A filling is a great solution for repairing a little cavity, but when the cavity is not so little fillings aren't such a great solution. The tooth may be weakened, and it will need to be protected. In some cases, the amount of missing tooth material is too large for a simple filling to recreate the natural shape effectively. In these situations, crowns are needed. 


A dental crown covers most of the tooth structure, strengthening it and restoring the appearance. Our crowns are made of porcelain, which is considered the ideal material for restoring teeth. It is the same color as teeth and has the same refractive index, which means porcelain is lustrous and slightly shiny just like a tooth. It is also very durable because it has the same hardness as teeth. Basically, we take out what is bad and replace it with porcelain. It will still look, function, and feel, like a tooth.​

A crown is particularly suitable for a cracked tooth. They protect it from impact, so a cracked tooth doesn't turn into a broken tooth. They also keep bacteria from entering the crack and causing infection. This problem is especially common with old silver (amalgam) fillings.


Heat makes metal expand. It also makes tooth material expand, but not as fast. Every time you eat something hot, your silver filling is putting pressure on your tooth from the inside. Over time, tiny cracks develop and turn into big cracks. Eventually, part of the tooth can just break off unless the filling is removed and the tooth is crowned. We check every new patient for fractures around fillings. We use an intra-oral camera so that you can see the damage for yourself.

With CEREC technology, crowns may be fabricated right here in our office in one visit. The quality and durability of same day crowns is excellent, and they look wonderful. You're only one appointment away from restoring your healthy, beautiful smile!

If you have fractures, decay, or old fillings wreaking havoc with your teeth, call Social Circle Dental at (770) 464-1900 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones.

Complete dentures are not just for older patients as some people think. Decay, gum disease, and of course injury, can happen at any age, and young people sometimes need dentures. Whatever your age, dentures don't have to look fake or be uncomfortable. We work with a great laboratory, and most of our patients are delighted with the way their dentures look and feel. Modern materials look more realistic, and we have complete control over the coloring.


You can have a brilliant white, or a more subtle, natural looking shade. Our friendly assistant will chat with you to find out what you are looking for, and help you choose the best shade. Some dentists try to match the color with the patient's age. Teeth naturally darken over time, so they think, "If you still had your natural teeth, how light or dark would they be?"  This method doesn't work anymore. With today's cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening, sparkling, youthful smiles are not just for kids anymore!


Dr. Jones doesn't compromise quality to rush through the process. He takes the time for extra steps like creating a model denture with the teeth set in wax. You can try it on, and see how it feels and how it looks. Dr. Jones can check the technical issues like jaw alignment. When you and the doctor are happy with wax denture, a permanent one will be created.


Don't let missing teeth keep you from having a beautiful, comfortable, healthy smile. Call (770) 464-1900 today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Jones.

We have several types of whitening gel available because every patient is different. Dr. Jones will choose the best one, depending on what type of stains you have, and what you are hoping to achieve. We will explain how to use the whitening system, and ask you to call us if you have any questions or problems. With our gentle system sensitivity rarely occurs, but if it does happen, just give us a call. We have some special gels, designed for just this situation.


Your brighter smile may last from several months to a year or more. This depends largely on your lifestyle and eating habits. Drinking through a straw, good oral hygiene, and regular dental visits help teeth stay bright. Things like tobacco, red wine, coffee, and tea will make your teeth darken faster. With our convenient, gentle system, you can keep your trays, and some gel on hand. Whenever your teeth start looking dingy, you can do a touch-up without even coming to the office.


If you want to see a healthy, sparkling white smile in the mirror every morning, call Social Circle Dental at (770) 464-1900 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones.

We reversed FDA’s policy!  With your help, we’ll do more!
 
Dear Friends,
 
Kicking off Mercury-Free Dentistry Week with an interview of yours truly, Dr. Joseph Mercola puts $150,000 on the table, offering to match all donations to Consumers for Dental Choice this week. 
 
Dr. Mercola takes this generous step because he’s impressed by how we reversed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decades-old position favoring amalgam use.  (As a former federal and state public official when I was in my 20s and 30s, I can’t overemphasize the challenge of – and the high odds against – persuading a government agency to change course).  
 
