RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
WE REPLACE, WE RESTORE, WE RESPECT
INVEST IN YOUR ORAL HEALTH
Investing in your oral health now will save time, money, and headache in the future. If you need dental restorations for cracked teeth, replacement of old dental work, or prosthetic teeth, our doctors are here to help. We will use leading technology and esthetic dental materials and to provide durable, attractive dental work. Your smile should function properly and last for years to come.
YOUR OPTIONS
Composite fillings and crowns re-establish the integrity of a tooth without compromising an all-white smile. To replace missing teeth, the dentists often prescribe dentures or dental implants. At your checkup, the dentist will propose treatment for your compromised teeth. We’ll explain your options and respect your decisions regarding procedures. If you have questions about your treatment plan, please ask. We want you to be confident about your decisions.
If you’re embarrassed about your smile because of decay or dark fillings in your teeth, you may be a good candidate for composite resins. Composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic mixture, it is used to restore teeth to an attractive, healthy state. Composite resins represent several advantages over traditional silver or amalgam fillings.
Because composite resins are not made of metal, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color to match your natural teeth. This means only you and your dentist will know you have fillings. Another pro is that the tooth/composite bond actually supports the remaining tooth structure, deterring breakage and insulating against temperature changes. Medium and small composites can last seven to ten years – that’s as long as the tried and true amalgams. Best of all, composite resins allow us to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact than amalgams. We believe in conservative dentistry – the more natural tooth structure you keep, the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future.
Some patients experience mild and temporary post-placement sensitivity from composite resin fillings, which usually goes away with time.
Full dentures are prosthetic teeth that replace all teeth on the upper and/or lower arch. Partial dentures fill in the space left by one or more teeth, fitting in between existing teeth like a puzzle piece. If you need dentures, our doctors will take impressions and work with our dental lab so that you receive a carefully crafted and custom-fitted prosthetic. Our goal is to deliver dentures that fit well, function well, and look natural. If you’ve never worn dentures, expect an adjustment period when your gums will acclimate to the new prosthetic.
In addition to restoring function and your smile, dentures support facial muscles from beneath for a more youthful appearance, and they can reduce or eliminate pronunciation and chewing problems.
Dentures usually rely on adhesive or suction for stability. Partials attach to neighboring teeth with inconspicuous claps. If you’d like a more stable and conservative solution, ask about implant-retained dentures.
Our dentist’ can place traditional or mini dental implants right here in our office. Both procedures involve placing small implant posts into the jaw to stabilize a prosthetic.
Years ago, if you had a diseased tooth, your dentist would have to pull it. But we now know that missing teeth can lead to a host of dental problems. As conservative dentists we often recommend root canal therapy to preserve an internally infected tooth.
The soft center of a tooth, called the pulp or nerve, supplies blood to tooth. This nerve is the tooth’s lifeline, delivering nutrients and removing waste from the living tooth. A deep cavity or crack can compromise the sealed passageway within a tooth, and bacteria can invade. When this occurs, the nerve becomes infected and the tooth will die – but not before you experience significant pain from building pressure within your tooth.
During a root canal, the dentist removes infected pulp with tiny, precision instruments. The tooth is then filled with a substance to seal it.
Why get a root canal and keep your tooth in place?
- Stops pain
- Preserves natural occlusion/bite
- No replacement tooth required (saves money and time)
- Preserves jawbone integrity
- Keeps other teeth from drifting
Oftentimes, patients worry about comfort during a root canal. Our doctors have performed many pain-free root canals during their careers. Many patients have been surprised at how comfortable they were during their root canal procedure.
While many root canals can be done right here in our office, some cases may require the care of an endodontist, in which case we will refer you to a trusted collegue.