At Coastal Dental, we strive to educate our patients on restorative dental procedures and perform them with the least amount of pain as possible. Our porcelain crowns and bridges can restore and enhance damaged teeth. Our dental implants take the place of missing teeth due to injury, decay, fracture or periodontal disease, restoring your smile. Lastly, our tooth-colored fillings can restore a damaged or decayed tooth to its normal shape and function without disturbing the overall aesthetics of your smile.
Our restorative dental services include:
A denture is a removable tooth-replacement for those missing some or all of their teeth. With two types of dentures available - partial and complete - you can improve your smile whether you have some teeth remaining or need all your teeth replaced. Dentures are made to resemble your natural teeth, so there should be no noticeable change to your appearance except improvement!
Complete dentures are removable and used to restore your smile and mouth function if you have lost all of your teeth. Custom created, complete denture resemble your natural teeth and are positioned in the mouth to take the place of where you natural teeth would be. Because of this, dentures may require adjustment in order to create a proper fit with your gums and mouth overall.
Partial dentures are removable devices used to replace one or more missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. They consist of replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored plastic base, which is then placed in the mouth. Partial dentures fill the space created by missing teeth, as well as create a support for the remaining teeth to prevent shifting.
A filling (restoration) is a way to restore a tooth that has been damaged by decay or injury, bringing it back to normal shape and function. Your dentist will first remove the decayed tooth structure, clean the affected area, and then bond the filling material. There are a variety of tooth filling materials available. To accurately match your tooth shade and facilitate normal functioning, we use composite resins or pressed ceramics, allowing us to use minimally invasive techniques and conserve more natural tooth structure.
A dental implant is an ideal tooth restoration for people who are missing one or more teeth as a result of injury, periodontal disease, or other miscellaneous reasons. The implant consists of a metal post that is surgically positioned into the jaw bone. Once in place and given time for the gum line to heal, a replacement tooth is attached to the top of the post for aesthetics. Dental implants provide superior benefits over bridgework as they do not depend on neighboring teeth for support. To receive a dental implant, you must have health gums and adequate bone for structural support. You must also be committed to excellent oral hygiene and regular dental appointments, as these are critical to dental implant success.
Crowns and bridges are used to restore and enhance teeth that are damaged or missing.
A crown, also referred to as a "cap," is used to entirely cover a damaged tooth, strengthening it as well as dramatically improving its appearance, shape, and alignment.
A crown may be used to:
- Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining
- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
- Restore an already-fractured tooth
- Attach a bridge
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
- Cover a tooth that has had prior root canal treatment
A bridge is an ideal method to fill the space created by missing teeth, and consists of one or more artificial teeth that are cemented into place use the adjacent teeth for support. The bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically, and can be made of gold alloys, bonded porcelain, or tooth-colored ceramic. The choice of materials depends on the requirements for strength, wear, and/or aesthetics. A fixed partial denture aesthetically acts the same as the removable kind, but is cemented into place using the adjacent teeth for support.
When a tooth becomes badly infected and requires extensive treatment, a root canal is an alternative to having the tooth completely removed. Often necessary after a tooth has been cracked or has a deep cavity, root canals can extend the life of a tooth by removing the infection and relieving discomfort. In most cases, our doctors can comfortably provide this service for you in-office.
Although we aim to avoid removing teeth altogether, tooth extractions are another form of treatment that can be necessary if a tooth is damaged beyond restoration. Fortunately, we also provide tooth replacements (bridges, implants, and partial dentures) if an extraction is deemed necessary. These replacement options maintain the function and aesthetics of your natural smile post-extraction.