Restorations
If you are one of the many individuals who wish they could turn back time to when your smile wasn’t affected by wear, damage, or decay, modern restorative dentistry offers solutions. Igal Leizerovich, DDS and his team at Elite Dentistry work hard so your smile can look and feel like new and last a lifetime.
Whatever condition your teeth are in, we can provide many ways to restore the full function, health, and beauty of your smile. Call our office today to schedule your appointment.
CALL US: (805) 375-1444 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
Why Dental Restorations Are Necessary
Whether due to an accident or injury, teeth often suffer damage and need to be treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, in addition to discomfort, your smile may be vulnerable to further damage or infection.
Restorative dental care is also needed after a tooth has become infected. When you have a deep cavity that has exposed the inner working of your tooth to inflammation and bacteria, root canal therapy may be needed.
With restorative dentistry, not only can our team remove the infection, but we have a higher chance of preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible, allowing continued function and avoiding extraction. It is much better for your overall oral health in the long run to keep your natural teeth.
What Types of Restorations Are Available for Missing Teeth?
At Elite Dentistry, we proudly provide the following treatment for restorative care:
What are My Options if I have Teeth Missing?
Here at Elite Dentistry, we have many restorative options to help you if you are missing a tooth or teeth, or if you will need to replace a tooth. When you visit our office, our dentist will examine your teeth and gums, discuss your smile goals, and review your treatment options.
These options include:
Dental implants
These posts serve as artificial tooth roots and because of their titanium makeup, they fuse permanently with living tissue and bone in a vital process called osseointegration. Surgically inserted into the jawbone, dental implants are considered the most ideal way to replace missing teeth.
Implants can restore the essential stimulation your jawbone needs to remain healthy and functional, and can support crowns, bridges, and dentures.
The Many Pros of Dental Implants:
- Success rates of over 95% in healthy patients
- Provide long-lasting comfort and stability
- No altering of neighboring teeth is required
- Easy maintenance – you can brush and floss as normal
- Completely natural-looking aesthetics
Dental implants are designed with the intention of lasting a lifetime. By practicing good oral hygiene at home and regularly visiting our office for preventive care, you can keep your dental implant in ideal condition.
Dental bridges
A prosthetic bridge is a proven solution for single or multiple tooth replacement. A bridge can consist of crowns being added to two neighboring teeth on either side of the space, and then a fake tooth or "pontic" is added to fill the space.
Bridges can also be affixed to dental implants, eliminating the need to use healthy, remaining teeth as an anchor. These are called fixed bridges because they are not removable.
The Advantages of Dental Bridges:
- Fixed and comfortable
- Cost-effective
- Quicker solution
- Improved aesthetics
- Less dependent on health history
Partial dentures
Partials are designed in the same arch to replace one or more missing teeth that may or may not be adjacent to each other. The denture is an acrylic base that is sometimes reinforced with a framework of metal.
It will often have metal clasps fitting over your existing teeth, keeping the denture firmly in place but still allowing it to be removed easily. Some are made of a flexible nylon material with clasps made of gum-colored nylon, making them less noticeable.
The Benefits of Partial Dentures:
- Cost-effective
- No surgery required
- Only minor alterations to existing teeth
- Easy and simple treatment
Full dentures
When there are no teeth remaining, full dentures are an excellent and highly-favorable solution to restoring your smile. They consist of multiple prosthetic teeth attached to a pink acrylic base designed to blend with your natural gums. Complete dentures can be removable or attached to dental implants for reliable and long-lasting security.
Pros of Full Dentures:
- Can significantly improve appearance
- Provide support for the facial muscles, creating a more youthful appearance
- Improved speech and ability to eat comfortably
- Cost-effective and quick solution
- Can be adjusted to accommodate changing shape of the jawbone
How does my Dentist Decide whether a Crown or a Filling is needed?
It’s not always straightforward when determining whether a crown or a filling is necessary. Ultimately, our team will make a recommendation based on a variety of factors.
Here is a look at two of the top considerations when choosing between a crown and a filling.
1. The Condition of the Tooth Remaining
The stability of the remaining tooth’s structure matters a lot. A composite filling can be a reliable and durable solution if sufficient integrity of the tooth remains in good shape. If your tooth is fragile due to damage, a crown may be more ideal.
