Tooth-colored fillings appeal to patients because they look so natural.
Tooth-colored restorations have become increasingly popular for cosmetic reasons, but their composite resin construction is also durable and long-lasting. While metal amalgam fillings are still used on occasion, but most people prefer tooth-colored fillings that are color-matched to blend in with their smiles.
Talk, laugh and smile naturally with no hint of visible metal—your tooth-colored fillings blend in seamlessly for a picture-perfect grin.
Composite fillings bond directly with tooth enamel for wear-resistant strength and performance—and the materials just continue to improve.
Life Dentistry also performs mercury filling removal and our tooth-colored fillings are BPA-free for your health, safety, and peace of mind.
Inlays & onlays: between a filling and a crown
An inlay is fitted into the grooves of a tooth to repair injury or decay to the chewing surface that does not affect the cusp areas. An onlay is used to repair a tooth with more damage to the tips, cusps, and biting surface. Inlays and onlays are intermediate restorations—larger than fillings, but smaller than crowns.
Choosing an inlay or onlay restoration will depend on the severity, size, and location of the damage to the tooth. Dr. Duff will be able to advise you of the pros and cons of each option.
Inlays and onlays all restore your smile while alleviating further decay. They can also repair breakage and fractures.
Inlays and onlays used to be made of gold, but today patients prefer tooth-colored restorations if possible. Ask us for details!
A crown is a cover or “cap” that goes over a tooth
A crown can strengthen or improve the look of a compromised tooth. There are many reasons a crown might be recommended: your cavity is too large for a filling; the tooth is weakened, cracked, or badly worn; a discolored or misshapen tooth needs to be covered for aesthetics; or at the completion of root canal treatment.
Tooth-colored crowns are desirable for the same reasons as other color-matched restorations–aesthetics. Different factors will determine the construction of your crown, including tooth function, location, color, and personal preference.
Crown lengthening is a procedure commonly used to expose more natural tooth structure and adjust the bone level in order for a new dental crown restoration to be supported successfully.
Crown lengthening can also be used to treat a “gummy smile” and balance the ratio of visible tooth and gum tissue. It can also be used to access caries (cavities) that are located under the gums.
There are four main types of dental bridges.
The four types of dental bridges are traditional, cantilever, Maryland, and implant-supported. Each type “bridges” a gap in your smile left by an absent tooth with an artificial tooth—called a pontic—that is held in place by abutment teeth on either side. The pontic is usually made of porcelain or another tooth-colored material.
Implant-supported bridges are strong, stable, and placed in two parts: implant placement and bridge placement. One implant may be placed per missing tooth, or a false tooth can be suspended between two implant-supported crowns.
Traditional bridges are false teeth held in place by crowns cemented onto an abutment tooth on either side. The most common type of bridge, traditional bridges can be used when healthy natural teeth surround the gap.
Cantilever bridges only require one natural tooth next to the gap. Maryland bridges substitute metal or porcelain framework for crowns and can only be used when stable natural teeth are present on each side of the gap.
Whether you need full or partial dentures, we’ve got you.
Dental implants have revolutionized dentures, just as they have stepped up the game for other missing tooth replacement options. (For more detailed information, check out our dental implants page.) Whether you need to replace a full arch of teeth or just a group of teeth, implant-supported dentures can provide a reliable, secure solution.
Missing teeth can be detrimental because without their support, the facial structure becomes more unstable and may take on a sunken-in appearance. Bone loss and sagging facial muscles can also occur.
Implant-supported, full-arch dentures are most commonly used on the lower jaw but can be used for both upper and lower arches. Dr. Duff can advise whether fixed or removable options would be best for your implant-supported dentures.
Implant-supported partial dentures are stronger and more secure than traditional prosthetic partial dentures. They have a tighter, more customized fit, are more durable, and will last longer with proper care.
Are root canals as bad as you’ve heard?
No, not really. Despite their reputation as the metaphor for the worst thing in the world—you’ve probably heard someone say, “I’d rather have a root canal!” at least once, or perhaps you’ve even said it yourself—in truth, the root canal process is so routine now that it’s more comparable to a filling.
Root canals are performed to remove infection from and ultimately save a tooth. Depending on the condition of your tooth and gums, a root canal can usually be completed in one or two appointments.
The first step of the root canal process is for Dr. Duff to remove infection from the tooth, sterilize the tooth, and seal the chamber. Once this has been completed, a crown restoration is placed to protect the tooth for a long-term solution.
Saving natural teeth whenever possible is always the preference of Life Dentistry, as long as the tooth can be restored to full health. A root canal can bring you back to biting, chewing, smiling and laughing with ease in no time at all.
