Restorative Dentistry

Fillings and Bonding

A filling is used to restore a tooth that has been damaged due to decay, crack, fracture, or wear.  When a filling is placed, the damaged tooth structure is removed and the tooth is shaped to best support the new filling.  Fillings can be tooth colored composite resin, porcelain or silver amalgam. 

A tooth colored filling is used when there is a need to improve the appearance of discolored teeth, protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede, close the space between tooth gaps or change the shape of the teeth.

Crowns

A dental crown, sometimes called a cap, is a type of dental restoration that completely encircles a damaged tooth in order to protect the remaining tooth structure and restore the natural look of the tooth.  Crowns are placed on teeth that have been prepared to allow room for the material to fit within your bite.  Crowns may be made out of tooth-colored materials, metal or a combination of the two.  

In our office, crowns are often made “same day” in a one office visit procedure.  After the tooth is prepared, images are made with an intra-oral camera and the crown is designed on a computer attached to the camera.  The crown is then made using a milling unit and ceramic oven that we have in the office.  The crown fit is verified and the crown is cemented onto your tooth.   After some minor adjustments for bite and polishing, your crown is complete in just one visit.  

Occasionally, a crown must be made by a lab.  When this occurs, there are some differences in the procedure.  A putty impression is made instead of images.  A temporary crown is made and fit to your bite.  This temporary crown is worn while your crown is custom made at a lab and returned to us.  At a second appointment, typically 2 to 3 weeks later, the temporary crown is removed and the lab made crown is cemented into place.