We Can Restore Your Natural Teeth

While our natural teeth are meant to last a lifetime, tooth decay, gum disease, dental trauma, and other problems can lead to premature tooth loss. Restorative dentistry is a specialized branch of dentistry that focuses on the repair or replacement of damaged teeth.

Local dentists understand the importance of keeping your natural teeth as long as possible. That is why our dentist in Clermont, FL offers a range of restorative dental services designed to restore the appearance and function of your smile. Some of our most popular services include:

Dental Fillings

Fillings are used to repair decay or minor fractures in teeth. This form of restorative dentistry can also help even out the tooth surface and improve the function of the jaw for chewing and biting. Today, there are several types of filling material available. The most common are the white-colored fillings, but some offices will still offer silver fillings, glass ionomer cement, resin ionomer cement, nickel alloys, and gold alloys.

The procedure is relatively fast and pain-free. The Clermont dental team will start by numbing the gums around the affected tooth using a local anesthetic. Once numbed, any decay is removed and the tooth is cleaned and dried. The dentist will then insert an amalgam-free, esthetic white filling material into the affected area to restore the tooth’s original shape. Finally, the tooth is polished to match the rest of your teeth.

Bridges

Dental bridges are a type of fixed dental restoration used to replace one or multiple missing teeth. A false tooth (pontic) is held in place on either side with abutment teeth. Pontics can be made out of several different materials, such as porcelain to match your natural teeth.

There are four main types of bridges available, including traditional, Maryland, cantilever, and implant-supported. The type of bridge and the cost is dependent on several factors, such as the number of teeth needed to fill the gap, the complexity of the placement, the materials used, and any additional treatments needed to resolve other dental issues, such as gum disease.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is essentially a cap for a damaged tooth. Crowns are often constructed from materials such as metal, porcelain, ceramic, composite resin, or a combination of materials. When choosing a material for a dental crown, your dentist in Clermont will consider the tooth’s location, function of the tooth, color of the surrounding teeth, position of the gum tissue, and how much of the tooth will show when smiling.

Dental crowns are often recommended to patients with weakened, cracked, or a severely worn-down tooth. A dental crown may also be placed on a tooth following a root canal as the tooth becomes more fragile. The average lifespan of a crown is between five and 15 years with some types of crowns being more durable than others.

Extractions

If a tooth is damaged beyond repair, a dentist may recommend an extraction. A tooth extraction is the removal of a natural tooth, usually due to excessive decay or trauma. This relatively fast outpatient procedure is usually performed under local or intravenous anesthesia. Teeth that are impacted or broken below the gumline may require more extensive removal procedures.

After a tooth extraction, it’s important to think about tooth replacement options. Although it is not always necessary to replace an extracted tooth, doing so can help prevent other teeth from shifting and prevent the bones in the mouth from weakening. There are several replacement options for missing teeth, such as dental implants, fixed bridges, and removable partial dentures.

Root Canals

Root canal treatment is a quick and comfortable procedure designed to eliminate bacteria from an infected root canal. During root canal therapy, an infected or inflamed pulp is removed and the tooth’s center is cleaned, disinfected, filled, and sealed.

A root canal is an effective way to save a natural tooth. A dentist may recommend a root canal if a tooth develops a crack or has a deep cavity that allows bacteria to enter the pulp. If left untreated, bacteria can cause a tooth abscess or serious infection. This can lead to pulp death, bone loss, and ultimately the loss of the tooth.

Contact Us Today

Want to learn more about how to restore your natural teeth? Reach out to our Clermont family dentistry team at Hancock Village Dental for an appointment.