Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry primarily focuses on solutions for replacing missing teeth while preserving natural teeth whenever possible. We are committed to restoring the health of your natural teeth, though sometimes, factors like disease or decay may necessitate alternative solutions.

When a tooth is lost or needs removal, it's vital to explore restorative options. Tooth loss can cause adjacent teeth to shift, affecting both your smile's appearance and your bite. Fortunately, there are various teeth restoration options available, such as inlays, onlays, crowns, dental implants, dentures, and dental bridges.

Before proceeding with restoration, it may be necessary to address any underlying dental issues, such as a root canal or periodontal treatment.

Dental inlays and onlays, resembling dental fillings and crowns, serve to restore teeth impacted by wear, decay, or damage. Crafted from robust materials like resin or porcelain, treatments are done in a single visit with io technology.

We’ve streamlined the inlay and onlay process, typically a two-visit procedure, into a single visit. After a comprehensive exam, Dr. Sonia Lee will take a digital impression of your tooth, use advanced computer software for design, and creates the restoration in our in-office laboratory with premium ceramic materials. Finally, the restoration is fabricated, tried on, and bonded to the tooth, all in one appointment. Your dental concern will be assessed to determine the most suitable treatment option.

Another aspect of restorative dentistry involves dental crowns. Dental crowns act like protective jackets, fitting over your existing teeth to reinforce their strength and structure. We create custom crowns by scanning your remaining healthy teeth, ensuring a seamless color match for a natural look. Most crowns can be done in a single visit using io technology at our in house laboratory. Dental crowns can often prevent the need for tooth extraction.

Dental implant is a common methods for restoring missing teeth. Dental implants consist of a crown-like structure attached to a titanium screw implanted into the jaw.

A dental implant serves as a replacement for a missing tooth. It involves surgically inserting a screw-like device into the jawbone, providing a sturdy foundation for an artificial tooth known as a crown. An abutment links the artificial tooth to the dental implant, ensuring a secure connection.

The crown is individually crafted to match the person's mouth and tooth color, offering a natural look and feel while functioning like a real tooth. Dental implants offer several advantages compared to removable dentures:

- They are more natural and comfortable.

- They boast a higher success rate.

- They enhance chewing function.

- They reduce the risk of cavities developing in nearby teeth.

- They help maintain bone health at the missing tooth site.

- They minimize sensitivity in nearby teeth.

- They don't require nightly removal and cleaning.

However, it's important to note that dental implants are not suitable for everyone. Successful implantation depends on healthy jawbones, and not everyone meets this criterion.

Dental bridges fill gaps with artificial teeth anchored by two crowns. Both implants and bridges function like natural teeth and can last for years with proper care.

Dental bridges offer many benefits. They can restore your smile and replace missing teeth. They help to maintain a proper face shape and restore balance to your bite. They also stop remaining teeth from moving and shifting out of place, preventing further dental damage.

If we determine that you are a good candidate for a dental bridge, we will begin preparing your abutment teeth. Contouring these teeth and removing portions of enamel. This helps to reshape the teeth and prepares them for crown placement. A scan of your remaining teeth is taken and sent to the lab. These will serve as a mold to craft the crowns for the bridge. 
For the short-term, we will give you a temporary bridge to wear until your permanent one is finished. During your next visit, we will remove the temporary bridge and swap it out with the permanent one, making sure to adjust its fit. When we are sure that the bridge fits properly (potentially at another visit) we will cement the bridge into place.

Dentures are a reliable tooth replacement option for those missing most or all of their teeth. They are secured in place with clasps, natural suction, or adhesives, and can be removed at night.

In cases of severe infection, decay, and or pain, a root canal procedure may be necessary to save a tooth and restore its health. This will relieve pain . This procedure involves removing the pulp, then Dr. Sonia Lee will clean, disinfect, and shape the root canal and place a filling to seal the space.