Great Falls, MT
Restorative dentistry is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dental diseases. If you have teeth that are cracked, chipped, discolored, decayed, or missing, Dr. David Currie can prescribe a treatment plan. You are also eligible for restorative treatment if you have teeth that are affected by other types of trauma-related or developmental defects. We offer several restorative treatment options.
What Types of Materials are used for Restorative Treatment?We use porcelain, dental amalgam, composite resin, and gold for restoration procedures. These four are the most commonly used materials. Resin composite fillings are made of compounds made of plastic, ceramic or glass ionomers or other materials.
Crowns are crafted from porcelain, gold, or ceramic materials. They cover an entire part of a tooth that is cracked, chipped, damaged or that needs significant restoration that threatens the rest of the tooth.
A dental bridge is a prosthetic replacement for one or many natural teeth. Bridges are made of crowns that are adjacent to space and a replacement tooth (known as a pontic) that is connected to the crowns.
When we use the materials listed above, we employ a wide array of treatment options to restore and replace teeth. Fillings usually use amalgam to restore the surface of the tooth, so they are often placed on teeth in the back of the mouth. Amalgam fillings are alloys, while composite fillings are resins used for tooth-colored restorations for teeth in both the front and the back of the mouth.
A veneer is a layer of porcelain or a combination of materials. Like composite fillings, veneers are tooth-colored and enhance the look of cracked, chipped or uneven teeth. They are cemented or bonded to the surface of one or multiple teeth, most often the upper and lower teeth in the front.
When the condition of the teeth has deteriorated so far that they can no longer be repaired, removal is the only option. Dentures are a "replacement" option for missing teeth. There are two variations of dentures: partial dentures and full dentures. The difference between the two lies in how many natural teeth remain.
If you are missing teeth, then you may be happy to learn about dental implants and what they can do for you. Remember, the sooner that we know about a missing tooth or one that may be compromised and loose, the sooner we can begin restoration.
Do you want to replace lost teeth? Dental implants are the best solution. Rather than wearing dentures that slip and can fall out, you can choose implants that act, feel, and look like real teeth. There are two kinds of implants that most dentists recommend to patients - dental implants and mini implants. Even though both of these implants can be used to replace damaged or lost teeth, they are different from one another.
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (nerve and blood supply), bacteria and any decay are removed, and the resulting space is filled with an inert material called gutta percha. After the tooth is healed, getting a crown is recommended, because the tooth will become brittle.
Scaling and root planing are helpful in preventing disease, as the bacteria from gum infections can travel through the blood to affect other parts of the body. The procedure also protects from tooth loss, especially when deep pockets have formed between the teeth and the gums.
Other Types of RestorationsGiven the large number of potential dental complications, we have at our disposal a large selection of restorative materials and methods to address these problems. Some of our other options include:
||Dental implants are replacement teeth that look and function similarly to natural teeth. In this procedure, we insert a titanium post into the jaw bone and attach a ceramic crown.
||Removable partials are prosthetic devices that consist of artificial teeth on a framework that is connected to your regular teeth with retainers. Since the partials are not cemented into your mouth, you can remove them. They are not worn while sleeping.
||Composite bonding is a procedure used to lengthen and reshape the central teeth in the front of the mouth.
||Inlays are cemented restorations made from porcelain, gold or other ceramic materials. They can restore up to three surfaces on a single tooth.
||Onlays are cemented restorations made from porcelain, gold or other ceramic materials. They differ from onlays in that they are meant to restore chewing surfaces of teeth and surfaces on the sides of teeth in the back of the mouth.
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For more information, please contact our office at (406) 315-5882.