Restorative dentistry refers to the restoration and rehabilitation of teeth damaged or lost by decay, trauma, or other factors. Restorative dentistry is not just the filling of cavities. It is creating fillings and crowns that function naturally, replacement of missing teeth with implants or bridges and making sure that all of your teeth function together to create an esthetic and harmonious smile. At O’Bryan Advanced Dentistry we not only fix the damage but also restore the esthetics and function of your teeth at the same time. Dr.’s O’Bryan and Gridley use not only the most advanced technology, but also have trained with world renowned Doctors to bring the latest therapies to their patients.
Restorative dentistry refers to the restoration and rehabilitation of teeth damaged or lost by decay, trauma, or other factors.
There are various ways to restore teeth. If the tooth has not had a filling before; then composite resin is usually the material of choice. Composite is a mixture of resin and ceramic filler that is bonded to the tooth. Since the material is bonded, less tooth structure needs to be removed. This means less drilling and less damage to the natural tooth.
If the tooth already has a filling then a simple direct filling may not be the best option. If the existing filling is large enough then a crown may be in order. At O’Bryan Advanced Dentistry we use CEREC technology to restore your tooth in one visit.
Sometimes the tooth has a filling that is large but not large enough to warrant a crown. In those instances the doctors may opt to mill your filling with the CEREC technology. This allows for greater control of the material and makes for a stronger filling than placing a large direct material.
If a tooth is missing then there are two primary ways to replace the missing tooth. The first is an implant which is detailed here. The other is a bridge or fixed partial dentures as dentists like to call them. This consist of crowning the teeth on either side of the missing space and fabricating a restoration that fits over the teeth that have been prepared and has a connecting tooth in the middle. The bridge can be made of any number of materials from pure metal to all-ceramic or a combination of both. The bridge is cemented into place and cannot be removed.