Restorative Dentistry

couple piggyback rideWhat Does This Mean?

In broad terms, restorative dentistry is simple; it is the process of returning the mouth to a proper state of health. This can refer to any procedure from a basic filling to a full mouth dental implant reconstruction.

Our policy here at Hill and Schneidmiller DDS is to practice optimal dentistry, which means that we: 

  1. Try to do whatever we can to conserve as much of your natural tooth as possible.
  2. Try to be efficient in our dentistry, without treatments or procedures that are extraneous.
  3. Provide the risks, benefits, and alternatives for each procedure you need. 

Here in our office, we present a number of excellent restorative options, so that you can get the right treatment for your smile. These include fillings, dental onlays, dental inlays, and dental crowns and bridges.

Fillings

The most common procedure a dentist will do to protect and restore teeth is the filling. Fillings are easy to understand. When the enamel of a tooth becomes weak or broken, the sensitive material inside can be exposed to a number of things that cause decay and often pain.

The first step a dentist will take is to open up the tooth, so the problem area is visible. Step two is the cleanup of the decay. 

Once everything is clean and healthy again, the defect is filled with a tooth-colored material that protects the tooth and stops up any cracks, gaps, and fissures. We offer additional materials to complete the filling; each is explained in detail during the appointment. 

The tooth is now clean, the enamel repaired; your tooth is ready to smile and chew.

Dental Veneers, Onlays, and Inlays

A filling isn’t always quite enough to heal a broken or infected tooth. In many cases, the next step up would be a dental crown. However, Hill and Schneidmiller DDS is proud to provide not just one, but three intermediate options before completely covering the tooth in synthetic porcelain.

Veneers | A veneer is a frontal-only covering for a tooth, usually in the smile zone—or your front, most visible teeth. Veneers are an excellent option to a filling especially when a large corner of the front tooth structure is missing. They can be made from tooth-colored material in a single appointment or from ceramic. 

Dental Inlays | Inlays are nearly the same as a filling, but made of a different material. Instead of a moldable composite resin, inlays are crafted of dental ceramics to fit into the small space that would otherwise receive a filling.

Dental Onlays | Onlays are the next step up. When the portion of the tooth that needs to be sealed is larger than a tiny internal filling, but still not quite in need of a crown, an onlay is the option for you. These onlays are also crafted with high-grade dental porcelain, and shaped to precisely fit your tooth.

Veneers, inlays, and onlays are tooth-colored to match the rest of your smile, while also being sturdier than a regular dental filling.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are an incredible way to heal broken, cracked, or infected teeth without losing the entire tooth. That’s right—getting a dental crown can actually save your natural teeth by replacing the compromised enamel with sturdy dental porcelain.

The process of getting a porcelain dental crown is very similar to getting a filling or an onlay.

  • The damaged tooth is cleaned up. Any infection or damage is removed.
  • A temporary dental crown is placed until the final permanent crown can be crafted.
  • Once your porcelain tooth crown has been precisely made to fit your smile, it will be placed over your prepared tooth.

Dental crowns are uniquely crafted to suit you and your smile. Everything down to the process of placing a temporary crown is designed to ensure that you receive the very best dental crown we can provide you with.

Dental Bridges

Permanent dental bridges are the next step up the restorative dentistry ladder. They are made of a series of connected dental crowns that restore more than one tooth. They are just what their name suggests: a way to bridge a gap in your bite.

If you are missing one or more teeth, a dental bridge may be just the option you’re looking for.

Just like the rest of our dental services, bridges come in many different forms and styles, so that we can find the choice that is right for you. Some of those options include:

Front Dental Bridge | Missing your front teeth can be a huge stressor. It’s both hard to bite and to smile. However, a front dental bridge can repair both of those issues for you with beautiful, natural-looking dental porcelain.

A Temporary Dental Bridge | Whether you are waiting for a permanent bridge to be crafted, or need to heal a gap in your bite while waiting for other treatment, such as a dental implant, we can fit you with a temporary bridge that allows you to get back to your regular daily eating and living.

What If I Don’t Like My Old Fillings?

Dental practice changes almost as quickly as smartphone technology. Every year we develop new equipment and establish new procedures. We have an entire page that talks about some of these tools and technologies.

Unfortunately, this means that some of the work you’ve had done in the past elsewhere might not be as effective or aesthetically pleasing as you’d like it to be.

Before tooth-colored fillings were common, most were silver. These long-lasting fillings were the mainstay of dental work, but the brightness of the silver against the white of the teeth can be quite noticeable. Now there is an option: actual tooth-colored fillings.

One of the services we offer in restorative dentistry is the upkeep of old work. We use the latest practices and materials to correct unpleasant-looking dental work from the past, creating a smile you will want to show off!

In that same vein, we also repair problematic work. If you’ve had a filling that didn’t quite work, one that has come free in some way, a broken crown, or even a loose dental bridge, get in touch with us right away! We prefer to take care of you before painful results arise.

Come to Hill and Schneidmiller DDS For Your Restorative Dentistry Needs

Here in our office, we’ll take care of healing both your bite and your smile with a treatment plan that is perfect for you. If you need any restorative work, don’t hesitate to contact us for an appointment.