Restorative Services

Most patients prefer tooth-colored fillings for the clear improvements in aesthetics.  Unlike the silvery-gray amalgam fillings you might have known from the past.  Tooth-colored fillings are made of composite resin, which is composed mainly o fplastic and silica.  They contain no metal or mercury.  These fillings are placed in layers with each layer being cured before the next one is added.  The fillings bond to your tooth, making it stronger from the inside, and can also be placed in a single visit.

Crowns are placed for several reasons.  In most cases, the tooth has been broken or severly damaged by decay. As a result, a filling can’t replace enough of the tooth or make the tooth strong enough.  Crowns can be made of several materials including:

• Porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
• All porcelain
• Gold – inlays / onlays
• Zirconia

Typically, we can design, fit and place your crowns in just a couple of appointments.  Once the crown is placed, you can care for it as you do your natural teeth.  Conscientious brushing twice a day and daily flossing will protect the crown from bacterial growth.  We recommend you see us at least two times each year for professional cleanings and a preventative exam.

A Stable Solution that Renews Your Smile

If you’ve lost teeth due to accident, injury, or gum disease, we can create a permanent bridge to restore your solid smile.  A bridge not only fills the gap, but it only prevents repositioning of remaining teeth.  It can also correct a misaligned bite, improve chewing function and speech articulation, and provide internal structure for the face to give you a more youthful appearance.

What is a Fixed Bridge?

First of all, a bridge is a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) that attaches on one or both sides to teeth prepared with dental crowns.  A fixed bridge is permanently joined onto the neighboring abutment teeth (crowned teeth) and consists of three basic units: the false tooth or teeth (called a pontic) and two abutment crowns.  The style of bridge we suggest will depend upon the strength and health of the abutment teeth, as well as the location of the gap in relation to the rest of your dentition. If healthy adjacent abutment teeth arent’ available, a surgically-iomplanted metal post, known as a dental implant, may offer a solid alternative.  For a bridge that replaces many teeth, we may recommend a removable partial denture or implant-supported prosthesis.  With proper care, a fixed bridge may last at least 8 to 10 years.

If you have questions about crown and bridgework or any other dental prosthetic, call us.  We will be happy to discuss the options and schedule your evaluation!

Since their development over 25 years ago, dental implants have revolutionized dentistry. Now, patients have a long-term solution to missing teeth that closely mimics nature’s design. By replacing the missing tooth root, as well as the tooth crown (portion above the gum line), a dental implant provides unrivaled support, comfort and longevity.

Comprised of two parts, the titanium implant and tooth replacement, dental implants require phased treatment. In the first phase, the titanium portion of the implant is carefully inserted into the jaw bone. A process called osseointegration, in which the bone fuses to the implant, takes place over a short period of time, usually about three months. In the second phase, your dentist secures a custom-designed tooth replacement. An implant can secure a crown, bridge or partial.

While upper dentures typically remain stable, lower dentures can click and slip at the most inopportune times. With dental implants, your dentist can stabilize your lower denture, improving comfort, speech, eating, and confidence. Dental implants also stimulate the jaw bone and help prevent the bone deterioration that accompanies missing teeth.

Benefits of dental implants:

• Permanent – Because they are integrated with the bone tissue, dental implants last most people a lifetime.
• Comfortable – Dental implants are designed to function and feel like natural teeth. You may even forget which tooth you lost.
• Functional – Unlike bridges, dental implants don’t require the reduction of healthy tooth structure. More of your natural teeth are left intact, which improves your chances of long-term oral health.
• Reliable – In general, implants have a success rate of over 95%.

Convenient – No messy adhesives and the inconvenience of removable prosthetics.