The goal of restorative dentistry is to repair or replace tooth structure lost to disease (cavities) or trauma.
In our office we practice a minimally invasive approach that preserves as much of the tooth as possible. Most importantly, we focus on prevention and enhancing health instead of just reacting to disease-“drilling and filling.”
Direct Repair (Fillings)
Direct restorations or “filings” are used when damage is limited and there is sufficient remaining tooth to support the material.
Today, composite resin (a tooth colored material) is used to repair the tooth instead of silver amalgam. The main advantage is that resin bonds to the tooth which helps us preserve more of your own tooth structure which improves the longevity of the filling and the life of the tooth.
As for quality-we aim for perfection in our work and guarantee everything for quality and durability. The final and most important part of the equation is maintenance. Firstly, how did the problem occur? And what do we change to avoid recurrence?
One of the most important parts of our job (and the one most likely to be skipped in the past) is to teach you what it takes to keep the filling and tooth healthy-things like proper brushing and flossing techniques. In this way, we partner with you to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.
Indirect Repair (Crowns or Bridges)
Dental Crowns
Crowns are used to restore teeth severely damaged by fracture or decay. After the tooth surface is cleaned and prepared, the crown is placed to cover the remainder of the tooth.
The crown strengthens the tooth structure and helps prevent future decay. Crowns also improve the tooth’s look, shape and alignment.
Dental Bridges
Bridges are used to replace a missing tooth in both a cosmetic and functional fashion. A bridge structure is one or more artificial teeth anchored in place by natural teeth, crowns or implants on each side of the bridge.
Using a bridge to fill the gap from missing teeth helps restore proper bite. It also prevents teeth from shifting to fill the gap (which may lead to additional bite and jaw joint issues).
Same Day Crowns
Same-day crowns are now possible for most of the crowns we do in our office. We use a laser scanner and CAD?CAM technology to fabricate your crown in a matter of hours.
The process for a same-day crown begins with preparing the tooth-removing decay and old restorations if present, sealing and rebuilding the foundation of the tooth, and shaping it to receive the permanent crown. Then we scan the tooth with a laser scanner and use a CAD/CAM process to create a crown that is beautiful and will last as long as one made the “old-fashioned” way. No more goopy impressions! No more hassles with temporary crowns!
