Improving & Restoring Your Smile

Fillings are used to restore teeth after decayed tooth structure and cavities have been removed. Our practice utilized tooth-colored fillings. The material we use is durable and strong and withstands the forces of chewing. Composite fillings offer a more conservative option than amalgam/silver fillings. This type of filling helps to improve the color, strength, and stability of a tooth. It also saves the natural tooth structure and protects against broken teeth. To ensure the fillings are virtually undetectable, we carefully match the composition material to your natural tooth color and structure.

Made from a variety of materials, dental crowns are a great restoration option for both front and back teeth. We utilize dental crowns for teeth that are broken or decayed, and those where a filling is no longer an option. For many patients, a crown is only successful if the tooth is restored with a core-buildup or a filling in the middle segment of the tooth. This is especially true for patients who have received a root canal. Once placed, the finished crown will restore a tooth’s strength and provide you with a natural-looking, long-lasting restoration.

Tooth loss can create greater problems for your oral health if it is not corrected. A dental bridge is utilized when tooth loss occurs due to decay, gum disease, or injury. If left untreated, the teeth next to the missing tooth (or teeth) can shift and result in pain, discomfort, and can look unsightly. The bridge looks and acts just like your natural teeth and is permanently cemented into your mouth. It works to maintain the position of the rest of your teeth.

If you are missing all of your natural teeth, dentures provide a replacement option. Removable dentures are designed to restore function, beauty, and health to your smile and mouth. Every set of dentures is custom crafted to fit your mouth snugly and comfortably. Dentures can help replace your missing teeth, prevent facial sagging, and help restore your ability to eat and speak.

If you have a tooth that is beyond repair or is putting other teeth at risk due to its level of decay, an extraction may be necessary. Poorly positioned or overcrowded teeth may be another cause for extraction. We will work with you to determine if your tooth needs to be extracted and then discuss the best replacement options. Making sure you are comfortable throughout the entire process is our priority, as is protecting your future dental health.

Endodontics or root canal therapy is a necessary treatment when severe trauma or a cavity has affected the pulp of a tooth. If an infection reaches the nerve of a tooth, it must be removed, as the area cannot heal itself. During a root canal, we will clean out the infected pulp, disinfect the canals of your tooth, and then fill in the remaining tooth. For many patients, the tooth will be restored with a dental crown.

Replacing a missing tooth after an injury or extraction is essential. Leaving a gap in your smile can cause your remaining teeth to shift. It can also destabilize your bite and lead to discomfort. When properly maintained, a dental implant can provide you with a permanent, natural-looking restoration. The implant consists of titanium posts which are surgically inserted into the bone beneath the gums. As the area is healing, the posts fuse to the jawbone. This provides a strong foundation for a replacement crown, bridge, or dentures.

After your posts have been inserted and the area has healed, we will place the restoration. This will look, feel, and function like a natural tooth. You must have sufficient bone structure to be a good candidate for this procedure.