Restorative Care
at Tindal Prosthodontics
Restorative dentistry refers to the field of dentistry that focuses on diagnosing, managing, and treating oral health problems related to damaged or missing teeth, as well as restoring the function, integrity, and appearance of the teeth and surrounding structures. The primary goal of restorative dentistry is to preserve natural teeth as much as possible and replace missing teeth to ensure optimal oral health and functionality.
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Dental Fillings: These are used to repair cavities or tooth decay. Fillings can be made from various materials, such as amalgam, composite resin, porcelain, or gold.
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Dental Crowns: These are tooth-shaped "caps" that are placed over damaged or weakened teeth to restore their shape, size, and strength, as well as improve their appearance.
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Dental Bridges: These are used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring a prosthetic tooth to the adjacent natural teeth or dental implants.
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Dental Implants: These are titanium posts that are surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. A dental crown, bridge, or denture can be attached to the implant to replace the visible part of the tooth.
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Dentures: These are removable prosthetic devices that replace multiple missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissue. Dentures can be full or partial, depending on the number of teeth that need to be replaced.​
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Restorative dentistry can greatly improve oral health, function, and aesthetics, enhancing the patient's overall quality of life.
tooth-colored fillings | composite fillings
In the past, if a patient needed to have a cavity repaired, a dentist would use an amalgam filling to do it. These fillings are very strong and durable because of the properties of the mercury, silver, tin, zinc and copper in it. However, amalgam fillings have some very distinct drawbacks, namely that they leave a large gray mark on a tooth and can make it more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. This is why, at Tindal Prosthodontics, we now only use tooth-colored fillings in Sarasota.
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What are fillings made out of?
Tooth-colored fillings are made of a composite resin material—a compound of ceramic and plastic—that can be specially shaded to perfectly match the color of a patient’s enamel, helping the filling practically disappear inside the mouth. Although composite resin takes a little more time to place than amalgam, it is significantly less noticeable. Plus, because composite is more flexible than amalgam, Dr. Tindal can use small, conservative fillings that preserve more of a patient’s natural dental structure. This, in turn, helps the repaired tooth last much longer.
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Tooth-colored fillings have many advantages over their amalgam counterparts, including the following:
Composite resin can be closely matched to the shade of the natural tooth, which is much more aesthetically pleasing.
Composite resin is very stable, chemically bonding to the tooth structure.
Whereas amalgam fillings require more tooth structure to be removed to make space, tooth-colored fillings are more flexible and typically mean that less needs to be removed for the composite resin.
Composite fillings may result in fewer incidences of cracking or fracture than amalgam fillings.
The surrounding tooth structure can appear gray with amalgam but maintains its natural tooth color with composite resin fillings.
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How are fillings placed?
After applying a local anesthetic to numb the area, Dr. Tindal removes the decayed parts from the tooth and cleans out the cavity to make sure no debris or bacteria are still there. Then the composite resin is applied in layers, and each layer is hardened or cured by a special light. Finally your dentist in Sarasota shapes the filling, trims off excess material, and polishes the final result. Overall, the process is quick and painless for the patient and provides an appealing result.
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In just one quick visit to Tindal Prosthodontics, you could enjoy your healthy, natural-looking smile again with tooth-colored fillings. To learn more about your restorative options or schedule an appointment, contact us today.
who is a good candidate for dental crowns?
Dental crowns can be an effective solution for various dental issues, including those related to the function, structure, and appearance of your teeth. You may be a good candidate for dental crowns if you need treatment for any of the following situations:
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Covering a single dental implant: Dental crowns can be used to replace the visible part of a missing tooth supported by a dental implant. The crown is attached to the implant, providing a natural-looking and functional prosthetic tooth.
Restoring a tooth with a large filling or too weak for a filling: If a tooth has a substantial cavity or an existing large filling, it may not have enough healthy tooth structure left to support another filling. In such cases, a dental crown can provide the necessary support and protection to restore the tooth's function and prevent further damage.
Restoring a tooth with extensive decay: When a tooth has lost more than half of its original structure due to decay, a dental crown may be needed to rebuild the tooth and protect it from further damage.
Repairing a chipped or cracked tooth: Teeth that are chipped or cracked, either due to trauma or teeth grinding (bruxism), can benefit from dental crowns. The crown encases the damaged tooth, providing strength and preventing the crack or chip from worsening.
Protecting a tooth after root canal therapy: After root canal treatment, a tooth may become more fragile and prone to fracture. A dental crown can be used to protect and reinforce the
dental crowns
Do you have a noticeable cavity in one tooth that you haven’t gotten around to getting filled? What about a severely chipped tooth that you’re incredibly self-conscious about? Or a seriously stained or discolored tooth that mars your otherwise beautiful smile? In all of these cases, you might benefit from a dental crown in Sarasota. This customized restorative treatment can be used to correct multiple problems with your teeth. Keep reading to learn more about dental crowns and whether they’re right for you.
