An exam and diagnosis should always be performed prior to whitening your teeth. It’s important for you to be educated with the whitening process.
Whitening without dentist monitoring can cause a mismatch and may result in the need for expensive restoration replacement. Ideally, whitening should be performed prior to the other esthetic dental procedures. Dr. Matrullo will then match your new restoration to your lighter shade. At Dr. Matrullo and Associates we can treat discolored, stained or aging teeth with our state-of-the-art whitening process.

Also, teeth with defective restorations or decay should be addressed prior to whitening. Whitening agents on an unhealthy tooth can lead to severe discomfort. Whitening may cause sensitivity, especially for patients who already have sensitive teeth. We can monitor and provide the appropriate treatment should this occur.
Before And After

Before Tooth Whitening and Lumineers	After Tooth Whitening and Lumineers
Teeth whitening is the most commonly requested cosmetic dental procedure. After teeth whitening, veneers were placed on this patient’s six anterior teeth. The purpose of the veneers was to correct poor tooth alignment, cover the chipped tooth enamel, and close the spaces that were present. The result is a brighter, more attractive smile.

Our Customized Care

Our professional system is designed to fit your schedule. You have the choice of whitening during the day or overnight, whatever works best for you. Over-the-counter products will only whiten for short periods of time. We offer products that will remain active up to ten hours and will whiten teeth much faster than store-bought systems. At Dr. Matrullo and Associates, we also create a custom fabricated tray made just for you. This lessens the likelihood of sensitivity and allows for more uniform whitening.

Your Satisfaction

Your satisfaction is the top priority of our office. It is important to us that you are happy with your smile. We have the means to ensure that you get the FASTEST, SAFEST, MOST POWERFUL whitening available. We have had remarkably high results (90-95% success rate) and our goal is to make sure you are completely satisfied.

Before	After
(*Photos courtesy of Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems)

Expect crowns that look like natural teeth and feel comfortable from Dr. Matrullo. To achieve this, a number of factors are considered. These include the color, occlusion or “bite,” shape and length of both your natural teeth and your artificial crown. Any one of these factors alone can considerably affect your appearance. When the procedure is complete, you teeth will add more charm to your attractiveness – your crowing glory. Call our office at 401-943-0644 to schedule a visit with Dr. Matrullo and Associates. What are crowns and why are they used? A crown is a restoration that covers, or caps, a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. Crowns are placed for a variety of reasons. Crowns can: • restore teeth when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to provide support for large fillings • attach bridges • protect weak teeth from fracturing • restore fractured teeth • cover badly shaped or discolored teeth • cover dental implants Which material is best? Both the “look” and function of a crown are considered when choosing the materials most suitable for you. Dr. Matrullo will consider the tooth location, the position of the gum tissue, the amount of tooth that shows when you smile, the color or shape of the tooth, and the function of the tooth.

Full Porcelain Fused to Metal	Full Porcelain Crown
Full Cast Alloy Crown

Crowns are made from a number of materials. Gold alloys or non-precious alloys, porcelain or ceramic, composite resin, or combinations of these materials may be used. In the process of making a crown, the material is colored to blend in with your natural teeth. It is important to consult with Dr. Matrullo as to which crown materials are best for your specific situation.

How is a crown placed?

Before Dental Crowns	Crown Placed Over Prepared Tooth
Crown In Place

The placement of a crown is a precision procedure. Several steps are involved, and at least two dental visits usually are necessary for completion. The tooth is prepared by removing the outer portion to accommodate the thickness of the crown. If the tooth has a filling, part of the material may be left in place to serve as a foundation for the crown. An impression is made to provide an exact model of the prepared tooth. Then the crown is made based from the model.

When the finished crown is ready, Dr. Matrullo puts it in place and makes necessary adjustments. When you and Dr. Matrullo are satisfied with its appearance, the crown will be centered in place.

How can I maintain my crowns care?

When you have crowns, it is especially important to brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss or other interdental cleaners. Be sure to remove plaque from the area where the gum meets the tooth (the sulcus). To prevent damaging or fracturing the crowns, avoid chewing hard foods, ice or other hard objects. It also is important to visit Dr. Matrullo regularly. Please call us at (401) 943-0644 if you believe you would benefit from these advancements.

A bridge (also called a fixed partial denture) is a restoration that replaces or spans the space where one or more teeth have been lost. Fortunately, missing teeth can be replaced, and they should be. You can restore your oral health and your smile with a bridge. There are two types of bridges- fixed and removable. A fixed bridge is bonded or cemented into place and only a dentist can remove it. A removable bridge (more commonly known as a removable partial denture) readily can be taken out of the mouth for cleaning. Although removable bridges generally are less expensive, fixed bridges may feel more stable and comfortable. How do I know I need a bridge? A bridge helps maintain the natural shape of your face and may help support your lips and cheeks. The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older. More important, though, your dental health may suffer when teeth are not replaced. Teeth work together. When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth may tilt toward the empty space, or the teeth in the opposite jaw may shift up or down toward the space. This can alter your bite and place unusual stress on both the teeth and tissues in your mouth. Even more teeth may eventually be lost.

