.
Porcelain Crowns
Dental crowns have been around for decades; they are an effective means of repairing and protecting teeth that have become badly damaged. Dr. Balloch specializes in newer crowns, crafted entirely of porcelain that closely matches the color and translucence of the surrounding natural teeth.
Often used to completely cover teeth that have become dangerously weakened because of decay or trauma, porcelain crowns can reinforce the tooth so that it does not have to be removed. In almost any situation, the preservation of an existing tooth is important to the integrity of the mouth and the jawbone, as well as being cost-effective.
Periodontal Care
One of the most common diseases affecting adults in the United States, approximately 80 percent of adults experience some degree of gum disease. Recent studies have shown that gum disease does not just affect the gums and other supporting structures in the mouth. Periodontal bacteria and the toxic byproducts of these bacteria can also lead to a 30 percent greater chance of experiencing a stroke and 50 percent greater chance of suffering from a heart attack. Since regular periodontal screenings and proper dental hygiene can prevent the occurrence of gum disease, Dr. Balloch encourages all of his patients to schedule regular oral exams, even if they are experiencing no mouth pain at the time.
If you are experiencing gum pain or other signs of periodontal disease, Dr. Balloch can help to restore health to your mouth. If your teeth and gums feel perfectly healthy, Dr. Balloch can help to prevent the onset or the progression of gum disease through regular screenings and gentle cleanings. Please contact our office for more information or to schedule an initial consultation.
Regular Cleanings and Oral Exams
Our staff would much rather see you once every six months for a cleaning than once every five years for a complicated restorative procedure. The best way to maintain a healthy, sparkling smile is to keep up with simple preventative measures such as brushing, flossing, and coming in to the office for regular examinations.
We can screen your mouth for potential disease and other problems, and give your teeth a professional cleaning that will supplement your daily regimen at home. Taking easy steps such as these will ensure that your natural teeth will remain healthy for many years, and that you will enjoy good dental health for the rest of your life.
Whether you are interested in scheduling a standard cleaning, or want to find out more about cosmetic procedures such as dental implants, porcelain dental veneers, or TMJ treatments, the staff at our Hartford, Connecticut area office will be happy to set you up for a consultation. Contact the office of Dr. Steven Balloch today. We are always pleased and grateful to welcome new patients to our practice.
For more information about porcelain dental veneers, dental implants, or TMJ treatments, contact our Hartford, Connecticut-area office today.
Steven M. Balloch, DDS
300 Hebron Avenue
Suite 112
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Phone: 860-266-4409
Fax: 860-633-6229
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