Fillings, Crowns and Root Canals
Dental Fillings
Bright is right for dental fillings! Tooth-colored or composite resin restorations are good for your smile and your health. Placing tooth-colored restorations is highly technique-sensitive and requires our full focus, so we choose to offer only composite dental fillings, not silver.
Preparation for composite dental fillings is similar to preparation for a silver filling, but it is a much more conservative treatment, because less tooth structure is removed. First, we remove the decay. Then we place the composite material, bond it into place, and cure it with a strong light. Finally, we adjust the restoration to your bite, and smooth and polish it.
The result is a brighter smile and healthier teeth!
Tooth Crowns
A tooth crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a tooth. It covers the tooth to restore its shape, size and strength. A tooth crown can also be fabricated to enhance appearance. Crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
A tooth crown is made with all-gold, gold with a porcelain veneer or all-porcelain. We can help you decide which is best for you.
The process requires two steps. First, we prepare the tooth for the crown, take an impression of the preparation and place a temporary crown on the tooth. At your second appointment, we cement the final tooth crown.
Root Canals
Natural teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Even teeth that are injured or diseased can often be saved through root canal treatment. Root canal treatment involves shaping the tooth's interior and placing a filling in the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured and unable to repair itself, it loses its vitality. The most common causes of pulp disease, which lead to a root canal, are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity and traumatic injury to the tooth. If root canal treatment is not provided, an abscess can form at the end of the root, resulting in pain and swelling. Even if there is no pain, substances released by bacteria can damage the bone that anchors the tooth in the jaw.
Root canal treatment usually involves one to three visits. During root canal treatment, we remove the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal are then cleaned, shaped, filled and sealed off from the bone surrounding the root. In case of considerable tooth structure loss, a metal or plastic rod or post may be placed in the root canal for structural support, and a crown is usually placed over the tooth to stabilize it. Crowns are made from a number of materials. We primarily use porcelain or porcelain over gold so you maintain a bright, natural smile.
Root canals will help your tooth remain healthy. However, brushing, flossing and regular dental exams are necessary to prevent both tooth decay and gum disease.
