Restorative Dentistry Overview

Over the course of a person's life, the teeth will be subjected to some damage and wear and tear. Occasionally traumatic injury, a medical condition, or some other factor may be responsible for serious structural damage. In cases like these, we are able to apply the most advanced restorative techniques available to ensure that our patients can eat, talk, smile, and live their lives normally once more. We can do everything from replacing a single missing tooth to a total full-mouth implant restoration. For patients suffering from serious dental damage, the results of high-quality dental restoration truly are life-changing.

Inlays & Onlays

Dental inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair teeth that have a moderate or significant amount of tooth structure to replace. They are often the restoration of choice when a regular resin filling would be too big but not severe enough to require a crown. The inlays and onlays can be made from porcelain, composite resin or even gold and the location and esthetic needs determine the best material to select. Cosmetically, the porcelain inlays and onlays are virtually invisible and are often used to replace old, large silver fillings for a more natural appearing smile. 

 

Dental Crowns

A crown (sometimes called a cap) is a dental restoration that covers the entire tooth in order to restore it back to its original size and shape. The crown gets cemented in place with a very strong adhesive and extends down to the gum tissue or slightly below. There a situations that present when a crown is the treatment of choice. These include a weak tooth that already has a huge filling and little solid tooth structure left, a section of the tooth fractured off or a severely worn tooth, to encase a fracture or fractured segments that have not completely broken off yet, to hold a fixed bridge in place, cover misshaped to severely discolored teeth, and to restore a dental implant. Crowns come in a variety of materials of different strengths and esthetic value.

All ceramic or all porcelain crowns - These crowns provide an exquisite color match to your own natural teeth and are usually the best choice when a high esthetic result is of paramount importance especially on the front teeth. The porcelains have evolved to be an extremely strong material today and should last a long time.

Porcelain fused to metal - When additional strength is needed or a color match is more of a challenge to block out the underlying enamel, porcelain fused onto gold is often the best selection. These are particularly good on the molar areas where the pressure when biting is significantly stronger than in the front of the mouth.

We will always discuss the different options with you and decide together which is the best approach for you. No crown will be cemented until you give me the thumbs up that you are perfectly happy with the way it looks.
Bridges

Fabricating a dental bridge is an option to replace one or more missing teeth. The false tooth, which is known as a pontic, is permanently attached between two crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The crowns holding it in place are attached to the teeth on either side of the false tooth and are permanently cemented into place. The fixed bridge cannot be removed and will restore this area of your mouth to look very similar to the appearance before the tooth or teeth were extracted. There are a number of variations of a fixed bridge and the most appropriate one will be selected to best solve your particular situation. 

 

Dental Implants

Dental implants can provide a remarkably stable way to replace missing teeth by providing a fixture for the replacement tooth which will look and feel just like a natural tooth. One or multiple teeth can be replaced and the success rate of the dental implants is extraordinary high. The actual implant fixtures are cylinders or root forms made of titanium which is surgically implanted into the jaw during the first stage of the implant process. The bone will heal into the implant surface and strongly lock it in place through a process called bone integration. After the healing is complete and the implant entirely integrated, the second stage of the process is initiated. This involves placing the abutment into implant which then serves as an anchor for a crown, bridge, or other restorative component that can be attached so we attain the best cosmetic look. There are so any different choices for implant configurations and prosthetic options that a consultation is extremely important so that we can discuss your expectations and select the best possible option to achieve the finest result.

Dentures

Dentures are appliances that replace missing teeth which can be taken out and put back into your mouth. The materials used today have improved significantly and they can be made to look quite natural and comfortable although they will never feel exactly like your natural teeth. Most patients accommodate to these appliances quite well and they may be a good, viable alternative for you.

Dentures are usually classified as either full or partial. If the appliance replaces all of your teeth in an arch, it is called a full denture. If there are teeth remaining to help secure the appliance in place, then it is a partial denture. It is usually worthwhile to save any teeth on the bottom arch to avoid going to a full denture. The upper denture can usually be made to look and feel pretty comfortable because of the palate which helps to stabilize and retain the denture in place.

Immediate Full Dentures

These type of denture can be inserted immediately after the remaining teeth are extracted. This way, you never have to be without your teeth and involved in an embarrassing situation. There may a couple of visits to try the denture in as it is constructed so that the final appliance will look and fit as well as possible. There is always some shrinkage of tissue after the extractions are done so the appliance must be relined several months after being inserted. Many times it may be worthwhile to even have a new denture made after all the healing has taken place so that an impression can be made of the exact configuration for the appliance to maximize the fit and esthetic considerations. It is also a good idea to have a spare should the denture break to get lost or as we have seen, eaten by your dog.