RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
Bridge
A bridge is a restorative option for replacing a missing tooth. It uses the teeth on either side of the space for support hence the term-bridge. The teeth on either side of the space undergo preparations for a crown restoration and an impression is sent to the lab either digitally or by intraoral material. The patient then will live in a temporary bride for about two weeks while the lab fabricates the new bridge. After the two weeks, the patient returns, and the dentist cements the new restoration in place.
Veneer
A veneer is a restoration that typically covers the front surface of a person’s tooth. It is offered as a way to better improve a patient’s smile with a porcelain restoration. The process does require a few appointments before completion. The dentist does need to shape the teeth minimally to accept the veneer. Impressions are taken, and a few weeks is needed for the lab to create the veneers. The patient will have temporary veneers in place during the interim. At the cement appointment the dentist removes the temporaries, cleans the teeth and bonds the veneers into place.
Crown
When a tooth is severely compromised due to a crack, break, or large existing filling that is broken down a crown is completed to preserve the tooth. The tooth is shaped to idea form to accept a crown and then an impression is taken of the tooth and sent to the lab. The lab either makes the crown from a porcelain or zirconia material. A temporary crown is worn in the interim and the patient returns after two weeks to bond the crown in place. A temporary can be avoided with CEREC technology.
Teeth may become cracked from large fillings that weaken the tooth over time or severe trauma to the tooth. A symptom of a crack maybe hot, cold, painful to chewing, painful upon release of a bite. Cracked teeth must always be addressed because the cracks allow bacteria to penetrate through out the tooth and over time create decay. A crack is typically treated by placing a crown over the tooth to bind the tooth together and prevent the crack from spreading further.
Silver Fillings
What are amalgam (silver) fillings?
Dental amalgam or more commonly referred to as silver fillings are a type of filling material used to fill a tooth that has had tooth decay. Amalgam consists of a liquid mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. It was first used in dentistry in the 1830’s to help people keep from removing teeth as the only option. Before alternative options silver fillings were thought to be strong and long-lasting, so they are less likely to break than some other types of fillings. They were useful in patients that have a high risk of tooth decay, for large tooth preparations, and where moisture makes it difficult for other materials such as resins to establish a bond to tooth.
Today we have multiple alternative options to traditional silver fillings. Depending on the specific tooth situation, we most commonly restore tooth decay by placing a composite resin filling that was introduced in the dental field in the 1960’s. The resin mixture is what we use at Witkowski Dental as a staple to fill tooth decay.