Professional Dental Restorations in Bryn Mawr
There’s no denying it. Teeth are strong, and they are designed to withstand a lot. However, accident, injury, decay, disease, or years of wear and tear creates complications that can jeopardize the long-lasting health, function, and beauty of your smile.
Restoring oral health and function is vital to preserving long-term oral and overall health. The restorative treatments available today have made it much easier to rejuvenate your smile to its optimal potential once more.
Dr. Judy Buxton offers exceptional restorative options designed to improve your essential dental function and natural aesthetics. Contact our Bryn Mawr dental office and discover a brighter smile today!
CALL US:(610) 525-6060 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
Why Dental Restoration is Important
By ignoring any dental pain or other oral health issues, not only will you experience an increase in discomfort that can debilitate your everyday life, but these issues could get worse, and infections can spread, leading to tooth loss or future systemic complications.
When you visit us for skilled care, you can rest assured that our team has the expertise, tools, and top-quality materials to treat any complications before they can further damage your smile.
What are My Options for Restoring My Smile?
Whether you’re visiting our office to repair minor dental chips and/or cracks, or you require full-tooth replacement, our team has you covered.
We provide a full range of restorative dentistry services including:
How Can I find Out which Restorations are Best for My Needs?
When deciding which procedures are right for you, Dr. Buxton considers several factors. If you have tooth decay, damage, or underlying infection, we will first determine the severity. To address your specific needs for restorative care, we offer two primary types of restorations.
Direct Restorations
A direct restoration can be completed within a single office visit. Small amounts of damaged tooth structure are replaced with reliable materials. In our Bryn Mawr dental office, direct restorations are performed to fill cavities and successfully correct other localized problems.
Indirect Restorations
If there is not enough supporting tooth structure to properly restore the tooth, an indirect tooth restoration is often ideal. In this case, Dr. Buxton plans the materials and methods needed to correct the problem. An indirect restoration, such as an onlay, is fabricated in a laboratory and is then skillfully placed for optimal function and aesthetics.
Do I Need a Filling?
Most people find themselves in need of a dental filling at some point in their lives. Fillings restore the tooth, prevent further damage, and allow normal function. Cavities can be present even if you don’t notice any symptoms such as tooth sensitivity and/or discomfort. In some cases, cavities and decay can be found deep beneath the tooth's surface and can only be detected using an x-ray.
We check each tooth, one by one for decay and soft spots. We will dry the tooth with air and then use a tool to test stability. Weak spots may indicate there is decay present that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
When Would I Need an Inlay or an Onlay Restoration?
Have you ever heard of a partial crown? This refers to restorations that cover specific areas of the tooth in comparison to a full, traditional crown that encompasses the entire tooth structure.
We use inlay and onlay restorations to address a number of concerns. Inlays and onlays are not intended to address major issues. Instead they target smaller areas that may be too big for a filling to correct, but not enough to warrant a full dental crown.
If you develop a cavity, or if your tooth has minor damage, you may need an inlay or onlay.
Do I need Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is necessary when the pulp or soft tissue inside a the root canal becomes infected or inflamed and cannot be restored with a filling, inlay, or onlay.
The symptoms of an infected root canal system vary, but can include:
- Constant, Painful Toothache
- Lingering Sensitivity
- Tooth Root Discharge
- Grayish-Black Tooth Discoloration
- Tooth Pain in the Bone
- Toothache When Chewing
- Swelling of the Gums
What Can I Expect During My Root Canal Treatment?
If you have been told you need a root canal by our team or perhaps another dental professional, remember not to panic. Although root canal therapy has had a negative reputation for being painful and invasive, the procedure is anything but.
The truth is that root canal therapy is the best line of defense for saving as much of your original tooth structure as possible.
Standard root canal treatment involves first removing infected material from the canals. Body-safe treatment solutions are then inserted into the channel during this process to help remove any harmful bacteria and disinfect the root channel. It is then sealed with protective materials to reduce the chances of damage and re-infection. Finally, a customized crown is placed on top of your tooth to provide natural form and function.
What Can Be Done About My Missing Teeth?
Dental implants provide complete tooth replacement and are highly successful and reliable when you have one or multiple missing teeth.
We proudly provide the following restoration appliances supported by dental implants:
Fixed Bridges- We offer reliable solutions with our dental bridge appliances to patients in need of replacement for two or more missing teeth in a row. These restorations fill gaps caused by missing teeth, using the foundation of crowns on adjacent teeth. This allows the dental function to be rejuvenated and the results to look natural.
Dentures- For easy cleaning, they are removable but securely attach to your implants. Dentures supported by implants are often ideal for those who don't have any remaining teeth left within their smile.
Partial Dentures- Though similar to traditional bridges, these appliances are anchored on either side of the bridge instead of attaching the bridge to your natural teeth. They are often ideal for replacing large gaps without altering neighboring teeth within the smile.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Healthy tooth roots provide the essential stimulation for your jawbone for it to stay strong and healthy. There's nothing to keep your jawbone from shrinking when teeth are missing. This condition can affect oral health and overall health. Bone loss and recession of the gum tissue caused by tooth loss can compromise the appearance and function of your jaw.
Dental implants consisting of body-safe titanium are posts that fuse with living tissue and bone that serve as artificial tooth roots. Dental implants give your jawbone the stimulation it needs to stay healthy and strong because of this fusing process, also known as osseointegration.
Dental implants are usually made up of three parts. They are the following:
The Implant Post- This is the titanium “root” that acts as the foundation or base of the dental implant. It serves as the tooth root and is surgically inserted into the jawbone.
The Abutment- This is the tiny, screw-like attachment that sits along the gum line and is the part of a dental implant that fastens the restoration to the implant post.
The Restoration- This can be a single artificial tooth or an entire arch of teeth that replaces the complete tooth structure. The restoration is either snaps or screws onto the abutment. Your restoration will work, look, and feel like a natural tooth once installed.
How Will I know if I’m Eligible for Dental Implants?
Ideal candidates for dental implant treatment must have a healthy and dense jawbone that will support implants and encourage proper healing.
If you have been missing teeth for a prolonged period, chances are your jawbone volume has lessened and shrunk to the point where implant placement might not be an ideal solution.
To receive an accurate diagnosis and to find out if you qualify for dental implants, please contact our office.
Do My Newly Restored Teeth Need Extra Care?
Patients with any dental restoration must stay committed to a diligent, lifelong dental care routine to keep their new teeth healthy. This will significantly reduce the risk of failure for your dental restorations.
Depending on your specific needs, it can be costly to restore your smile. With regular care and healthy lifestyle choices and habits, you can better protect your investment!
In addition to regular dental hygiene practices, our team recommends patients with dental restorations to visit our office every six months for proper cleanings, examinations, and necessary adjustments.
What at Home Steps Should I Follow to Care for My Restored Teeth?
Dr. Buxton will create a maintenance plan tailored to your needs for you to follow at home.
Below are some vital steps to we recommend you follow to make sure your restored teeth stay healthy:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
- Floss your teeth at least once a day.
- Use a mouthwash recommended by our dentist.
- Don’t use tobacco products or smoke.
- Avoid foods or drinks high in sugar.
Your restored and/ or replaced teeth are more likely to last longer with these recommendations.
Regain Your Smile’s Function, Health, and Beauty with Dental Restorations
Contact Dr. Judy Buxton and her team today if you are considering tooth restoration and need more information! In and around Bryan Mawr, we provide personalized dental restoration services to patients and families. We can help you decide the right treatment for your needs.
CALL US:(610) 525-6060 REQUEST APPOINTMENT