Now FDA advises to end amalgam use for broad categories of Americans, a number clearly exceeding 100,000,000 people, including: 

• Pregnant women, women who are planning to become pregnant, and nursing women: This includes over 75 million women of childbearing age. 

• Children, especially those younger than six years of age: America has about 73 million children, accounting for about 22% of the population.

• People with pre-existing neurological disease: FDA specifically lists multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease as examples, but a multitude of neurological diseases and disorders exist – ranging from learning disabilities to epilepsy. 

• People with impaired kidney function: About 15% of the adult American population (more than 1 in 7 adults) is affected by kidney disease.

• People with known heightened sensitivity (allergy) to mercury or other components of amalgam: Even beyond mercury, which is known to be toxic for everyone, amalgam’s other ingredients – like silver – can also cause problems for some people.

Consumers for Dental Choice salutes this first step toward protecting the public from amalgam, but more importantly we are using it as a springboard to call for more action at FDA….
 
First, we urged FDA to double down on getting its new message directly to consumers.  FDA released infographics illustrating its new amalgam recommendations in both English and (at our request) Spanish. 
 
Second, we mobilized the grassroots to respond when FDA asked for public comment on how to communicate the long-term health risks of medical devices like amalgam. Here’s a shout-out to all who submitted comments and the 51 dentists and other health professionals who signed onto our letter urging FDA to take specific – and effective – action. Thanks!   
 
Third, we emphasize that many people do not realize they belong to the high-risk populations who FDA says should avoid amalgam.  For example, many women do not know they are pregnant early in their pregnancy and 90% of people with kidney disease don't know they have it.  So the best way to avoid amalgam use in these high-risk populations is to not use amalgam for anybody.
 
To keep our effective and efficient 501(c)(3) non-profit group going – with our FDA campaign and beyond – Dr. Mercola matches every dollar you give this week up to $150,000.   You’ve seen us beat the odds time and time again – in the states, in Washington, and in the international arena.  The stakes are now the highest they’ve been.  Please step up!
 
Donate online at https://www.toxicteeth.org/donate.aspx
 
or
 
Send a check to Consumers for Dental Choice, 316 F St, N.E., Suite 210, Washington DC 20002
 
Thank you for your support.

When it comes to weighing the cost factors of dentures, you may have asked yourself, "Can I afford them?" Social Circle, GA dentist Dr. Jones and the team at his office do all they can to ensure denture treatment is affordable. The equally important question to ask is, "Can I afford not to have dentures?" Dr. Jones will explain the cost factors of dentures and the importance of seeking treatment for tooth loss. 


Explaining the cost factors of dentures


It is important to check your dental insurance plan because most providers cover some to all of the costs of dentures. The type of dental materials used is one of the factors included in the treatment cost. Additional procedures can increase the overall price of dentures. Regardless of the type of treatment, our team is always available to assist you with insurance coverage questions.

Meeting the unique needs of patients with dentures


Just as we do all we can to meet the individual financial needs of patients, we provide various treatment options to meet patients' needs. We provide partial and full dentures to restore health and beauty to the smile. Partial dentures can replace one or more missing teeth. Full dentures can replace an arch of lower or upper teeth or both arches of teeth. With either type, patients can enjoy restored ability to speak and eat the foods they love.


The importance of seeking treatment for tooth loss


When tooth loss is untreated, several issues can develop. Teeth can shift into gaps from missing teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease may develop. Patients can experience difficulty pronouncing certain words. They also may have to eat softer foods due to tooth loss. In severe situations, the gums may begin to shrink. As a result, the facial structure can collapse. 


Ask yourself, again, if you can afford to live with tooth loss. The answer is most likely, "no." Tooth loss can be detrimental to your physical as well as emotional health and wellbeing. It can cause embarrassment and affect your self-esteem. Fortunately, you do not have to live this way. Dr. Jones can help. Schedule a consultation appointment with him by calling 770-464-1900. 

