Our Restorative Services
Our restorative services are designed to improve the function and aesthetics of your smile and overall oral health. We offer the following restorative treatments at our practice:
Tooth Filling
Tooth-colored fillings are the best way to restore minor to moderate instances of tooth decay. Most fillings these days consist of a material known as composite resin, an aesthetically pleasing material that we color-match to the existing shade of your enamel. For this reason, a composite filling is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of your tooth.
Dental Crown
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that improves the structure and cosmetics of a damaged or decayed tooth. During the procedure, your tooth must be completely reshaped to accommodate the shape of the crown. Once the tooth is reshaped, we will permanently bond the crown to the enamel using a special adhesive. Many crowns are fabricated these days with porcelain because the material provides unmatched aesthetics.
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a tooth replacement typically consisting of two dental crowns linked together by a pontic, or false tooth. A traditional bridge is supported by the two surrounding teeth, known as abutment teeth, that we reshape to receive the crowns.
A bridge can also be supported by a series of dental implants if multiple adjacent teeth are missing. If you are missing a tooth, a bridge will prevent the remaining teeth from shifting out of their proper position.
Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays are ideal for areas of decay that are too large for a filling but not large enough to require a dental crown. The restoration is considered an inlay if it's placed within a tooth's occlusal (bite) surface. The restoration is considered an onlay if it extends beyond one or more of the occlusal cusps.
Tooth Extraction
There are two types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical. We perform a simple extraction on a tooth that has already erupted above the gumline. We perform a surgical extraction on a tooth that has become impacted or has yet to erupt, such as wisdom teeth. Extraction may be necessary to prevent the spread of infection and other complications.
Root Canal
A root canal is performed in an effort to save a tooth from extraction. We may recommend a root canal if an infection has spread to the "pulpy" center of the tooth, which contains nerve endings and other connective tissues. Once the infection has been removed, we fill the canals with a rubber-like material known as gutta-percha. A tooth that has received root canal treatment must typically be capped with a crown.