Restorative Dentistry

Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings

Tooth-colored restorations have been used for many years in dentistry but more often on front teeth. The most recent generation of tooth-colored fillings can also be used for back teeth. The average lifetime of these fillings is good with proper diet and care.

There are several benefits to tooth-colored (resin) restorations. Aside from being more esthetically pleasing, they require less drilling and because of the filling material and the insulating liners and bases under it, there can be long-term fluoride release which helps inhibit new cavity formation. Since there is less overall loss of your natural tooth structure, the restored tooth will be less likely to develop additional dental problems.

Tooth-Colored Onlays

Onlays are considered very conservative restorations because they only restore the destroyed part of the tooth while protecting the outer edges of the tooth. Onlays are often used to repair areas damaged by previous fillings, decay or a fracture.

To make the onlay, an impression is taken of your tooth and sent to a laboratory. The onlay is made to exactly match the portion missing from your natural tooth structure. You come back to our office within approximately 10 days for the final placement and polish.

Our office guarantees free repair or replacement of these restorations for 5 years for patients who come for regular 6 month cleanings. To properly maintain the onlay, we recommend daily flossing and brushing. We also advise using a fluoride mouth rinse daily.

Crown

Crowns can be made many different ways. The crowns our office most frequently uses are cast porcelain fused to a precious metal base. These crowns are typically tooth colored and they resemble your natural teeth. With regular maintenance these restorations have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years but it is not uncommon for them to last as long as 25 years.

A crown can be recommended for a tooth for three basic reasons. First, a tooth is badly damaged by large and/or aging restoration or damaged by decay. Second, the tooth has been treated with a root canal and needs the crown to provide strength and to help prevent a fracture. And finally, a crown may need to be placed on a tooth that must be used as an anchor for a bridge replacing missing teeth.

Making the crown usually takes 2 to 3 appointments. At the first appointment, the tooth is prepared and an impression is made of the tooth. At this first appointment you will also be given a temporary crown to wear until your final crown is ready for placement. Approximately ten days later, at the second appointment, we deliver and temporarily cement your final porcelain crown. At the final appointment, we check to ensure a comfortable bite and make any necessary adjustments before permanently cementing the crown.

Our office guarantees free repair or replacement of these restorations for 5 years for patients who come for regular cleanings. To properly maintain a crown, we recommend daily flossing and brushing. We also advise using a fluoride mouth rinse daily.

Implant

An implant is a synthetic titanium root that is inserted into your jaw bone. It can be used to replace one or more missing teeth or to act as an anchor for an appliance such as a removable denture. All patients need an initial implant consultation to determine if there is enough healthy bone structure to support an implant. Getting an implant involves three important phases: the surgical phase of implantation, adequate healing time, and the construction and delivery of replacement teeth to be placed over the implant.

Implants have about a 90 percent success rate. Many times implant failure is determined after the initial stage of implantation. Smokers do have a higher implant failure rate, as much as 20 percent more than non-smokers. Uncontrolled diabetes is another common cause of implant failure.

Bridge

Bridges are one way of replacing missing teeth. Many people believe bridges are only necessary to replace missing front teeth, as these are the teeth which most affect a person's appearance. However, missing just one back tooth (molar) can reduce your ability to chew by 10 percent. When a tooth is lost, the surrounding teeth have a tendency to tip or move closer together to fill the space. Not only can this movement lead to bite problems but it can lead to gum disease and dental decay, or ultimate tooth loss.

A bridge uses surrounding teeth to fill the space left by one or more missing teeth. The dentist will evaluate the number, position, and strength of the surrounding teeth and determine the best bridge design for your particular case.

The teeth that support the bridge are prepared in a way that is similar to a crown preparation. While the final bridge is being made by a laboratory technician, the remaining teeth are fitted with a temporary bridge. In many cases, patients will need to come in for a bridge try in to ensure a good fit, before the porcelain is fused with the underlying bridge structure. After the bridge is cemented some minor adjustments may be made and the bridge is completed.

Since a well cemented bridge cannot be readily removed, it is important to properly clean the bridge and surrounding area. Like crowns and onlays, our office guarantees free repair or replacement of these restorations for 5 years for patients who come for regular cleanings. To properly maintain the crown, we recommend daily flossing and brushing. We also advise using a fluoride mouth rinse daily.

Partial or Full Denture

The process for making both partial dentures and full dentures is quite similar. Removable partial dentures are typically used when a patient is missing several teeth and the remaining teeth cannot be fixed to a bridge. Full dentures are necessary when all teeth are missing or when the remaining teeth need to be pulled because of a poor prognosis.

Dentures are usually made of an acrylic (plastic) pink base made to look like gum tissue. The denture teeth are made of either porcelain or plastic. First, an impression is made of your gums or existing teeth and sent to the lab and more exact impression trays are made and new custom impressions are then taken for an accurate fit. The lab constructs a model of your denture in wax and it is checked for fit in the mouth. When you are pleased with the appearance of your teeth, it is sent to the technician for final processing.