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According to the dictionary, a crown is the highest part of something or a circular ornamental headdress. Either definition gives you an idea of the appearance of a dental crown. It is a cap fabricated from a strong material. A crown encircles a tooth, covering the portion that shows above the gum line. While materials and techniques continue to improve, crowns have been around for a long time because they are sound, reliable dentistry. Let's take a look some of the situations where Dr. Don Jones of Social Circle Dental might recommend crowns to patients in the Covington area. 


For strength, support, and protection
When a tooth is cracked, has a large area of decay, or has required root canal therapy its structure becomes weakened. A crown holds the tooth together, providing the support needed for biting and chewing, and affords protection from further damage. 


For restoration
A crown is shaped just like a natural tooth. It reinstates appearance and chewing function for a tooth that has broken off or is severely worn down. A crown is a good solution for a decayed tooth that already has a filling and there isn't enough tooth structure left to hold more filling material. ​

For dental prosthetics
A crown and bridge unit is used to replace a missing tooth. A fixed bridge is an artificial tooth held in place by dental crowns on adjacent teeth. A dental implant is a replacement root for a missing tooth. An implant is also topped with a dental crown. 


For cosmetic improvement
Sometimes a tooth is misshapen or has deep discoloration that does not respond to whitening. A dental crown improves the aesthetic impact of that tooth on the rest of your smile. 


Dr. Jones offers the convenience of same-day crowns with CEREC in-house technology. With a CEREC crown, after your tooth is prepped, Dr. Jones takes precise measurements and three-dimensional images of your mouth. A robust computer program uses that information to design your crown. Those directions go to an in-house milling machine that carves your crown from a small, solid block of porcelain, while you wait. There's no need for the expense of a temporary crown, and you don't have to return for a second visit.


Do you have additional questions about dental crowns? Call Social Circle Dental today at 770-464-1900 for a consultation with Dr. Jones. He will be happy to answer them.
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They say that life moves at a little slower pace in the South. That we Georgians take our time to do things right and enjoy the moment. My name is Dr. Don Jones, and I've lived in Georgia for a long time. I know that those impressions are true, but I also see the lives of my patients in the Loganville, Covington and Monroe areas getting busier with each passing day. Every hour out of the office or away from family counts. I've invested in CEREC technology to help dental treatment take a little less of your time. 


Understanding CEREC 


CEREC is short for "ceramic reconstruction." It is a precise method of creating a lovely, dental crown from a solid cube of porcelain. Suppose you've broken a tooth or have an area of decay so large that your tooth just won't hold a conventional filling. I prep the tooth, removing damaged portions and shaping the remaining structure carefully. Then I take digital images. This information goes into a robust computer program that tells the milling machine exactly how to form your crown, while you wait.

​

The concept of a dental crown is straightforward. Much like a royal crown encircles the head, a dental crown covers the visible portion of a tooth. Its purpose is to protect a tooth that has been compromised by a large area of decay, breakage, or root canal therapy from further damage. All sorts of materials have been used to create crowns, but Dr. Don Jones prefers CEREC technology to give his patients at Social Circle Dental crowns made of lustrous porcelain. 


Any tooth in the upper or lower arch can be a candidate for a crown, depending on the extent of damage, your oral condition, and your overall health situation. Historically crowns were made of noble (non-reactive) metals. Advances in aesthetics led to crowns with metal cores fused to porcelain coverings. They looked more appealing than an obtrusive gold or silver colored tooth, but still showed a dark line at the gum and lacked the translucency of a natural tooth. 

Properly crafted and shaded, today's all porcelain crowns provide the best aesthetics. They really can't be distinguished from existing teeth. Initially, there were two primary concerns. These crowns had to be fabricated in a dental laboratory from impressions prepared by your dentist. That meant the expense and inconvenience of wearing a temporary crown for about two weeks, and an extra visit to the dentist. The second concern was whether all porcelain crowns were strong enough for posterior restorations (back teeth). 


CEREC technology resolves both issues, allowing Dr. Jones to craft durable crowns "chair side" in a single appointment. Precise three-dimensional images of your mouth are fed into a robust computer program that creates a digital design for your crown. That information goes to an in-office milling machine where the crown is fabricated from a small block of solid porcelain, while you wait. 


