Restorative Procedures

We perform a wide variety of restorative treatments: white fillings, onlays, inlays, crowns or dental implants. We will always consider first repairing your tooth with our innovative minimally invasive procedures.

Read more about Dental Restorations in our Newsletter

Avoiding Root Canals

White Fillings

Gallery: Case Studies

Today, there are many types of filling materials, including silver amalgam, gold, plastic, porcelain, and resin to name the most common available, and the cost of each varies. Some are considered unattractive and even unhealthy. In our practice we use composite resin that is biocompatible as the number one choice. Composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed teeth. This material requires only minimal tooth structure removal and is bonded to the tooth with excellent esthetic results. We follow the philosophy of conservative dentistry to restore an unhealthy tooth using only the least invasive method to maintain your natural smile.

Inlays & Onlays

Gallery: Case Studies

Once tooth decay becomes extensive, a filling may not be strong enough to restore the tooth. In that case a stronger restoration is prescribed – the onlay, inlay or crown. Instead of “filling” the decayed portion of the tooth, a ceramic crown or onlay, made in a dental laboratory, is placed over the natural tooth; this reinforces the tooth. Onlays are more conservative than crowns as they cover only a portion of the tooth. Onlay margins are placed supragingivally (above the gum line) so as not to compromise periodontal health. Onlays are made from tooth-colored material and are color-matched to adjacent tooth structure.

An Onlay is a minimally invasive alternative to a crown.

Crowns

Gallery: Case Studies

If your tooth has experienced severe decay, a chip or crack, it may need a crown to restore its previous shape. This is done by filing down the tooth structure to create a post, over which a crown is then placed. A crown can help reinforce a tooth that has a large filling or lacks the necessary structure to hold a larger filling or onlay. Sometimes crowns are used to build bridges, strengthen a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. It’s also used to restore a dental implant – an implant crown.

Implants

Gallery: Case Studies

Despite advancements in dental care, millions of Americans still suffer tooth loss -- due usually to tooth decay, gum disease, or injury. In the past, the dentist’s only options were to replace missing teeth with bridges or dentures. Today, fortunately, dental implants are available. Dental implants replace lost tooth roots and provide a strong foundation, often stronger than the natural tooth, for either a permanent or removable replacement tooth. And, like resin fillings, these will match the color of your natural teeth. We will make sure that your implants have the look and feel of natural teeth.

A NEW REPORT CONCLUDES THAT DENTAL IMPLANTS CAN SAVE COSTS AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE

Systematic review of 14 studies published between 2000 and 2010 concludes that, compared with traditional tooth replacement options, dental implant solutions:

• were generally cost-saving or cost-effective for single-tooth replacement,
• represented a cost-effective option for the replacement of multiple teeth over the long term, and
• led to better improvements in oral-health-related quality of life.

A report published as the lead article in the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants shows that dental implants offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional treatments for tooth replacement (Basel, 4 July 2013).

Read more about Implants in our Newsletter

Bridges

Gallery: Case Studies

Dental bridges bridge the gap when one or more teeth are missing. To make a dental bridge, two or more crowns are used as anchors in order to hold a false tooth or teeth in place. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants. There are several types of bridges and your dentist will determine the best, and of course, least invasive kind if you need a bridge.