We value our relationships with our patients and take pride in delivering compassionate care in a warm and friendly environment. Through our expertise and advanced technology, we are able to provide you with the best care possible.
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry refers to procedures that return teeth and oral structures to full and natural functions. We use these procedures in our office to increase our patients' self-esteem and protect their oral health. Our goal is to restore our patients' smiles to their optimal function and aesthetics and make sure those results last.
Benefits of Restorative Dentistry
- Improves eating and speaking functions
- Returns confidence in your smile
- Reduces the risk of jaw pain by properly distributing bite force
- Protects teeth from shifting into incorrect positions due to missing teeth
- Ensures that teeth remain properly aligned for chewing and biting
Restorative Dental Procedures Offered
Here are the restorative procedures offered by Fine Dental Care.
Full Mouth Reconstruction
When a patient has many missing or compromised teeth, full mouth reconstruction can help to bring back complete function. Full mouth reconstruction involves a combination of restorative and cosmetic procedures, including:
Dental Implant Restorations
Dental implants replace missing teeth and protect existing teeth by helping to preserve bone structure. Dental implants are composed of three pieces: a small screw made of a biocompatible metal called titanium, an abutment that connects the screw, and the final restoration.
Dentures
A denture is a replacement for multiple missing teeth within the same (upper or lower) arch. A denture differs from a crown or bridge in that it does not rely on an existing tooth structure, and it completely replaces the missing teeth.
There are several different types of dentures:
- Full or Partial
- Removable or Fixed
- Traditional or Implant-Supported
Dental Bridges
A bridge can replace missing teeth without the use of a denture or dental implant. A bridge is composed of two crowns and a replacement tooth or teeth. Crowns are typically placed on the teeth on either side of the space, with the fabricated tooth or teeth attached in between.
For multiple missing teeth, an implant may be used to anchor the bridge.
Dental Crowns
A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers the outside of a tooth that is cracked, broken, worn down, or severely decayed. Dental crowns are usually completed in two visits. During the first visit, the tooth is prepared (shaved down) and an impression is taken. A temporary crown is placed while the permanent crown is fabricated. During the second visit, the permanent crown is carefully fitted and then cemented into place.
Some patients may also need orthodontic or periodontic work to complete a full mouth reconstruction.
Bone Grafting
When patients lose teeth, their bodies slowly reabsorb parts of their jawbones where the root once stood. Jaw resorption causes the "sunken" look in the patient's face associated with missing teeth. This resorption means there may not be sufficient bone mass to place a dental implant.
Bone graft surgery involves making an incision in the gum and opening a small part of the bone beneath. The dentist places a small amount of ground bone material (donor, animal, or artificial) in the bone and sutures the gum. The graft material will provide structure for new bone to grow.
Sinus Lifts
Dental implants require a minimum upper jawbone height to install. If the jawbone is too short, the implant screw may impinge on the sinus, causing pain and possible infection.
A sinus lift involves opening the gum to expose a small part of the upper jaw. The dentist gently repositions the membrane that lines the sinus. Finally, they place a bone graft in the upper jaw. When the bone graft heals, implant surgery can proceed.