Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry serves to restore teeth that may have been damaged through common oral health problems or more serious dental issues. Tooth decay, wear, and damage are a natural result from the intense workout and bacterial influx our mouths get every day.
Our team can restore your damaged teeth with natural-looking materials, like composite resin fillings and porcelain crowns. Often time’s restorative dental procedures are a result of a patient who either has overlooked the necessity of routine dental care or has a dental problem that was not visible by the naked eye.
This is why we recommend visiting our dental office every six months to check for signs of tooth decay, gum disease or other dental health issues that may be prevented before they become costly or more serious.
Below is a list of the common restorative dentistry procedures that we provide to help you with issues that may affect your teeth, gums or smile.
A composite (tooth colored) filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, cracks, fractures, etc. The decayed or affected portion of the tooth will be removed and then filled with a composite filling.
There are many types of filling materials available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. You and your dentist can discuss the best options for restoring your teeth. Composite fillings, along with silver amalgam fillings, are the most widely used today. Because composite fillings are tooth colored, they can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth, and are more aesthetically suited for use in front teeth or the more visible areas of the teeth.
As with most dental restorations, composite fillings are not permanent and may someday have to be replaced. They are very durable, and will last many years, giving you a long lasting, beautiful smile.
Reasons for composite fillings
- Chipped teeth
- Closing space between two teeth
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Decayed teeth
- Worn teeth
How are composite fillings placed?
Composite fillings are usually placed in one appointment. While the tooth is numb, your dentist will remove decay as necessary. The space will then be thoroughly cleaned and carefully prepared before the new filling is placed. If the decay was near the nerve of the tooth, a special medication will be applied for added protection. The composite filling will then be precisely placed, shaped, and polished, restoring your tooth to its original shape and function.
It is normal to experience sensitivity to hot and cold when composite fillings are first placed, however this will subside shortly after your tooth acclimates to the new filling.
Missing teeth can cause various problems, from difficulty eating and speaking, to poor nutrition and even self-confidence. There are several options available for replacing lost teeth and improving your smile. One of the options is dental bridges.
Dental bridges are a prosthesis (replacement part) that relies on support from the neighboring healthy teeth surrounding the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth. The healthy adjacent teeth, called abutments, provide support on either side.
Reasons for getting a bridge:
- Fill space of missing teeth
- Maintain facial shape
- Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position
- Restore chewing and speaking ability
- Restore your smile
- Upgrade from a removable partial denture to a permanent dental appliance
If your teeth are damaged or missing, it can be not only unsightly but uncomfortable. Not to mention you might be engaging in some bad habits to compensate, like chewing your food on only one side.
As a solution, we offer Dental Crown. Due to pressure, grinding and other factors, your teeth sometimes become cracked, chipped or discolored. A Crown solves these problems. We fit a custom-designed crown over your existing tooth, which instantly changes its look and function. You’ll be amazed at the transformation.
Advantages of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns provide an adequate solution to a range of dental problems. They are able to:
- Support a tooth that has been significantly damaged by decay
- Protect a tooth that has worn away from being damaged further
- Protect a tooth after a root canal procedure
- Hold a severely cracked or broken tooth together
- Cover a dental implant
- Improve the appearance of a tooth by changing its shape or color
Despite improvements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss — mostly due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were bridges and dentures. But, today, dental implants are available. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
A connector – known as an abutment – is placed on top of the dental implant to hold and support your crowns. The crowns are custom-made to match your natural teeth and fit your mouth. Modern dental implants have been used successfully for over 30 years. They are the strongest devices available to support replacement teeth – and even better, they allow these new teeth to feel, look and function naturally.
When performed by a trained and experienced dental implant dentist, dental implant surgery is one of the safest and most predictable procedures in dentistry.
There are great advantages to choosing a dental implant for tooth replacement over the other options. Dental implants are conservative in that missing teeth can be replaced without affecting or altering the adjacent teeth. Furthermore, because dental implants integrate into the bone structure, they are very stable and can have the look and feel of one’s own natural teeth.
Advantages of Dental Implants
- Improving eating habits immediately
- Eliminating messy adhesives used to hold dentures
- Eliminating unsightly and destructive metal clasps common with partial dentures
- Never needing to take out dentures or bridges again!
A denture is a removable dental appliance that replaces lost teeth and soft tissues. Complete and partial dentures are the two types of dentures available. When all of the teeth are lost, complete dentures are utilized, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are available in two styles: “conventional” and “instant.” A typical denture is ready for implantation in the mouth approximately eight to twelve weeks after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal.
Immediate dentures, unlike traditional dentures, are created ahead of time and can be placed as soon as the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer is not required to be toothless during the healing process. Bones and gums, on the other hand, shrink over time, especially during the healing period after tooth extraction. As a result, when compared to traditional dentures, immediate dentures require more changes to fit properly during the healing process and should only be used as a temporary remedy until traditional dentures can be created.