Posterior and Anterior Composites

Composites, also known as white fillings, are used to restore your smile and teeth to a more natural look and feel. White filling composites are preferred by most patients for aesthetic reasons. Composed of a plastic resin or porcelain, composites are naturally more comfortable and have less hot and cold sensitivity than silver amalgam fillings.

Much like silver amalgam fillings, composites can be placed in one visit to the office. Composites are generally used for the front teeth where aesthetics is important, but if the decayed area is small, they can also be used on the back teeth as well.

Intermittent replacement may be necessary, as with any type of filling. Regular checkups with your dentist are recommended to keep your teeth and fillings in top condition.

Bridges

A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. A bridge may be necessary to prevent:

• Shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.
• Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.

There are three main types of bridges, namely:

• Fixed bridge- this is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.
• The “Maryland or Bonded” bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth and consists of a filler that is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth. The metal bands consist of a white-colored composite resin that matches existing tooth color.

Crowns

A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it is often less durable.

The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:

1. Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
2. Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
3. Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks).
4. Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created.
5. Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
6. After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place.

This process generally consists of a minimum of 2-3 visits over a three to four week period.

Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns.

Porcelain Inlays & Onlays

As an alternative to crowns, Dr. Hochberg and Dr. Friedman offer inlays and onlays to restore teeth afflicted by excessive decay. Inlays and onlays actually strengthen a tooth as opposed to a standard filling and they can help repair your tooth structure without removing much of the tooth. Created in a laboratory, your inlay or onlay will be made just for you and is bonded to the tooth’s surface.

All inlays and onlays are custom made for each patient, and many patients find them more aesthetically pleasing than crowns. The bonding material is very durable, yielding a longer lifespan than fillings as well.

Dentures/Partials

Periodontal disease, injury and tooth decay can all cause a loss of your natural teeth. However, we can bring back the smile on your face with dentures to restore your missing teeth. With improved technology and updated materials, dentists can now make them appear more natural and more comfortable for the patient.

There are two types of dentures: complete and partial. Complete dentures cover the patient’s entire jaw while partial dentures, with their metal framework, replace multiple missing teeth. Ask our doctors to see which type would be right for you.

It may take some time to adjust to your dentures. Speaking and eating may feel different at first, but these regular activities will resume normally once you are accustomed to your dentures.