We offer a 5-year warranty on crowns and bridges!
Procedures that dentists use to repair or replace damaged or missing teeth are known as restorative services.
The goal of a restorative procedure is to bring back a patient’s natural smile and prevent future oral health issues. Falling under the restorative umbrella are fillings, crowns, bridges, and implants. Find out how our team in Kissimmee, FL can help restore your smile!Fillings
Get rid of that cavity that is causing you constant pain. Call our team to get a treatment plan in place, regardless of the severity of the decay. If the tooth is still structurally sound and a filling is the best course of treatment, the decayed portion of the tooth will be removed and filled with a composite resin material or a traditional silver amalgam material.
Caring For Your Fillings
Fillings are easily maintained by following good oral hygiene habits. Schedule regular cleanings, brush with a toothpaste containing fluoride, and floss at least once a day. If you suspect a filling might be loose or falling apart, schedule an x-ray to assess the situation. Symptoms of a cracked filling may include:
- A tooth is extremely sensitive.
- A tooth has developed a sharp edge.
- A noticeable crack can be seen in the filling.
- A piece is missing from the filling or you have pieces of filling in your mouth when you wake up in the morning.
Call our team at Your Kissimmee Dentist for immediate care or to schedule an appointment if you are having complications with your smile.
Dental Crowns
As people age, natural teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to decay, cracks, and discoloration. Teeth that are cracked, severely worn, or broken will require crowns. During a routine visit, your dentist may notice that a tooth has become infected by decay or has become weakened or cracked and may recommend that he install a crown. A crown is used to help strengthen and protect a tooth from further decay. Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, specifically porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or a full gold crown. To create a more natural look and feel, a porcelain-finished crown is best. A porcelain crown can easily be matched to the shade of your natural teeth, allowing it to blend in better.
The Dental Crown Process
Placing a dental crown can take two to three visits to your dentist. During the first visit, the tooth that is to receive the crown will be shaped by filing away some of the existing enamel. This will allow the crown to fit precisely over the existing tooth. The patient will receive a local anesthetic during this part of the procedure so there is no discomfort. When the tooth is reshaped, a mold will be taken and sent to the dental lab for fabrication. The crown will fit over the existing tooth and will look the same relative to the surrounding teeth. Before leaving the office, your dentist will provide you with a temporary crown until the permanent crown is ready.
In two to three weeks, the permanent crown will be ready. The patient will receive a local anesthetic to numb the area before the crown will be placed on the tooth using a cement to ensure the crown stays in place. You will have a brand new smile when you look in the mirror the next morning!
Same-Day Crowns With CEREC® Technology
CEREC technology has revolutionized the way dental crowns are made. In the past, getting a crown required multiple appointments and weeks of waiting for the final product. With CEREC, you can now have a custom-made, permanent crown placed in just one visit to your dentist.
The process starts with your dentist using a special camera to take 3D images of your tooth. This eliminates the need for messy impressions! Using these images, your dentist will create a digital model of your tooth and design a custom-fit crown that will blend seamlessly with your existing teeth. On the same day, using state-of-the-art milling technology, your crown will be created right in the office and placed.
Caring For Your Crown
Crowns are durable and should last a minimum of 10 years. Some may last as many as 20. Care for your crown as you would your natural teeth. Brush and floss regularly and use an antiseptic mouthwash to rinse. Call our team if you would like to learn more about crowns and how they can help restore your smile.
Dental Bridges
If you’re missing one or more teeth, a dental bridge can be an ideal solution to restore your smile’s functionality and appearance. A bridge fills the gap left by missing teeth by anchoring a replacement tooth to the adjacent natural teeth on either side of the gap. At Your Kissimmee Dentist, we use all-porcelain bridges for a natural, seamless look that blends beautifully with your existing teeth, allowing you to smile and chew comfortably.
The Dental Bridge Process
The process of placing a bridge typically involves two visits. First, the teeth on either side of the gap are prepared, similar to the process for crowns. A mold is then taken and sent to the dental lab, where your custom bridge is crafted from porcelain to achieve a natural look. During your second visit, the bridge is fitted, adjusted, and cemented into place, restoring your smile and bite.
