Services - Restorative Dentistry

Fillings

Dental fillings are a restorative measure used by dentists to repair a tooth after decay or fracture. Commonly, cavities in the teeth are caused by food particles which are left to decay the tooth. Once the tooth begins to decompose, part of the tooth structure must be removed and a permanent filling is then sited in its place. With the advent of new and improved filling technologies, there has been a shift from the conventional amalgam silver fillings to composite white fillings which mimic the natural look of the tooth. At our office we use only the best composite materials.

Root Canal Therapy

Endodontic treatment, more commonly referred to as Root Canal therapy, is a restorative measure used when the pulp of the tooth becomes inflamed or infected. This generally occurs due to deep decay/cavities reaching the nerves, repeated dental procedures on a tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. Procedures involve making a small opening and cleaning and shaping out the root canal. The space is then filled with a biocompatible material specialized to cement and seal the opening.

Extractions

In the event that a tooth cannot be restored, extractions are the final and sometimes the most viable of all options. Wisdom teeth extractions are the most common, due to the fact that wisdom teeth and third molars are the last of the teeth to erupt and least necessary to maintain good oral health. Most people have four wisdom teeth that erupt in their late teen years or early twenties. Several wisdom teeth eruption complications result in the need to extract them, namely, if there is insufficient room for them to grow, if they grow under the gum line horizontally, or if they grow crowding surrounding teeth.

Crowns

Dental crowns are a used as a permanent solution to “cover” chipped, discolored, fractured or crooked teeth. A porcelain cap or covering is placed on top of the existing tooth to support and strengthen a weakened tooth or mask imperfections. Crowns may also be combined with a bridge to replace missing teeth.

Bridges

Bridges are used to fill gaps created by missing teeth. They are anchored by crowns or teeth on both sides of the gap, and prevent surrounding teeth from caving in to the open gap. Bridges may also be held in place by the use of dental implants.

Dental Implants

Implants are a permanent solution to replacing a missing tooth. Screws are surgically placed in the gum line, prompting tissue and bone to grow on the surgical screw. Once it is held in place by the bone, a permanent crown is matched to the teeth color and placed on top of the screw to mimic the look of a natural tooth. This procedure should last a lifetime.

Dentures

Partial and complete dentures, are both used to replace gaps with no remaining teeth using appliances called partial dentures or over dentures.

Tooth loss may result from periodontal disease, tooth decay, or traumatic injury. It is very important to replace missing teeth. The ill effects of not doing so can be a shift in remaining teeth, an inability to bite and chew properly, as well as a sagging facial appearance, which makes one appear older than they are.

The beauty of dentures today is that they are designed to be comfortable and functional. They are very similar in appearance to natural teeth, and can improve a smile or facial appearance.