The crown will also enhance the strength of the tooth against fractures. If there is a tooth fracture, a root canal may be needed. In the worst case, it will require an extraction.
2. The Likeliness of Decay or Dental Damage
If there is a higher chance that you might experience a dental fracture or decay, cavities are also more likely. This can be particularly hard on your teeth and bite.
In these cases, a crown makes the most sense for trustworthy protection against future cracks, fracture, decay, or infection.
When Composite Fillings are Best
A filling involves removing decayed tooth material, cleaning the tooth and placing the filling afterwards. Fillings are ideal for restoring damage and sealing off decay while preserving almost all of a tooth’s natural structure.
Fillings seal teeth and help to restore better oral health. They also provide good stability for preventing future fractures and splitting.
Composite filling materials bind well to teeth and offers visually-appealing results for those who need minor improvements.
When a Crown is Best
Crowns are an ideal way to restore teeth in instances where there is considerable tooth decay or damage. A crown is a prosthetic life-like tooth that fits over the natural tooth. Crowns are made from stronger material and will protect the tooth better than composite material will.
If you maintain your dental crown properly, it can last up to ten years or longer.
Why We Use Metal-Free Dental Restorations
At Elite Dentistry, we work hard to ensure your smile not only functions beautifully but is as radiant as it is healthy. That’s why we insist on only using the highest-quality material for every restoration we provide. Research has shown that although metal is strong, it is not as healthy and can have some unpleasant effects on the body. While metal restorations like fillings and crowns were common many years ago, the dental profession has moved away from metal for many reasons such as:
Durability and Strength: The composite and porcelain materials we use bond with the teeth to form a strong foundation that strengthens weak or damaged teeth.
Natural Appearance: While restorations reinforce strength and restore damaged teeth, patients also prefer restorations be more aesthetic. The newer tooth colored materials are very strong but are much more aesthetic.
Less Chances of Allergic Reaction: Some of the metals found in metal restorations are can cause reactions to a small percentage of the population. Allergic reactions irritate the mouth's soft tissues, such as gums, causing inflammation. And, such allergies might require you to replace these dental restorations.
No Worries About Mercury: Metal-free restorations do not contain mercury as do the metal (amalgam) options.
If you are interested in finding out more about removing metal restorations from your teeth, contact our office today.
Should I Have Restorative Work Done or Extraction?
Retaining your original teeth when possible is always the better option for your long-term oral health and function. Our dentist will not recommend extracting a tooth unless it could cause damage to your surrounding teeth or if the tooth has a hopeless prognosis.
In the event that your tooth is damaged by an injury, infection, or severe decay, your dentist will evaluate your tooth to see if a Root Canal is the best option for you. Many times this option is able to save and repair the tooth, and give you many more years of function.
Isn’t Root Canal Therapy Painful?
Normally, the procedure does not cause any more discomfort than having a tooth filled. Your tooth will be numbed and there should be minimal discomfort. Most patients experience more pain before the procedure because the inner workings of your tooth hold the nerves, tissues, and blood vessels, also known as the pulp, and when that material is inflamed by infection or decay it can cause severe pain. This pain is relieved by root canal therapy by releasing the infection and removing the nerve. Patients usually feel immediate relief from the pain, but it can take up to a month to feel completely pain free.
What Happens During a Root Canal?
After numbing the area, the pulp chamber is accessed by a tiny hole in your tooth. We use a special tool to remove the diseased tissue and then disinfect the pulp chamber and the canal(s) all the way to the ends of the root.
These chambers are then filled with a safe antibacterial material and sealed with a cement adhesive. A natural-looking crown is designed to fit seamlessly and offers long-lasting function to your bite.
What Happens After My Root Canal Procedure?
If your tooth is sensitive, you can use over-the-counter pain medication. If infection was present you will sometimes be prescribed an antibiotic as well. A temporary crown is used to protect the area and you will be instructed not to chew on that tooth until your permanent crown is placed.
Restore Your Smile to Its Optimal Potential Today!
If you would like to know more about repairing damaged teeth or replacing missing ones, contact Elite Dentistry. Igal Leizerovich, DDS and his team make every effort to help you achieve the healthy, functional, and beautiful smile you deserve.
CALL US: (805) 375-1444 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
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