Restorative Dentistry - Little Falls, NJ Dentist
Tooth structure can be missing due to decay, deterioration of a previously placed restoration, or fracture of a tooth. Tooth restorations are the various ways we can replace or restore missing teeth or missing parts of the tooth structure. Examples of restorations include fillings, crowns, dental bridges, implants and dentures. We use all mercury and metal free fillings and crowns for better comfort, health, and cosmetic result.
Bridges
Dental bridges may be used in conjunction with crowns to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress on your bite. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, literally bridging the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials, and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.
Crowns
Crowns are a cosmetic restoration used to strengthen a tooth or improve its shape. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or partially destroyed by tooth decay. Crowns are "cemented" onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth's new outer surface. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong. At our practice, we use only metal-free crowns.
Dental Implants
If you've lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health. A dental implant is essentially a synthetic tooth root in the form of a titanium post that is surgically embedded into the jawbone. An abutment, also known as a connector, is built and placed on the top of the implant and connects to the replacement tooth. The replacement tooth is a crown that is created to uniquely match your natural teeth. Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss and offer the best stability and durability.
Dentures
Dentures are natural-looking replacement teeth that are removable. There are two types of dentures: full and partial. Full dentures are given to patients when all of the natural teeth have been removed. Conventional full dentures are placed after the gum tissue has healed, which can take several months. Immediate full dentures are placed immediately after the teeth have been removed and may require frequent adjustments during the first couple of months of use. Partial dentures are attached to a metal frame that is connected to your natural teeth and are used to fill in where permanent teeth have been removed. Partial dentures are considered a removable alternative to bridges.
Metal-Free Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings, also called cosmetic or composite fillings, can help restore your damaged teeth and provide cosmetic beauty. This type of filling uses composite resins (rather than metal) which offer a more natural-looking appearance and blends right in with your natural tooth. This type of filling is an excellent choice for repairing teeth that are chipped, cracked, decayed, damaged, stained, or discolored.
Composite fillings can also be used to replace old metal fillings. Large metal fillings can actually weaken a tooth, structurally cutting the tooth in half. When you bite hard on a large metal filling, there is a good chance the filling can fracture, taking part of your precious tooth structure with it. On the other hand, cosmetic tooth-colored fillings can strengthen damaged teeth because the material used actually bonds your tooth structure together.
