Knowledge is Reason to Smile

Restorative dentistry in its broadest sense involves the restoration of oral and dental tissues for patients. It includes the following dental disciplines.

Operative Dentistry

Operative dentistry involves the filling of teeth. There is an increased concern about toxins, allergies, and the controversy over mercury and lead content fillings. Resin and ceramic materials are mercury-free, look natural and provide strong, conservative restorations. You can view before and after pictures of silver colored fillings that were replaced with natural tooth colored materials in our portfolio.

Periodontology

Periodontology is the prevention and treatment of gum disease. Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that left untreated can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means "around the tooth."

Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed. In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort.

Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

Endodontics

Endodontics includes many aspects of saving teeth, including replantation of avulsed (knocked-out) teeth and root canal treatment. Root canal, or endodontic treatment, is a procedure performed to remove damaged tissue from inside the root canals of a tooth.

Endodontists have advanced surgical and nonsurgical skills that make them uniquely qualified to treat routine as well as complex cases. The care that an endodontist provides is supported by intensive education on how to perform the very best endodontics. We refer this work to endodontists that we have worked with for years.

Prosthodontics

Prosthodontics is the replacement of teeth and the rebuilding of teeth. Teeth can be replaced by many different means and combinations of techniques, such as crowns, non-removable bridges, removable partial dentures or implant supported permanent teeth. The rebuilding of a smile often requires a blend of these options. You can view before and after pictures of replacement of missing teeth in our portfolio .