Porcelain is a ceramic material created by firing purified white clay at a very high temperature until it reaches a glass-like consistency. Modern ceramic materials are extremely strong, able to withstand the bite force of molars. A common rule of thumb is that you may expect to have a crown replaced in about ten years. In reality, however, with good care, an all porcelain CEREC crown can last a lifetime. 


CEREC dental crowns are definitely a strong, beautiful, and convenient restoration option for patients throughout the Social Circle area. Call Dr. Jones today at 770-464-1900 to schedule an appointment.
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This is not the only reason people choose CEREC treatment over standard lab processed restorations.

• The high-quality ceramic material used for CEREC restorations has many characteristics of natural tooth enamel. These similarities lead to a more natural smile and gentleness to opposing teeth. Though CEREC restorations are not hard or abrasive enough to wear down surrounding teeth, they are strong enough to handle the force exerted when chewing.
• Because CEREC's ceramic material expands and contracts in a similar fashion to natural enamel, these restorations facilitate a precise, long-lasting fit.
• CEREC stands out not only with material but also for the benefits that come from technological advances. Ceramic restorations are held in place within a large cavity through a bonding process. Bonding the restoration to the tooth creates a seamless structure, thereby significantly reducing any risk of bacterial penetration. Traditional amalgam fillings are not bonded to teeth, they are held in place structurally. This means that significant amounts of healthy tooth structure must be removed. With CEREC restorations, only tissue that has been damaged is removed.
• A priority of Dr. Jones when repairing teeth is to create long-lasting function and beauty. CEREC restorations were first used in the early 1980s. Many of these first restorations are still intact, with no signs of wearing down.
• A priority of patients receiving restorative treatment is attractiveness. No one wants their smile to look fake. CEREC restorations are color-matched to the patient's natural shade, and look very much like natural enamel in translucency and sheen. With this type of care, natural beauty is retained.

​Dr. Don Jones and the team at Social Circle Dental have years of experience beautifully restoring smiles. Contact our office for your visit today.

Very few of us have naturally perfect teeth, and everyday life can take a toll on our smiles. Another thing very few of us have in this fast-paced modern world is spare time. Dr. Jones addresses both issues with technologically advanced biological dentistry. Patients who visit his state of the art office can enjoy the time saving convenience of CEREC crowns. They are metal free, and can be placed in a single visit.


CEREC allows him to take 3D photos as soon as the teeth are prepared, and then create the crowns right in his office during the same appointment. The technology is extremely accurate and predictable, as Dr. Jones is in control of the entire process. He takes the digital impressions, designs the crowns, chooses the perfect shades of porcelain, and oversees the fabrication process. He can check the crowns before placement and make any necessary adjustments, or make entirely new ones if the first restorations don't meet the patients', or his, approval.

Conventional, laboratory made crowns require two appointments. During the first visit, the patients are numbed, the teeth are shaped to receive the crowns, impressions are taken, and then temporary crowns are placed. After a two week wait while a laboratory makes the crowns, patients have to make a second trip, be numbed again, the temporary removed, and then they finally receive the restorations. If there is a problem with the appearance or fit of the crowns, they have to be sent back to the lab and patients have to wait another two weeks for replacements. CEREC eliminates all of this inconvenience.


The one appointment approach is much more convenient for the patients. They only have to make one trip to the office, not two, or three. The impressions are taken digitally with an intra-oral camera, so patients don't have to bite down on trays filled with gooey material. Local anesthetic is only needed once, they don't have to endure numb mouths and lips repeatedly, and they don't have to wear temporary crowns. Temporaries are uncomfortable at best, and sometimes they come off, which is why they are called temporary.


If you want to avoid multiple visits so you can get on with your busy life, CEREC might be perfect for you. However, Dr. Jones also offers laboratory created crowns, because in areas where appearance is critical, the lab technicians can add minute details that can make the difference between a good smile and a great smile.


If you want to enjoy individualized dental care that is focused on providing the options that best suit your unique needs, call (770) 464-1900 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones today.