Caring For Your Bridge
Bridges are durable and can last many years with proper care. Brush, floss, and use mouthwash regularly to keep the bridge and surrounding teeth healthy. Cleaning under the bridge is also important, and our team can provide guidance on the best methods for cleaning these areas effectively.
The Benefits Of Porcelain Restorations
Porcelain restorations are a top choice for patients seeking a natural-looking, durable solution to restore damaged or decayed teeth. Made from high-quality materials, porcelain restorations mimic the translucency and color of natural teeth, making them ideal for visible areas of your smile. Porcelain is also biocompatible and resistant to staining, so it won’t easily discolor over time, allowing you to enjoy a bright smile for years.
In addition to their beauty, porcelain restorations are highly resilient and offer long-term durability with proper care. They’re designed to withstand the daily forces of chewing and biting, ensuring strength and stability. Because they bond closely to the natural tooth structure, porcelain restorations also help to protect weakened teeth, reinforcing them and reducing the risk of further damage. Whether you’re looking to improve the appearance of a single tooth or to restore multiple teeth, porcelain restorations at Your Kissimmee Dentist provide a reliable, lasting solution that seamlessly integrates with your smile.
Crown Lengthening
Dentists want patients to keep as many of their natural teeth as possible. That’s why most dentists will fill a cavity instead of pulling an infected tooth. Crown lengthening is a procedure that allows a dentist to save a tooth rather than pull it. The common procedure remodels the contour of the gum line. It doesn’t actually lengthen the crown of the tooth, but rather lowers the gum line.
Crown lengthening may be the only option available when there isn’t enough tooth structure for a crown to be placed on a tooth. On occasions when a tooth has been broken below the gum line, crown lengthening is often used to successfully expose more of the tooth structure, so the dentist has more tooth to work with when attaching the crown.
Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays are often referred to as partial crowns because they can be placed over an existing tooth to prevent further damage. Inlays and onlays are used to strengthen a damaged tooth, restore its shape, and prevent further decay. Inlays are used when there is no damage to the cusp of the tooth. The inlay is placed right on the tooth. An onlay is used when there is more extensive damage to a tooth.
Placing An Inlay Or Onlay
Placing an inlay or onlay on a tooth begins by removing the decayed area of the tooth. A mold is prepared and sent to a dental lab for fabrication. The restoration is created from porcelain, gold, or a composite resin. The restoration takes about 2 to 3 weeks to create so a temporary inlay or onlay will be made for the patient until the permanent version is ready. The permanent inlay or onlay will be placed and set with an adhesive cement and your tooth will regain its natural look.
Dentures
People are taking better care of their teeth, so dentures are required less frequently now than they have been in previous generations. However, dentures continue to be a replacement for missing teeth. Depending on the patient’s individual needs, partial or full dentures may be used. Partial dentures are created when some of the patient’s natural teeth remain. Full dentures are used when a patient has no natural teeth remaining.
There are two types of full dentures:
- Conventional full dentures: This appliance is created after all the natural teeth are removed from a patient’s mouth. Before the denture is placed, the mouth and gum tissue is given time to heal. The healing process can take months, which means the patient is likely to be without teeth the entire period.
- Immediate full dentures: In this application, measurements are taken in advance and the denture is fabricated before the natural teeth are removed. When the appliance is ready, the natural teeth are removed and the dentures are immediately placed in the mouth. The benefit to this treatment is the patient is not without teeth for an extended period. Follow-up visits will need to be scheduled by the patient so the dentist can re-fit the denture if the jawbone has slightly changed shape as the mouth heals. Dentures usually need to be tightened as the jaw heals.
Adjusting To Your New Dentures
Some patience is required by patients as they adjust to the dentures. The flesh-colored base of the appliance is placed over the gum and patients often complain the denture is too bulky and there isn’t enough room for the tongue. At this stage, patients also complain the denture is loose and doesn’t fit correctly. Over time, the mouth gets used to the denture and it becomes a natural part of the mouth.
Caring For Your Dentures
Dentures should be cared for like natural teeth. A denture should be brushed to remove plaque and food particles when it is removed from the mouth. Once the denture is removed, it should be placed in room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Hot water should never be used because it can warp the denture. A denture is a delicate appliance and should be handled with care. Never try to adjust a denture at home. All adjustments should be done by a dentist.
