Seaman Family Dentistry, PA

Endodontic treatement, root canals, are usually thought of as the "worst" dental service you could need or as extremely painful - when in fact they can be as comfortable as getting a filling placed. Root canals get their bad rap from stories of those who have ignored a serious problem. Root canals when treated early before the infection is too bad are typically very comfortable. After the tooth is numbed the doctor creates a access hole in the tooth to reach the nerve chamber of the tooth. Following that the infected nerve tissue is removed with small instruments called "files, " after this is completed a rubbery material is used to fill the empty canal and the root canal is done. This procedure can often be done in one visit, but when the infection is more severe an additional step of medicating the infected nerve tissue may be needed, requiring two or three appointments before the nerve chamber is ready to be filled.
After the root canal is completed, the next step is to have a crown done on the tooth. A crown is required in this situation because the nerve of the tooth has been removed and this was the only means of blood supply to the tooth. Now the tooth will basically dry out and become brittle and thus very likely to break. To protect the tooth from this, a crown is placed to hold the tooth together. In our office, if the tooth getting a root canal does not already have a crown on it, we will typically perform both procedures simultaneously; this saves on the total number of visits and provides a temporary crown on the tooth immediately to help protect it during and immediately following the root canal procedure.

A bridge is similar to multiple crowns fused together except the tooth which is being replaced is a solid replica of that tooth it is replacing. In order to utilize repaired bridgework to replace a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth, it is necessary to have either healthy teeth to support the bridge or implants to provide support. Whether it is your natural teeth or one or more implants the bridge is connected to, once the bridge is cemented into place it will appear that you are not missing teeth and it will function just as your teeth once did. Our bridges are produced of porcelain fused to a noble metal or all porcelain, this gives us the ability to shade and shape the units of the bridge to match your remaining teeth or resemble the teeth you once had. Fixed bridges are also a longer term solution to replacing missing teeth and can last you 10 - 15 years before replacement may be necessary.

The term "cosmetic dentistry" invovles every dental service, which can be utilized to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile. In fact, many of the regular restorative services are delivered with just that in mind. The ever improving technology in dentistry has in many ways changed the way we now practice. Gone are the days of having to put up with an ugly filling or crown on front teeth or any teeth for that matter. It is possible in most cases to make dental fillings, crowns, and veneers that are almost indistinguishable from the existing natural teeth.

The possibilities in cosmetic dentistry are almost endless. Orthodontics, crowns, bridges, and fillings can be used separately or in harmony with each other to give you that winning smile you have always wanted.

Our purpose build a beautiful smile where the dental work is undetectable.

Our reward the smile our clients can't wipe off of their face when they get their cosmetic work completed.

For patients, cosmetic dentistry can offer a new lease on life! Many people find they become more confident and find themselves smiling a lot more than they ever did before.

Born in Vandalia, Illinois, Dr. Robert Seaman spent most of his childhood in Florisssant, Missouri. He got a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 1976 then enrolled and graduated from the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Dentistry, earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 1981. Dr. Seaman graduated with honors and was elected to Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society.

Immediately following graduation in 1981, Dr. Seaman opened the doors to his dental practice. While he was building his practice, he was also an assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry at UMKC Dental School, teaching in the Crown and Bridge Department from 1981 to 1990.

Dr. Seaman enjoys all aspects of general dentistry, with a special interest in crowns, bridges, and other cosmetic related dentistry. He feels this is an artistic outlet for him..... creating smiles. He continually enhances his education with new and better procedures in crown and bridge, endodontics (root canals), orthodontics and TMJ (jaw alignment) treatment to better serve all of his patients. "It has always been my goal to provide as many services as possible to my patients, so they would not have to be referred all over town for dental care," he explained, "while there is a time to involve a specialist, most of a patient's needs can and should be provided by their family dentist - so this is what I have done through the years." As a result, Dr. Bob and his center offer routine preventive and diagnostic services, periodontal (gum disease) care, fillings, crowns, fixed bridgework, removable dentures, fixed dentures, porcelain veneers, in-office and at-home whitening services, root canals, emergency care, bonding, non-surgical treatment for TMD (TMJ) conditions, restorations over implants, and even orthodontics; including appliance therapies, full braces (in metal and porcelain), and invisible (aligner therapy) braces.

Besides all he does to improve his patients' dental experiences, Dr. Bob also has a large family to keep him busy. He and his wife have 6 children and 2 grandchildren, which is one of the reasons he knows how busy families can be and why it is so important to him to maintain an office schedule which is accommodating to both professionals and families.

Outside of the dental office, Dr. Bob is also an avid woodworker and got his Master Woodworker certification at Marc Adams School of Woodworking a couple of years ago. Dr. Bob not only builds beautiful furniture and accents for his home and kids , he also brings his talents into the office, where he is currently renovating the office cabinetry himself.