Immediately After a Lost Tooth

When a Tooth is Not Replaced, the Remaining Teeth Can Shift in Position

A fixed bridge is commonly cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing teeth. A false tooth (called a pontic) replaces the lost tooth. A pontic is attached to a crown (restoration that covers a tooth). Crowns, which are cemented on natural teeth, serve as abutments that provide support for the bridge.

Teeth adjacent to the gap are prepared.		The custom-made bridge is fitted and adjusted.		After adjustments are made, the bridge is cemented into place.

This patient was missing a number of permanent teeth. In addition, some of the teeth present were chipped and of improper size. An all-porcelain bridge was designed to place a tooth in the space and reshape the rest of the front teeth to restore a full smile.

How do I take care of my bridge? It is stressed to keep your remaining teeth healthy. A bridge can lose its support if the surrounding teeth or the jawbone that holds it become damaged by dental disease. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and clean between the teeth and under your bridge with floss or other interdental cleaners (specially shaped brushes as well as rubber, plastic or wooden items). The ultimate success or failure of a bridge depends on its foundation. Help keep your gums and remaining teeth healthy. Your oral health and your appearance are worth the effort, let Dr. Matrullo help you restore that. Please call us at (401) 943-0644 and learn more about the procedure.

Have you ever awakened yourself in the middle of the night with a loud clenching or grinding sound? If so, you may want to contact Dr. Matrullo and Associates to discuss a condition called bruxism.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a habit of grinding or cleaning the teeth. Clenching means you tightly hold your top and bottom teeth together. Grinding occurs when you slide your teeth back and forth over each other.

There are a few symptoms that are characteristic of bruxism. People who suffer from bruxism may or may not experience the following:
• headache
• sore jaw
• clenching or grinding teeth
• frequent toothaches
• facial pain
• worn or fractured tooth enamel
• loose teeth
• earache
• insomnia

How do you develop bruxism?

It can develop at any age, and children as well as adults can have the habit of grinding their teeth. Although the causes of bruxism are not certain, several factors may be involved. Stressful situations, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, and crooked or missing teeth may be responsible. Regular dental checkups are important to detect damage in the early stages.

If I have Bruxism, how is it treated?

Depending on what is causing your bruxism, there are recommended different treatment options. For instance, if stress is the cause of bruxism, Dr. Matrullo may recommend several ways to relax – can include reading a book, taking a warm bath, or applying warm washcloth or compress to the side of your face to help the muscles in your face relax.

Another form of treatment is wearing a night-guard to wear while you sleep. Night-guards are helpful for bruxism caused by sleep disorders, crooked or missing teeth or stress. Dr. Matrullo custom-makes them from soft material to fit your teeth, the night-guard slips over the upper and lower teeth and prevents contact between them. It helps relieve some of the pressure of grinding or clenching, which can damage delicate jaw joints.

Above, a custom-made night-guard, one of the cures for Bruxism.

The pain from bruxism can be relieved by paying attention to the symptoms, frequent dental visits and good communication. Dr. Matrullo and Associates work with state of the art technology and are always enhancing their practice with the latest technology. Contact us at (401) 943-0644 to learn more about the latest treatments Dr. Matrullo can offer you based on your dental situation.

Even if one of your teeth becomes injured or diseased, it can often be saved through a specialized dental procedure known as root canal (endodontic) treatment.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment usually involves the removal of the tooth’s pulp, a small threadlike tissue that was important for tooth development. Once removed, it is replaced with materials that seal off the root canal from its supporting structures. Even if the pulp of one of your teeth becomes injured or infected, it often can be saved through root canal (endodontic) treatment. Endodontics is the area of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases or injuries to the dental pulp.

What does treatment involve?

Treatment usually involves from one to three visits. During treatment, the disease pulp is removed. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) are then cleaned, shaped, filled and sealed off from the bone surrounding the root. In case of considerable tooth structure loss, a metal or plastic rod or post may be placed in the root canal for structural support, and a crown is usually placed over the tooth.

How long will the restored tooth last?

As long as the root(s) of a treated tooth is nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth can remain healthy. Make sure oral hygiene at home and regular dental exams are consistent to help prevent both tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.

Here’s how your tooth is saved through treatment:

1. First, the tooth is isolated from the saliva with a dam (a rubber-like sheet placed around the tooth). An opening is then made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber. Local anesthesia is usually given prior to this step so that you will be more comfortable during treatment.

2. The pulp is then removed carefully from both the pulp chamber and root canal(s). The root canal(s) is cleaned, enlarged and shaped to a form that can be filled.

3. Medication may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help eliminate bacteria.

4. A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to prevent saliva from getting into the chamber and root canals. You might also be given antibiotics if infection is present and has spread beyond the end of the root(s).

5. During the next stage of treatment, the temporary filling is removed. The root canal(s) are then filled and permanently sealed with a natural, biocompatible material, usually gutta-percha.

6. In the final step, a crown made of porcelain or metal alloy is usually placed over the tooth to restore structure, function and appearance. If an endodontist performs the root canal treatment, he or she will usually recommend that you return to your general dentist for the crown’s preparation.

An adscessed (infected) tooth caused by tooth decay.		An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
The pulp is removed, and the root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.		The pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed.
A metal or plastic rod or post may be placed in the root canal for structural support.		The crown of the tooth is then restored.