Restorative

Crowns and Bridges

A crown is used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function.

A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite.

There are a few reasons that a crown or a bridge might be needed and a standard filling would be insufficient. The two main reasons we recommend a crown, are if the decay has gotten too large to leave enough room for the tooth structure or if the tooth is fractured. It is also recommended that root canal teeth are crowned because they lack the the vital pulp that keeps the teeth from becoming very brittle and are more likely to fracture. Crowns and bridges are great treatment options to maintain the health and appearance of your smile long term.

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Complete Dentures / Partial Dentures

When teeth become too decayed or broken and multiple teeth are involved, complete dentures and partial dentures are an option. These “plates” provide an affordable option to missing teeth. Many different styles and options are available, all of which need to be removed at night.

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Fillings

The most common dental restoration is a filling. Fillings are completed when your tooth has dental caries (tooth decay). A simple filling can often restore your tooth to health if the cavity is discovered in time. The dentist will remove the decay and then fill in the cavity with a variety of materials, the two most common are amalgam and composite.

Amalgam fillings are “silver fillings” that have been used by dentists for decades. Although the appearance of these fillings is typically less than ideal, the ADA still recommends amalgam as an adequate dental restoration. Amalgam fillings can last many years if properly cared for.

Composite fillings are the white, or tooth colored, fillings that look more natural. Essentially composites are a resin, or a plastic filling, which is bonded with an adhesive agent to keep the fillings in place. This extra step can be slightly more technique-sensitive, but they are also more versatile. They can provide a more natural aesthetic look to your smile, but typically don’t last as long as the amalgam. Another benefit of composite fillings, is that often more tooth structure can be saved with a more conservative tooth preparation.