Restorative Dentistry
Dental fillings, crowns, bridges and more.
Dental Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are similar in color and texture to natural teeth. The fillings are less noticeable and much more attractive than amalgam, or “silver,” fillings. Composite fillings bond to natural tooth structure allowing for more conservative preparations, thus maintaining more of the natural tooth.
Made of specialized composite material, these types of fillings can be customized to tooth shape and color. Since they bond to the tooth, composite fillings restore most of the original strength of the tooth and can be placed in any area of the mouth.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a reliable way for dentists to help you maintain a healthy smile over many years. Over one or two office visits, this procedure can save a tooth from being lost prematurely.
A root canal is necessary when a tooth’s root is damaged by decay or a traumatic injury. If it remains untreated, the tooth can eventually abscess and result in an infection that can spread to other areas.
The overall purpose of a root canal is to save the damaged tooth. This is done by removing the infected pulp, treating any remaining infection, and filling the empty root canals with special medicated dental materials. Once a root canal has been completed, it is necessary to protect the tooth by placing a crown to prevent fracture or further deterioration.
Dental Crowns
Crowns are typically used on teeth that are broken, have large cavities or fillings that are so large that the remaining tooth structure is at risk of fracturing. They cover the surface of the tooth, protect teeth from breaking, and often improve the alignment of the teeth. They fit closely over the teeth, making them feel very natural. It is often difficult to tell the difference between a natural tooth and a tooth that has a crown.
Crowns generally support damaged teeth and fix functional chewing problems. Crowns are constructed from materials such as high-grade porcelain, gold, or porcelain bonded to gold.
Fitting a crown requires two visits to Murray Scholls Family Dental. Initially, our dentists will remove any decay, shape the tooth as needed, and then fit the tooth with a temporary crown.
On the subsequent visit, Dr. Walker and Dr. Maxim will remove the temporary crown, clean the natural tooth structure, and place the permanent crown. The permanent crown will be cemented into place, resulting in a new beautiful looking and natural feeling tooth.
Dental Bridges
The process of getting a bridge takes two visits to complete. On the first visit, teeth are prepared, and our dentists take an impression of the teeth. A temporary bridge will be made and placed for two weeks. During this time, the permanent bridge will be fabricated in a professional dental laboratory.
On the second visit, the temporary bridge will be removed, and the permanent bridge will be cemented into place. Dr. Walker and Dr. Maxim will then advise you on how to best take care of your teeth with the dental bridge. Flossing and brushing twice a day is required to protect your bridge and smile!
Dental Implant and Prosthetics
Dental implants are wonderful alternatives to dentures as well as an ideal way to replace individual missing teeth.
Dental implants are fixtures of titanium, which are surgically placed into your jaw bone. The implant acts as an anchor for a crown or denture to fit over. When a crown is placed on an implant, most people can’t even tell it is an implant because it is so natural in both looks and function.
After a periodontist or oral surgeon places one or more implants into a patient’s jaw, Dr. Walker and Dr. Maxim attach porcelain teeth to the implants. While dentures and removable partials are usually loose and unstable, implants provide you with dental replacements that are natural-looking and very functional.
Removable Dental Prosthesis
Dentures can replace missing teeth and can be utilized depending on your personal needs:
- Partial Dentures – A removable partial denture attaches to your natural teeth with clasps that keep them in place, completing your smile by filling out the spaces created by missing teeth. Partial dentures are constructed of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases connected by a metal framework. Your natural teeth are used as stable supports for removable partial dentures.
- Overdentures – Giving dentures more stability and a better fit, an overdenture is a type of denture that is placed over dental implants and typically “snaps” onto the implants.
Oral Surgery/Tooth Extractions
Our dentists may determine with you that one of your teeth needs to be extracted, which can occur for various reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth) in preparation for orthodontic treatment, or a tooth may be fractured beyond repair. A tooth may also be severely decayed or have advanced periodontal disease requiring extraction.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems involving your other teeth shifting, your ability to chew, and eventual problems with your jaw joint. To avoid these complications, Dr. Walker and Dr. Maxim will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as the replacement of the extracted tooth.
Periodontal Treatment
Bacteria are established in these deeper pockets, becoming increasingly difficult to remove and allowing the disease process to progress. As periodontal disease progresses, gum tissue and bone that hold teeth in place deteriorate, which can lead to tooth loss if left untreated.
Periodontal disease is best prevented by thorough daily brushing and flossing of your teeth, along with regular routine visits to see the hygienist.