Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry’s goal is to return your teeth to full function and a healthy appearance. Many different techniques fall under the umbrella of restorative dentistry, including fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. You and your doctor can plan a course of action to take you from damaged, broken teeth to a functional and attractive smile.

Benefits of Restorative Dentistry

  • Chew and eat with confidence

  • Preserves tooth spacing that could shift due to missing teeth

  • Alleviates pain from damaged teeth

  • Supports a proper orthodontic bite

  • Prevents bone loss due to missing teeth

  • Restores clear speech

  • Being confident that you have an attractive smile

Procedures Offered

  • Prosthodontics. Prosthodontics refers to the design of replacements for damaged or missing teeth. Dentures, implants, bridges, and crowns are common prosthodontic treatments.

  • Dental Fillings. Dental fillings can replace a small part of a decayed tooth, it can also replace broken or chipped-off enamel. Dentists use strong composite materials to fill damaged teeth and restore their chewing ability and bite strength. We use proven techniques, and high-quality materials that last for years to come. If the decay is too extensive, your dentist may recommend a crown instead, that way the tooth can be restored to its original shape and function.

  • Dental Crowns and Bridges. Crowns and bridges are considered both restorative and cosmetic. Crowns replace decayed, broken, or otherwise damaged parts of the teeth with a thin but very strong porcelain material. Most teeth that have had root canals need to be crowned to prevent them from fracturing.

  • Dental Implants. Dental implants replace missing teeth. They are attractive and authentic-looking. Patients can smile freely, eat what they choose, and efficiently care for their implants. A single-tooth dental implant consists of a titanium post that screws into the jaw and an abutment that holds a crown. Implant-supported bridges and total arch replacements with implant-supported dentures are also available.

  • Implant-supported Dentures. Regular dentures can be uncomfortable and cause jaw bone loss. All-on-X is an advanced system that anchors full-arch dentures using relatively few implant posts. All-on-X creates a beautiful smile that closely matches your original teeth.

Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns and bridges are beautiful, practical replacements for damaged or missing teeth. Most people cannot tell a crown or bridge apart from a natural tooth. They will brighten your smile and provide excellent chewing function.

Crowns and Bridges

A crown, also known as a cap, restores the tooth to its original shape and function. Dentists recommend crowns if the tooth has been fractured or decayed past the point where a filling can be used. Your dentist will remove the decay from the tooth and place strong material to rebuild the core of the tooth. After that, the tooth will be shaped and a ceramic crown is permanently cemented on the top. If you had a root canal procedure done, you more than likely will need to crown the tooth to prevent it from fracturing.

To restore a tooth with a crown, the tooth must have some sound tooth structure left to support a crown. If there is too little tooth structure left above the gum line, the dentist can place a post into the root, then rebuild a core of the tooth from composite material and attach the crown. In some cases, if the decay is deep below the gum line, the patient will need an additional crown lengthening procedure.

A bridge can replace missing teeth with two crowns on either side and a custom tooth designed in between them. Bridges are permanently fixed to crowns or implants, they are highly attractive and look like natural teeth.

Both teeth on either side of the bridge must be healthy enough to support a crown. If those teeth are structurally compromised, you may need an implant-supported bridge.

Dental implants are an advanced method of replacement for missing teeth. Single-tooth implants consist of a titanium post that is placed with surgical precision into the jawbone, a stainless steel abutment, and a dental crown to complete the look and feel of a natural tooth.

Dental implants have to be brushed, flossed and cared for like natural teeth. They are effective replacements for missing or damaged teeth because they function like a natural tooth preventing future bone loss.

What Are Dental Implants?

Types of Dental Implants

  • Single Tooth Implants

    Single-tooth implants are appropriate if you are missing one tooth or two teeth. These implants replace one tooth at a time, creating a seamless, natural look and blending in perfectly with your smile.

  • Implant Supported Dentures

    Implant Supported Dentures

    Implant-supported dentures are an excellent choice for patients who need a completely full arch of teeth. You may want to consider a total arch replacement using implant-supported dentures if you are missing teeth or need multiple extractions.

    Implant-supported dentures fit securely and comfortably. They have far more stability than traditional dentures, which sometimes slip when you chew or speak. The doctor places 4 to 6 implant posts in the jawbone, where they act as artificial roots to anchor the denture.

    These dentures protect your jawbone from resorption, which can be a problem with traditional dentures. They also maintain the natural shape of the face.

    Implant-supported dentures are built to last. You will be able to enjoy many years with these dentures, making them a solid investment in your oral health.

  • Overdentures

    Losing your natural teeth and getting used to dentures is very challenging for a lot of patients, especially for patients who lost their lower teeth. Overdentures are a simple solution to securely attach your existing or newly made dentures, preventing them from moving while you talk or enjoy your meals.

    The overdenture is attached to 4 male-female locators that snap on. Though this type of denture provides security it does not eliminate the flanges of the hard palate.

    This type of denture is easy to maintain. You take it off at night, clean it, and put it back on. The female part of the locators may need to be replaced bi-annually for a better, tighter fit.

  • Implant Supported Bridges

    Bridges supported on natural teeth may damage the teeth due to the forces placed upon them, however, the implants can bear that extra pressure. While a traditional bridge connects to crowns on neighboring natural teeth, an implant-supported bridge has a far sturdier anchoring system. Implant-supported bridges can replace up to four teeth at a time.