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What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns are restorations that are sometimes also called “caps” because they are designed to fit snugly over the whole visible portion of a tooth. They are designed to restore a tooth’s size, shape, and function back to what it once was. Crowns can be made of many different materials, like gold, zirconia, and ceramic, but here at Tindal Prosthodontics, we use dental porcelain because of its uncanny ability to mimic tooth enamel. Since we’ll take care to precisely match the color of your crown with the enamel of your surrounding teeth, no one should know that it’s not your “real” tooth.
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What are the benefits of dental crowns?
Generally, when teeth are badly damaged, your only options are to either repair them or to get them extracted. Because missing teeth can put you at a greater risk for multiple oral health problems, we typically suggest repairing the tooth whenever possible. In addition to saving your tooth from needing an extraction, dental crowns offer the following benefits:
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Aesthetics: Crowns are matched to your specific dental needs. They will look and feel like a completely natural part of your smile, to the point where only Tindal and the rest of our dental team will be able to tell it’s a crown.
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Durability: Although you’ll still want to refrain from chewing on ice, hard candies, popcorn kernels, etc., you’ll be able to eat crunchy foods to your heart’s content.
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Longevity: Provided you take good care of your crown with regular brushing, flossing, and checkups with us, your restoration can last for years to come.
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How are crowns placed?
To begin the process, we numb the treatment area with local anesthetic. Then, we reduce the tooth in size by removing a thin layer of enamel from the tooth’s surface. Next, we take an impression of your prepped tooth and send that off to a dental lab, where your restoration will be created to our exact specifications by a team of skilled ceramists. In the meantime, we’ll affix you with a temporary crown to protect your tooth. A few weeks later, when your crown is ready, we’ll replace your temporary with your permanent one, and voila! Your tooth is good as new!
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While the average crown lasts anywhere from 10-15 years, they have the potential to last even longer than that if you take proper care of them. That involves:
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Avoiding clenching or grinding your teeth, or wearing a nightguard to treat this problem
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Refraining from chewing on ice, hard candies, fingernails, etc.
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Brush and floss every day
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Attend checkups and cleanings with us at least twice a year
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Are you ready to make your damaged teeth look like new again? Dental crowns may be just the thing your smile needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
We Would Love to Meet You!
Not sure what step to take? Not a problem! Let's schedule a consultation and find out if the procedure is right for you!
Submit a consultation form or give us a call today!
Call: (941) 225-2520
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Are implant dentures more expensive?Yes, implant dentures in Sarasota are typically more expensive than traditional dentures, but for good reason. Unlike traditional dentures that rest on top of gums, dental implants fuse directly with the jawbone. This gives implant dentures maximum support, prevents slipping, and provides greater chewing power. Implant dentures also appear more permanent and lifelike. In addition, even though they cost more upfront, dental implants can last for decades with proper care. Traditional dentures, on the other hand, usually must be replaced every five to seven years.
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How do I clean my dentures?Exactly how you care for your dentures will depend on what type of prosthesis you have. With non-implant dentures, you’ll need to remove them every night and soak them in a special solution. Gently brushing them, and making sure your gums are clean, will help you prevent sores and bad breath. Some implant-retained dentures are permanently fixed in the mouth. You can care for these in almost exactly the same way you would care for natural teeth.
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Can you sleep with dentures in?Regardless of the type of dentures you're using, wearing them in your sleep is a bad idea, and will cause you a number of health issues down the line. To keep your mouth bacteria-free, your gums healthy, and your bones unaltered and strong, make sure to remove your dentures every night before going to sleep.
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What to expect my first day with dentures?It's normal to develop sore spots during the first few days of wearing dentures. You may also have more saliva. Gum tissue contracts as it heals. For this reason, you may need to visit our office several times so your dentures fit comfortably.
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How long does it take to get dentures from start to finish?As an estimate it often takes approximately between six weeks to three months but may take longer and will depend on whether or not you require any teeth to be extracted, the healing time and whether or not it is a full denture or partial denture.
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Who cannot get dentures?The only real concern for denture candidates is their jawbone health. This is because tooth loss causes the jawbone to deteriorate and weaken. Consequently, without a stable foundation, patients cannot get dental implants for implant-supported dentures. A weakened jawbone can also cause issues for traditional dentures. This is where we may suggest bone grafts and dental implants, a consultation is your first step to understanding what treatment options are best for you!
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How can I get rid of denture sores?Salt Water Rinse. Warm salt water rinses are recommended for a number of types of mouth sores and oral health conditions, and they can also be used to treat denture sores. ... Give Your Mouth a Break. ... Good Oral Hygiene. ... Relieve the Pain. ... Consult With Your Dentist.
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Can you help with my ill-fitting denture?Yes! If you have a denture that is constantly popping, clicking, or moving around in your mouth, we can help stabilize it using dental implants. Implant-retained dentures are attached directly to the jawbone using prosthetic tooth roots to deliver the most secure fit possible. We can upgrade traditional dentures to fit over implants or provide you with a completely new prosthetic.