Restorative Dentistry Overview

Over the course of a person’s life, the teeth will be subjected to predictable routine wear and tear and also to some traumatic damage.

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.  Restorative dentistry options range from simple fillings to replacing a single missing tooth to a total full-mouth implant restoration and everything in between.  For patients suffering from serious dental damage, the results of high-quality dental restoration truly can be life-changing. 

 

Dental Implants

Recent advances allow us to completely replace missing or irreparably damaged teeth with state-of-the-art artificial implants.  Once any remaining part of the tooth to be replaced is extracted, an implant is placed in the bone by a well-qualified surgeon.  Over a few weeks or months, the implant fuses with the bone to become a permanent part of the mouth.  The final step is to attach a replacement tooth that looks & feels completely natural.  This is accomplished with individual crowns, bridges, or dentures as indicated per specific case.  Some times, there can be more than 1 option to restore optimal function.  Implants are intended to last for decades, and they require no more upkeep than the original teeth.

Dentures

Dentures are a time-honored strategy to replace missing teeth.  There are a variety of types of dentures depending on the scope of tooth loss & the wishes of the patient.  Removable partial dentures are available for patients who want to replace only a few missing teeth in a single arch.  For patients missing most or all of their teeth, we also offer complete dentures for total replacement.

Recently, implants have slowly replaced or have been incorporated in denture cases for more ideal function and aesthetics. Many long-time denture wearers report greatly improved function & confidence after involving implants. In some cases, previously made dentures can be retro-fitted to involve implants, which often improves retention & function significantly.

 

Crowns

Dental crowns are a common method of restoring a damaged tooth back to full health and strength and, sometimes, for aesthetic reasons.  Crowns can be made from a variety of metals, porcelains, and hybrid materials. We will recommend the best material for any given case on an individual basis.  

A crown is fabricated outside the mouth & then bonded or cemented in place, resulting in a realistic, functional, & durable replacement for a damaged tooth. The procedure usually is completed in 2 visits. With proper care, crowns are meant to be a long-lasting treatment modality.

 

Inlays/Onlays

Inlays & onlays are strong alternatives for restoring damaged or decayed teeth that without proceeding to a complete crown.  The procedure is similar to a crown, except that less natural tooth structure is removed.  The final result is similar in both cases: a stronger, healthier, and more attractive new tooth.

 

Bridges

A dental bridge consists of an artificial replacement tooth (or teeth) fused into place between two or more crowns on supporting teeth.  A fixed bridge is not removed from the mouth once completed but will eventually warrant replacement after several years. Bridges involve some increased dental hygiene requirements, but they can improve bites, smiles, and speech patterns immensely & are meant to be long-term solutions.

We usually compare the pros & cons of bridges to implants for restoration of missing teeth, and the patient makes the final decision as to what works best.