Modern Treatments to Restore Your Smile
Missing a tooth or teeth can throw off the balance of your smile and affect your self-esteem, but restorative dentistry at Lakewood Dental can replace your teeth and give you a natural-looking smile again!
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
The increased use of fluorides and patient awareness have led to decreased tooth decay over the years, but teeth are still susceptible to decay, infection, and breakage.
Thanks to improved techniques and modern technology, we offer more options for restoring a tooth back to its normal shape, look, and function at Lakewood Dental.
If your teeth need restorative treatment, our Batesville dental team will discuss all of your options with you and recommend the most comfortable and least invasive treatment.
It's our top priority to provide you with excellent care as we restore your beautiful smile.
Reasons for Restorative Dentistry
- Enhancing your smile
- Filling in unattractive spaces between teeth
- Improving or correcting an improper bite
- Preventing the loss of a tooth
- Relieving dental pain
- Repairing damaged and decayed teeth
- Replacing missing teeth
- Replacing old, unattractive dental restorations and prosthesis
- Restoring normal eating and chewing
Restorative Dental Services
- Amalgam fillings
- Composite fillings
- Crowns
- Dental implants
- Dentures & partial dentures
- Root canal therapy
- Veneers & bridges
Fillings
Dental fillings are a common treatment for dental caries or tooth decay. A dental filling is a restorative material that repairs a damaged or decayed tooth, restoring its function and appearance.
These fillings are made from composite resin, amalgam, porcelain, or gold. Each type of filling has its advantages and considerations. Dr. Thompson or Dr. Amann will choose the best filling material based on factors such as the location of the filling and your preferences.
For composite resin fillings, we apply the material in layers, using a special light to harden each layer. Your dentist sculpts and shapes the filling to match the natural contours of your tooth. In the case of amalgam fillings, the material is mixed and packed into the prepared cavity and then shaped and polished.
After placing the filling material, Dr. Thompson or Dr. Amann will check your bite to ensure that the tooth's occlusion (how the teeth come together) is not affected.
Once we've placed the filling and the adjusted your bite, the dentist will polish the filling material to smooth out any rough edges and make it blend seamlessly with the surrounding tooth structure. This helps improve the overall appearance and reduces the risk of plaque accumulation.
Crowns
Dental crowns or caps are prosthetic restorations Dr. Thompson and Dr. Amann place over damaged, weakened, or aesthetically compromised teeth. They are custom-made to cover the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line, encasing it like a "cap." Dental crowns improve the tooth's strength, functionality, and appearance.
Crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys (such as gold or stainless steel), or a combination of materials. The choice of material depends on factors such as the location of the tooth, your preferences, and the functional requirements of the tooth.
Dental crowns serve several purposes. They can:
- Protect a tooth with significant decay, damage, or a root canal procedure
- Restore a broken or fractured tooth
- Strengthen a tooth with a large filling
- Support a dental bridge (a prosthetic tooth anchored to adjacent teeth)
- Improve the appearance of misshapen, discolored, or severely stained teeth, enhancing the appearance of your smile
To prepare for a dental crown, your dentist will remove some of the outer structure. Next, they'll take an impression to create a custom crown that perfectly fits the tooth's shape and size. The permanent crown is fabricated in a dental laboratory and bonded onto the prepared tooth using dental cement or adhesive.
Dental crowns are durable and can last many years when properly cared for. Regular oral hygiene practices, including brushing, flossing, and routine dental check-ups, are essential to maintain the health and longevity of dental crowns.
Bridges
Dental bridges are prosthetic devices that replace missing teeth. They consist of one or more artificial teeth, called pontics, held in place by dental crowns on the teeth adjacent to the gap. The crowns serve as anchors or abutments, providing support and stability for the bridge.
Dental bridges have several benefits. They help restore the function of missing teeth, allowing for improved chewing and speaking ability. Bridges also help maintain the natural alignment of the remaining teeth, preventing them from shifting or drifting out of position. Additionally, bridges can enhance your smile's appearance, filling in gaps and improving overall facial aesthetics.
The process of getting a dental bridge involves multiple steps. We'll prepare the teeth adjacent to the gap for dental crowns by shaving the outer layer.
Next, we'll take an impression is taken to create a customized bridge that fits the specific dimensions and alignment of the prepared teeth and the missing tooth or teeth. Your dentist may use a temporary bridge to protect the exposed teeth and gums while you wait for the permanent one.
Once the permanent bridge is ready, we'll make sure it looks and feel natural. Your dentist will remove the temporary bridge and bond the permanent bridge in place using dental adhesive. The bridge is carefully adjusted and polished to ensure a comfortable and natural-looking result.
Proper oral hygiene practices, including regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups, are essential to maintain the health and longevity of dental bridges. With good care, dental bridges can provide functional and aesthetic benefits for many years, restoring the smile and confidence of individuals with missing teeth.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy, or endodontic treatment, is a dental procedure to save severely infected or damaged teeth. This treatment removes pulp tissue from the tooth's interior, relieving pain and preserving the natural tooth structure.
Dr. Thompson or Dr. Amann will recommend this procedure when the tooth's pulp, which contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, becomes infected or inflamed. This can occur due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, cracks or fractures, or trauma. The infection can spread without treatment, leading to abscess formation, severe pain, and potential tooth loss.
During root canal therapy, your dentist will remove the damaged pulp tissue from the pulp chamber and root canals. The canals are then cleaned, shaped, and disinfected to ensure the complete removal of bacteria and debris.
Once the canals are clean and infection-free, your dentist seals them with a biocompatible material to prevent reinfection.
After root canal therapy, the tooth requires a permanent restoration to protect and restore its function. In most cases, a dental crown is placed over the treated tooth. The crown provides strength, stability, and aesthetics, allowing the tooth to function and appear natural. With the proper restoration, the treated tooth can continue to work properly.
Root canal therapy alleviates pain, preserves the natural tooth structure, and eliminates the need for more invasive and costly tooth replacement options. With proper oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy can last a lifetime, contributing to a healthy and functional smile.