restorative dentistry

We use tooth colored filling material to treat cavities and chipped teeth, contouring them to mimic the shape and color of your teeth. We are a mercury-free practice. However, many people still have silver/mercury fillings in their mouths from years past. These fillings are not particularly pleasing to the eye, and we know that by unavoidable design, silver/mercury fillings ultimately result in a weaker tooth structure. Porcelain inlays and Tooth Colored Restorations (onlays) create fillings that are not only beautiful (or unnoticeable) but also add strength to weakened teeth.These restorations are esthetically pleasing and very strong thanks to new bonding technologies.

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth.

The implants are tiny titanium posts which are placed into the bone by an Oral Surgeon. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth. After about 3-4 months, the implant has bonded to the jawbone, and we are ready to take an impression to have the final implant crown made to put over the implant. We work closely with the Oral Surgeon to ensure proper implant placement for an ideal placement of the crown we will make for the implant.

The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily life.

Our goal is to provide dentistry that is undetectable. We place porcelain crowns that look and feel like your natural teeth, and at the same time improving the strength and structure of the tooth. A crown is a "cap" for teeth that cannot be restored with a simple filling.

We place crowns for a long term correction of many dental problems. We replace existing broken crowns and fillings with new crowns. In front teeth, older fillings can both weaken the teeth and cause esthetic problems due to staining or chipping. Porcelain crowns are suitable in cases where porcelain veneers are not. In root canal treated teeth, crowns are necessary to seal the tooth and prevent breakage.

The crown procedure requires at least two visits. Initially, we will remove decay, shape the tooth, and fit it with a temporary crown. On the subsequent visit we will remove the temporary crown, and then fit, adjust, and cement the final crown

When more than half of the tooth’s biting surface is damaged a dentist will often use an inlay or onlay. These are permanent restorations that have the same strength as a crown removes less tooth structure. In some cases, where the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire crown, onlays can provide a very good alternative. Inlays and onlays can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin

Traditionally, gold has been the material of choice for inlays and onlays. In recent years, however, porcelain has become increasingly popular due to its strength and color, which can potentially match the natural color of your teeth. 

Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50 percent. As an alternative, inlays and onlays, which are bonded directly onto the tooth using special high-strength resins, can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75 percent.

If you are not a suitable candidate for implants or you wish for another alternative treatment, we do provide the option to have a Dental Bridge. A bridge fills the gap where teeth are missing by attaching artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth, fills the gap where teeth are absent.

At the first appointment Dr. Carlos will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin. Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed.

Bridges can be constructed from gold alloys, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Porcelain is often bonded to either precious or non-precious metal. A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.

A denture or a complete denture as it is often called, is an appliance that is inserted in the mouth, replaces natural teeth and provides support for the cheeks and lips.

Most dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated in a few different ways.

- A conventional denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have healed.

- An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted and the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture.

- An upper denture has acrylic, usually flesh colored, that covers the palate (roof of the mouth).

- A lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue.

The teeth are made of plastic, porcelain or a combination thereof. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over endodonticly treated teeth and a complete denture can be attached to dental implants to allow for a more secure fit of the appliance.

Dentures over a normal course of time will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment normal. The alignment will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Regular dentist examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.