RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

Restorative dentistry encompasses the dental procedures that are performed to maintain a healthy and functional smile. It is common for people to need restorative dentistry to repair damaged teeth, replace fillings, fix chipped or broken teeth and make crowns or bridges to help keep your teeth functional. The goal of restorative dentistry is to always save your natural teeth and, when that is not possible, to provide dental implants to act and function as natural teeth. Tidewater Family Dentistry is pleased to offer a wide range of restorative dental services to meet all of your dental needs at every stage throughout life.

Your Newport News, VA restorative dentist, Dr. Owen, has years of experience providing restorative dental procedures and uses the most advanced dental materials to ensure that you get the highest quality and longest lasting restoration available. Occasionally, patients may require multidisciplinary care as with a periodontist or an endodontist. Tidewater Family Dentistry partners with outstanding specialists to provide you with a treatment plan that will span all areas of your dental needs.

Restorative Dental Procedures

Tidewater Family Dentistry provides a wide range restorative dental services to meet all of your dental health needs. Some of the services include:

• Composite fillings
• Amalgam fillings
• Crowns
• Bridges
• Dental implant restoration

Composite Fillings

There are two main types of fillings used to “fill” an area of the tooth that has been removed due to decay: composite and amalgam (silver). Composite fillings are the most popular choice of filling material as it is tooth colored and designed to match the shade of your natural teeth. Composite resin is durable and an aesthetically pleasing option to replace loose fillings and repair cracked or broken teeth. Amalgam fillings or silver fillings have been used for over a century and are still used today. After your consultation at Tidewater Family Dentistry, we can discuss which filling material is the best choice for your restoration.

Bridges

Tidewater Family Dentistry is pleased to offer dental bridges which are a great alternative restoration for patients missing a tooth. A dental bridge spans the gap created by a missing tooth or teeth with a natural looking artificial tooth known as a pontic. The bridge is supported by the teeth on either side of the missing tooth called abutment teeth. Bridges will restore the function of your bite and hold the place of the missing tooth keeping the other teeth from drifting out of place.

The Benefits of Dental Bridges

Missing teeth can have a negative impact on your oral health. Having fewer teeth on one side of the mouth can create an imbalance in the forces of chewing. This may contribute to the development of jaw dysfunction known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). This is one of the reasons it is important to rebuild the function of your bite with restorative dentistry. Additional benefits of choosing a dental bridge restoration include:

• Restoring the ability to chew and bite properly. No more having to chew on one side of your mouth as the dental bridge will allow you to chew your food on both sides comfortably.
• Maintaining the shape of your face. Did you know that even one missing tooth can change the shape of your face? Tooth loss causes the bone above or below the tooth to shrink and this can make your face appear as though it is aging prematurely. Although a dental bridge will not prevent the bone from shrinking, it will fill the space of the missing tooth and help maintain facial symmetry. 
• Controlling the shifting and movement of surrounding teeth. A bridge restoration utilizes the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the bridge. The space between the anchors is filled with a natural looking prosthetic tooth or pontic and provides stability for the adjacent teeth. 
• A dental bridge is usually completed in 2 to 3 visits and there is minimal downtime or dietary restrictions. 
• Redistributing the chewing forces and restoring a normal bite. A dental bridge is a functional restoration that can improve your ability to chew and bite comfortably and efficiently. 
• If you have a removable partial denture, a fixed dental bridge can be permanently placed to avoid the discomfort of a moving appliance.

What to Expect

A dental bridge restoration usually takes 2 to 3 appointments to complete. At Tidewater Family Dentistry, we will evaluate your teeth and mouth and help you determine if a bridge is the best option for restoring the beauty and function of your smile. The first appointment will entail preparing the anchor teeth for crowns. The anchor teeth are on either side of the missing tooth. A small portion of the enamel will be removed and reshaped to best fit a customized crown. An impression will be made of both the upper and lower arch to send to the lab for an accurate fabrication of your customized dental bridge. After your teeth have been reshaped, a temporary bridge will be placed for you to wear to protect your teeth until your new bridge is made.

At the next appointment, your temporary bridge will be removed and your permanent bridge will be placed. Once it is in place, your dentist will make adjustments as needed to ensure that you have a proper fit and comfortable bite. You can resume the normal excellent hygiene care of brushing and flossing every day.

If you have a removable partial denture appliance or are missing a tooth or teeth and would like to learn more about how you can restore the function and aesthetics of your smile, call Tidewater Family Dentistry at (757) 874-6712 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to working with you in providing the best treatment options for your specific dental needs.

Dental Implant Restoration

Dental implants are a long lasting, modern and highly effective restoration procedure used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. While implants are designed to fuse to the jaw bone and act as a replacement root, the visible part of the implant consists of an implant abutment and a crown. The implant abutment is a connecting piece that provides a secure attachment point for the crown.

Since implants are designed to last a lifetime, there may be occasions when the implant abutment or crown needs to be restored. This is a normal part of maintaining the implant and ensuring its longevity. It is important that these parts of the implant are in good condition as it helps the implant below to remain stable.

At Tidewater Family Dentistry, we are highly experienced in the maintaining and restoring dental implants. Dr. Owen has the skill and expertise necessary to integrate new implant components and restore aging dental implants. Dental implant restoration will help extend the longevity of your implant.