There are various ways your dentist can replace missing teeth or repair missing parts of the tooth structure through restoration dentistry. Tooth structure can be missing due to decay, deterioration of a previously placed restoration, or fracture of a tooth.
Restorative Dentistry
You can erase years of wear and tear with porcelain crowns. Sometimes called “caps,” porcelain crowns are customized for you, covering broken, cracked or discolored teeth. Crowns are a durable, strong, long lasting method of enhancing both the look and functionality of your smile. After some preparation of the tooth or teeth that will receive the crown(s), Dr. Penfold will position a custom milled, lifelike porcelain crown over your damaged tooth, restoring and rejuvenating your oral health.
When teeth are missing, your smile undergoes significant changes. Missing teeth cause you to chew differently, may cause mouth pain, and as your remaining teeth work to compensate for the loss, gaps and spaces form that only make the situation worse. A porcelain bridge, custom designed by your doctor at Northwood Dental, keeps your smile aligned and your bite functional. Bridges are usually made of two or more supporting crowns, which are placed on your teeth on either side of the missing tooth. Between those teeth, Dr. Penfold affixes a prosthetic tooth, milled out of porcelain, to bridge the gap in your smile. The end result blends in perfectly with your natural teeth!
Your confidence fades and appearance transforms after tooth loss. With dentures, you can get back to your confident, normal life even after the loss of your teeth. Offering only the most advanced removable dentures to best fit you, Northwood Dental will guide you every step of the way. Our team creates custom dentures made for you and helps you select the shade and shape. You walk away with great fitting dentures that look just like real teeth, and smiling is just the beginning.
Partial dentures are used if you have several teeth missing that cannot be corrected with a bridge. A partial denture is created to replace those teeth. The denture is removable and designed to fit comfortably and blend in with any remaining teeth. This type of denture is made from a synthetic material that is supported with a lightweight metal. It mimics your gum tissue and teeth to create a natural looking smile while still remaining functional. The partial is important once the teeth have been removed to preserve the bone and to keep existing teeth from tilting and growing in toward the gaps.
A dental implant is one of the most permanent forms of restorative dentistry and can be used to restore a single tooth or several teeth. Dental implants involve the placement of a surgical grade titanium post directly into your jawbone. As the bone bonds to the post, it forms a secure foundation for the attachment of a crown or a prosthetic tooth that is custom created for you. Because implants are able to maintain bone height where other restorations cannot, it is the most ideal treatment for replacements of missing teeth. Contact us to see if you’re a candidate for Dr. Penfold to place and restore dental implants.
For some patients, typical dentures shift and require the use of denture adhesives to keep them in place. Implant supported dentures provide and excellent solution to these problems. Implant supported dentures are anchored to several titanium implants in your jaw. As a result, they fit solidly, reducing the problems associated with traditional dentures such as gum sores, difficulty speaking and difficulty chewing. You care for your implant supported dentures in the same way that you care for your natural teeth – no more removing your dentures to clean them! Ask Dr. Penfold if implant supported dentures are right for you
