Adult Dentistry

Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry can help improve the appearance and overall health of your smile after experiencing tooth loss or damage from disease, injury or other causes. It is important to seek proper treatment for lost or damaged teeth in order to prevent further damage and relieve difficulties with eating or speaking. There are several restorative options available to patients depending on their overall health, doctor's recommendations and personal preference.

Restorative materials may be used to:

Restore your smile
Reduce your risk of gum disease
Restore your ability to bite and chew
Improve your speech
Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position

Your doctor will discuss these different treatments with you to help you decide which option is best for you. We perform all of our restorative services with the highest level of care to help you improve the health and appearance of your smile.

Dentures

Dentures are prosthetic devices designed to help patients without teeth chew food and improve speaking habits. Additionally, dentures improve the patient's facial aesthetics and self-esteem. Dentures may be held in place by other restorative materials such as crowns or bridges.

There are three different types of dentures: full (complete), fixed, and removable. Full dentures are only required in patients who have lost all or most of the teeth on either of the two arches of the mouth (upper or lower). Most patients missing only a few teeth opt for fixed partial dentures, while removable dentures are usually only used by people who cannot have fixed dentures or have lost too many teeth for fixed dentures, but not enough for full dentures.

Crowns

Crowns are natural-looking, tooth-shaped caps that cover a damaged or missing tooth, restoring a full and beautiful smile. These caps are cemented into place to provide both strong and visibly appealing replacements for your natural teeth.

Many different materials can be used to make crowns, including metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal and resin. Each type has its own benefits, and your dentist can help you decide which material is best for you. Crowns are usually placed over the course of two to three office visits. They can be temporary or permanent and usually last between 5 and 15 years, depending on the wear and tear of the crown as well as the patient's oral hygiene habits.

Bridges

Bridges are natural-looking tooth replacements that help maintain facial structure, reduce stress on the jaw and fill in the gaps caused by missing teeth. Fixed bridges are cemented to the existing teeth and do not come out, while removable bridges can be taken out. There are different types of bridges available depending on the location of the missing teeth and the amount of support needed.

In order for a bridge to be placed, the adjacent teeth must be prepared by removing some of the enamel for the crown to be placed over them. Bridges are usually placed over the course of two to three office visits. Most bridges last from 5 to 15 years depending on the patient’s oral hygiene habits and several other factors.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are solid fillings used to restore damaged or decayed teeth. They are often needed when there is not enough healthy tissue left in the tooth to support a regular filling. Unlike regular fillings, inlays and onlays strengthen teeth rather than weaken them.

Inlays lie within the cusps, or bumps, on the surface of a tooth, while onlays cover one or more cusps. They are placed over the course of two visits and are typically made of composite resin or porcelain.

Dental Implants

Dental implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function just like natural teeth. They are titanium cylinders that are surgically implanted into the jawbone where the missing teeth were rooted, and are able to support one tooth, several teeth or all the teeth.

It is important for patients to have sufficient, strong bone in the area beneath the missing teeth in order to support the implants. Placement of dental implants is done over several appointments over the course of many months.

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