Restorative Dentistry

TOOTH COLORED FILLINGS

Fillings are used to repair fractured teeth and/or areas of decay. Depending on the size of the filling, we will numb the area using local anesthesia and when needed place a rubber dam to protect your child’s airway. We then remove the cavity, clean the tooth, and fill the tooth with a tooth colored composite material.

STAINLESS STEEL CROWNS

Stainless Steel Crowns are used in cases where a cavity has affected so much tooth structure that filling material cannot be used to repair the tooth. We offer several types of crowns depending on the location of the cavity. For the front teeth we have white crowns. We choose which crown based on the patient’s bite and the extent of the cavity.

PULP/NERVE TREATMENT

Very large cavities can result in tooth aches and nerve irritation or infection. If a cavity has affected the nerve, we will clean out the infected part of the nerve, place an antibacterial medicine on the remaining nerve structure and finally place a protective filling over the nerve. Once a tooth has had nerve treatment it is weakened and must have a crown placed over it to protect it.

EXTRACTIONS

Extractions are done only as a last resort. If a primary molar is removed prematurely, a space maintainer will be placed. Teeth may also be extracted for orthodontic reasons.

SPACE MAINTAINERS

Space Maintainers are used when a primary tooth has been prematurely lost to hold space for the permanent tooth. If space is not maintained, teeth on either side of the extraction site can drift into the space and prevent the permanent tooth from erupting.