If you have damaged or missing teeth, restorative dentistry can give you back your smile! There are several treatment options, from simple to advanced, that can help improve the function and overall appearance of your teeth. If you are interested in restorative dentistry, call our office in Central Florida today!
A crown is a restoration that covers the entire tooth to restore it to its natural look and function. Crowns are excellent solutions for problems such as broken or fractured teeth, decay, broken fillings, fixing large fillings, or if your tooth has had a root canal. The procedure usually requires two appointments. During your first appointment, we will take highly accurate molds that will help us create a perfectly fitted restoration. We will rid the tooth of the decay or any filling that is already existing. We will then fit you with a temporary crown while your permanent replacement is being made. Once your final crown is finished, we will make sure it fits perfectly and functions properly. Dental crowns can also be used with bridges or implants to replace missing teeth.
Partial dentures replace only a few teeth and prevent your existing teeth from shifting. Complete dentures replace all of your teeth on either your upper or lower jaw. Complete dentures can either be conventional or immediate. Conventional dentures allow the mouth time to heal after the teeth have been pulled and before the final dentures are placed. While they may take longer, they require less adjustment in the end. Immediate dentures are placed as soon as the teeth are pulled so you will immediately have a new smile. This method usually requires more adjustment appointments because your mouth will shift as it heals. Getting dentures is a big transition, and you will need to allow yourself time to adjust. Speaking and eating will feel much different initially, but don’t worry! You’ll soon be used to them and loving your new smile!
A dental bridge is a solution for replacing missing teeth. Unlike a removable denture, the dental bridge will be fixed into place. The most common type of fixed bridge has two crowns placed over the surrounding teeth that will act as anchors for the replacement tooth. The placement of your fixed bridge will take two visits. During the first, the abutment teeth will be prepared for the crowns and accurate impressions will be made to ensure that everything fits together properly. We will fit you with a temporary bridge while your permanent bridge is being made. When it is finished, it will be placed and cemented into place. Giving you a beautiful, whole smile again!
An inlay restoration is a filling typically made of composite material or tooth-colored porcelain. An inlay is an excellent solution for dental problems such as broken or fractured teeth, decayed teeth or simply for cosmetic purposes. An onlay is also known as a partial crown, and in some cases can be an ideal alternative to a crown because it requires less tooth material to be removed. They are essentially identical to inlays, the only difference is that one or more of the tooth’s cusps has been affected and requires covering with the filling.