Restorative Dentistry

If you have cavities or tooth decay, we can use fillings to restore your natural tooth. Fillings can reshape the tooth after decay removal, provide structure and support, and prevent bacteria from collecting in the area in the future. As the name suggests, our tooth-colored fillings also blend in with the shade of your natural teeth, so most people won’t even be able to tell that they’re there.

Dental inlays and onlays are some of the strongest and most lifelike dental restorations available. After your mouth has been anesthetized we prepare the tooth in much the same way we would for a standard filling. When the tooth has been prepared to our satisfaction, an impression is made and sent to a dental lab. You will usually be required to wear a temporary filling until the restoration is fabricated. With proper care, your inlay or onlay will increase your overall health and instill confidence for years to come.

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that goes over an existing tooth to correct a variety of dental issues. Dental crowns are typically recommended when a tooth has decayed too badly on the outside to be replaced with a general filling. The crown provides protection for the remainder of the tooth and root structure. Crowns can fix cracked, chipped, or gapped teeth, replace missing teeth with implants, hold bridges in place, cover misshapen teeth, and more. Using a crown in these circumstances will help solidify and protect the remaining tooth.

Crowns can be made from a variety of materials but are generally made from porcelain for its close resemblance to the look and feel of natural teeth. These restorations are customized to your unique smile, so that the crown fits comfortably in your bite and returns functionality and beauty back to your teeth.

Dental implants are as close to your natural teeth as possible. They are used to replace one or multiple teeth, or as an anchor for removable prosthetics. An implant-supported denture allows a denture to securely snap into place so patients can be comfortable and confident. They involve three parts that include the implant that is embedded in the jaw and becomes integrated into the bone, the abutment that joins to that and protrudes from the gum to receive a crown, and the final crown or prosthetic restoration. In our office, we work with several well-qualified surgeons to have the surgical part done, and we do the final restorations.

If you are missing one or more teeth, we can design a natural-looking dental bridge to fill in space and give you back a full smile. A dental bridge is a set of false teeth that attach to your natural teeth on either side of the gap. Made of natural, tooth-colored materials, a dental bridge looks and feels like real teeth. Cosmetic bridges are used to fill in a missing or severely decayed tooth by “bridging” the gap of the surrounding teeth. Also, fixed bridges function like real teeth, so they never need to be removed like dentures do.

Dentures are a removable replacement for one or more missing teeth. They are used to restore both function and aesthetics and are custom-made to fit your mouth and match the appearance of your natural teeth. Thanks to advancements in dentistry, dentures are now more comfortable and reliable than ever before.

Dentures come in both full and partial options; which one is right for you depends on your unique smile and how many healthy natural teeth you have remaining. Traditional full dentures fit comfortably in the mouth, sometimes requiring the use of a denture adhesive to stay in place while partial dentures often rely on strong, natural teeth and metal clasps to stay in place.

Use of complete dentures consists of both a top and bottom plate that can be fabricated in a number of ways. If a few teeth remain, these will generally be pulled to make room for the denture. The bottom denture will fit snug over the gum line in a horseshoe shape to make room for the tongue. The upper denture will cover the palate of the upper mouth to hold it firmly in place. Sometimes an implant can be used to secure dentures in place. Each individual will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Partial dentures consist of a removable acrylic bridge accompanied by metal framework that fits around remaining teeth to fill in the gap. Partials are typically used when both the remaining teeth and gums are in great condition, but there are several missing teeth on either the upper or lower jaw. Often, partials are used as a less invasive or non-surgical alternative to implants after an accident or injury results in missing teeth.

We’ll design your dentures to look aesthetically pleasing with your smile and to fit comfortably. Our office offers both partial and complete dentures, and we’ll help you determine the right solution for you when you come in for a consult.