Restorative Dentistry in Samford

Even with regular checkups, proper diet and nutrition and a thorough hygiene routine, restorative dentistry may still be required to maintain optimal oral health. This is not always as daunting as it may seem. Most minor dental work is relatively pain free and non-invasive and we aim to make every experience as pleasant as possible.

Here at Dental Distinction, we do not use any amalgam and in so all of our fillings are completed with the use of a tooth coloured composite material. The process for a filling is quite simple; the area is numbed using a local anesthetic, the tooth is then cleared of decay, cleaned and prepared for the filling material. The material is placed onto the tooth, and set with blue LED curing light. The filling is then adjusted and polished. It is not normally a lengthy procedure and you can eat normally within an hour or so or once the anesthetic has worn off. 

Although our natural teeth are meant to last us our lifetime, accidents can and do happen to jeopardize that. Tooth decay, large fillings, cracks, weakened teeth or general wear and tear are reasons behind this occurring. In situations like this, a hard, protective porcelain cover known as 'Crowns' or 'Bridges' may be necessary in saving your tooth.

A dental crown is strong, porcelain aesthetic cover that is used to restore a weakened tooth’s shape, size, strength, and improve its appearance overall. When cemented into place, the crown will fully encase the entire visible portion of the weakened tooth that lies at and above the gum line, helping to protect it from any further damage.

Crown work requires two appointments to complete. The first appointment is called the 'preparation' stage. At this time, we will shape your tooth using a drill with tiny drill heads. We take only a couple millimetres off your tooth structure to allow room for your crown to sit securely in place. Once the tooth is shaped how we need it, we take an impression of it and send it off the laboratory to make your crown look exactly like your natural teeth. Once the impression has been taken, we cover the tooth with a temporary cover until your crown is arrives. The second appointment with us is very straight forward, we simply take off the temporary crown and cement in place your new porcelain crown.

Crowns will generally, if looked after, can last you anywhere from 10 years, to 40 years. However, with proper hygiene techniques and routine checkup and cleans with us, you really can't put an end date on their life span.

Dental bridges are exactly the same as crowns in regards to material and procedure. Bridges literally 'bridge' the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two or more porcelain crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap - these two or more anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth - and false tooth/teeth in between.

Benefits of Dental Bridges:

The process for bridge work is exactly the same as a crown which is written above, however the only difference is bridge work will take a little more time in the chair as we are working with more than one tooth.

A dental “build up” or a reconstruction of the bite involves the rebuilding of the lost enamel and the reconstruction of the correct bite using dental composite/ceramic materials.

There are a number of different materials that can be used including porcelain, gold and regular tooth coloured composite. The main variances between these materials lies in their physical characteristics and the cost of treatment. Gold and porcelain are a stronger alternative to a composite (or filling) material. Gold, although the strongest material is not aesthetically the best option and is therefore less favoured. Porcelain is a good option both in strength and aesthetics, however at a higher cost than composite. Therefore, as it can be carefully matched to the existing teeth and allows for lower cost, we recommend the use of composite in the first instance.

The need for this procedure is usually indicated where the enamel of the teeth has worn away excessively. This may be due to a heavy bite or clenching and grinding of the teeth over a period of time. The result is an exposure of the vulnerable layers of the teeth as well as an incorrect biting pattern due to worn and missing features of specific teeth.

Build up’s are a relatively non invasive procedure. They are not only functionally beneficial but often, where needed, can also enhance aesthetics —where front teeth have worn and chipped also.