When getting your cavities filled, tooth colored fillings (composites) are an option. These may be used in place of silver amalgam fillings. Composites are natural looking and are barely noticeable at all.

Crowns are used to repair badly decayed, broken, discolored, or misaligned teeth. Crowns completely cover teeth, restoring them to their natural size, shape and function. The location of the crown in the mouth usually dictates the type of material used. The tooth under the crown is reduced in size and the crown will be permanently cemented over the reduced tooth.

While you are waiting for the permanent crown to be fabricated you will be fitted with a temporary crown to wear. Crowns have a much longer life span than bonding, resist stains better, hold their color and resists chipping and cracking. However, crowns take longer to prepare than bonding and are not reversible.

A partial denture is a removable dental appliance supported by your natural teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. Many options are available, but often a partial denture is a treatment choice. A bridge or implant may be the preferred treatment and your Dentist will advise you on the best option.

Today, a wide variety of partial denture designs are available. Call our office to schedule a consultation visit to see if a partial is your solution.

A fixed bridge is a device used to fill the space where a tooth is missing. A typical bridge consists of a pontic (a filler tooth) that is attached to two surrounding crowns (abutments). Once complete, this bridge is cemented into the mouth. Without the use of a bridge, spaces in the mouth from missing teeth can cause multiple teeth to shift leading to occlusion (biting) and/or jaw problems. Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.

Implants are made of titanium, an inert metal which has been proven to be effective at fusing with bone, a process known as "osseointegration". The cylindrical or screw type implant called "root form", is similar in shape to the root of the tooth with a surface area designed to promote good attachment to the bone. It is the most widely used design and generally placed where there is a sufficient amount of bone.

Root form implants are commonly used in wide, deep bone to provide a base for replacement of one, several or a complete arch of teeth. After implants are placed the healing period usually requires 4 to 6 months. During this time the bone grows in and around the implant creating a strong structural support. When healing is complete, your implant is uncovered and an abutment is attached to it. Now the implant and abutment act as a solid unit ready to support your new tooth or teeth.

Dental bonding, also known as tooth bonding, is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that can be used to repair chipped, cracked, or discolored teeth. Composite bonding material can also be used to fill in gaps between teeth, protect the root of a tooth, or serve as an alternative to silver amalgam fillings. Dental bonding takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour to complete, and is performed in a single visit.