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Restorative Procedures
During a dental examination your dentist will use instruments, tests, radiographs (X-rays) and clinical expertise to diagnose potential or existent disease states and pathologies. An individualized plan is developed to prevent or treat disease states of the oral cavity. In the case of cosmetic dentistry, your dentist will work with you to identify your aesthetic goals.
Dental Fillings: Dental fillings are used to repair damage to the structure of a tooth or teeth. Structural damage can be caused as a result of tooth decay, wear or trauma. After the removal of a problematic tooth structure, the tooth is restored with one of several filling materials: Composite resin (white filling material) or porcelain. Each filling material has its advantages and disadvantages. Your dentist will work with you to determine which material is appropriate for you.
Inlays and Onlays: Made of a strong, natural-looking material, such as porcelain or composite, inlays and onlays are used to restore inside the cusps of the tooth. In certain cases, inlays and onlays are a conservative alternative to full coverage dental crowns. Inlays and onlays can often be used in place of traditional dental fillings to treat tooth decay or similar structural damage.
Bonding: Bonding is the term used to describe the process of using composite resins to "glue" materials to the surface of a tooth for restorative purposes. The bonding process is applicable in almost every dental procedure performed today. It is accomplished in one visit to the dentist. No mold-taking, no “temporary,” no lab-fabrication is required. And it may take care of chips, gaps between the teeth, staining, splotches from wearing braces, crookedness or even teeth whose shapes are displeasing. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive. An enamel-like composite material is applied to the surface of a tooth, sculpted into shape, contoured and polished, making the crack or chip invisible.
Dental Crowns: A crown is a custom-made restoration that repairs and strengthens a tooth that has fractured, has a large cavity, has an old filling that has failed, or has had root canal therapy. Fabricated of all-porcelain or metal-ceramic for strength, endurance and appearance, a crown completely covers the tooth, restoring and protecting. Crowns can also be used for cosmetic purposes, enhancing the appearance of a tooth that is discolored or an unusual shape.
Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are false teeth anchored on neighboring teeth in order to replace one or more missing teeth. The false tooth is known as a pontic. The pontic is fused between two crowns that serve as anchors by attaching to the teeth on each side of the false tooth and thereby bridging them together.
Dental Implants: Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. An implant can replace a single missing tooth and multiple implants can be used to support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing teeth. Implants can also be used to increase the retention of dentures. Another implant advantage is that they do not require the preparation of adjacent teeth that would be necessary for bridgework.
Full Mouth Reconstruction: Full mouth rehabilitation and full mouth restoration are terms often used interchangeably to describe the process of rebuilding or simultaneously restoring all of the teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. Most full mouth reconstructions involve multiple phases and office visits.
Periodontal (Gum Disease) Treatment: Early gum disease treatment may include tooth scaling and cleaning at three-month intervals along with use of medicated mouthwash and proper flossing. Later-stage gum disease treatment may include deep-plane scaling and periodontal surgery.
Dentures: Dentures are removal replacements for your teeth that are designed to look and function like your own natural teeth and surrounding gum tissues. Modern day dentures can look very realistic and natural and feel comfortable. Dentures are used to replace missing teeth or damaged teeth that cannot be otherwise repaired. Alternative methods used to replace missing teeth include dental implants and fixed bridges.
Root Canal: A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
Post and Core: Is a procedure that is required in order to rebuild and strengthen a tooth that had root canal treatment. It adds the proper support necessary to restore a tooth with a cap or crown.
Orthodontics: Misaligned teeth and malocclusions can be straightened and corrected with dental braces and retainers. Orthodontics is both a functional and cosmetic treatment, and has become an increasingly popular field of dentistry.
During a dental examination your dentist will use instruments, tests, radiographs (X-rays) and clinical expertise to diagnose potential or existent disease states and pathologies. An individualized plan is developed to prevent or treat disease states of the oral cavity. In the case of cosmetic dentistry, your dentist will work with you to identify your aesthetic goals.
Dental Fillings: Dental fillings are used to repair damage to the structure of a tooth or teeth. Structural damage can be caused as a result of tooth decay, wear or trauma. After the removal of a problematic tooth structure, the tooth is restored with one of several filling materials: Composite resin (white filling material) or porcelain. Each filling material has its advantages and disadvantages. Your dentist will work with you to determine which material is appropriate for you.
Inlays and Onlays: Made of a strong, natural-looking material, such as porcelain or composite, inlays and onlays are used to restore inside the cusps of the tooth. In certain cases, inlays and onlays are a conservative alternative to full coverage dental crowns. Inlays and onlays can often be used in place of traditional dental fillings to treat tooth decay or similar structural damage.
Bonding: Bonding is the term used to describe the process of using composite resins to "glue" materials to the surface of a tooth for restorative purposes. The bonding process is applicable in almost every dental procedure performed today. It is accomplished in one visit to the dentist. No mold-taking, no “temporary,” no lab-fabrication is required. And it may take care of chips, gaps between the teeth, staining, splotches from wearing braces, crookedness or even teeth whose shapes are displeasing. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive. An enamel-like composite material is applied to the surface of a tooth, sculpted into shape, contoured and polished, making the crack or chip invisible.
Dental Crowns: A crown is a custom-made restoration that repairs and strengthens a tooth that has fractured, has a large cavity, has an old filling that has failed, or has had root canal therapy. Fabricated of all-porcelain or metal-ceramic for strength, endurance and appearance, a crown completely covers the tooth, restoring and protecting. Crowns can also be used for cosmetic purposes, enhancing the appearance of a tooth that is discolored or an unusual shape.
Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are false teeth anchored on neighboring teeth in order to replace one or more missing teeth. The false tooth is known as a pontic. The pontic is fused between two crowns that serve as anchors by attaching to the teeth on each side of the false tooth and thereby bridging them together.
Dental Implants: Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. An implant can replace a single missing tooth and multiple implants can be used to support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing teeth. Implants can also be used to increase the retention of dentures. Another implant advantage is that they do not require the preparation of adjacent teeth that would be necessary for bridgework.
Full Mouth Reconstruction: Full mouth rehabilitation and full mouth restoration are terms often used interchangeably to describe the process of rebuilding or simultaneously restoring all of the teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. Most full mouth reconstructions involve multiple phases and office visits.
Periodontal (Gum Disease) Treatment: Early gum disease treatment may include tooth scaling and cleaning at three-month intervals along with use of medicated mouthwash and proper flossing. Later-stage gum disease treatment may include deep-plane scaling and periodontal surgery.
Dentures: Dentures are removal replacements for your teeth that are designed to look and function like your own natural teeth and surrounding gum tissues. Modern day dentures can look very realistic and natural and feel comfortable. Dentures are used to replace missing teeth or damaged teeth that cannot be otherwise repaired. Alternative methods used to replace missing teeth include dental implants and fixed bridges.
Root Canal: A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
Post and Core: Is a procedure that is required in order to rebuild and strengthen a tooth that had root canal treatment. It adds the proper support necessary to restore a tooth with a cap or crown.
Orthodontics: Misaligned teeth and malocclusions can be straightened and corrected with dental braces and retainers. Orthodontics is both a functional and cosmetic treatment, and has become an increasingly popular field of dentistry.
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