Restorative Dentistry

When your teeth are damaged or missing, you may feel awkward and uncomfortable whenever you interact with people. However, many dental solutions today offer attractive and effective treatments to restore teeth to their natural structure and function.

Why Do I Need Restorative Dentistry?

We all want to have a beautiful smile! But, apart from the facial improvement that restorations can provide, here are the reasons why dental restorations are necessary:

Damaged teeth can become sensitive. When a tooth gets cracked or deeply decayed, the inner tissues (dentine and pulp) become exposed. These inner tissues are connected to the nerves which deliver stimuli to the brain, sending signals of pain and discomfort whenever food or other substances touch them.
Damaged teeth are more susceptible to decay. The enamel is the toughest part of the tooth, while the inner tissues are much softer and easier to break down. When these inner tissues are exposed, bacteria can penetrate them faster and cause more problems inside the tooth.
The damage can become bigger if not treated promptly. A large area of decay that remains untreated may progress into an even larger infection, eventually needing more serious treatment such as root canal therapy.
Your self-confidence may diminish. When your smile doesn’t look pleasant, you will feel somewhat insecure about your appearance. This may cause you to avoid social interaction, especially when meeting new people.

Uses of Dental Restorations

You can get dental restorations for all kinds of dental problems, including:

Broken, fractured, or chipped teeth;
Teeth with a large area of decay;
Discolored or stained teeth;
Teeth that have undergone root canal therapy; and,
Lost or extracted teeth

In case of dental emergencies, Hatch Family Dentistry provides treatment to patients using our advanced CEREC technology. CEREC allows us to fabricate dental restorations such as crowns, inlays, and onlays within just a few hours. Patients don’t need to make multiple visits or wait several weeks for the final restoration. Same-day crowns are far more convenient, making temporary crowns a thing of the past.

What Dental Restorations are Available?

At Hatch Family Dentistry, we offer the following high-quality dental restorations:

Dental Bonding

Bonding is the simplest way to restore small fractures on teeth as well as minor imperfections like staining, tooth gaps, and misshapen/inclined teeth. The dentist uses a composite resin material which can be sculpted to perfectly achieve the desired shape, thickness, and final outcome of the restoration. A special light is used to cure the resin and make it harden for a permanent finish.

Crowns, Inlays, and Onlays

Crowns, inlays, and onlays are all porcelain restorations for damaged teeth. They have the same method of fabrication and installation, but what makes them different is their coverage. A dental crown fully covers the top of the tooth, which is why it is also called a cap. To make way for the crown, the tooth shape is altered by removing the enamel layer to allow sufficient room for porcelain material.

An inlay doesn’t require much trimming as it only covers the inner grooves of the tooth, where food usually gets trapped. Inlays are used to repair teeth which have cavities in the occlusal surface. Onlays also don’t need as much trimming as a crown, but it can cover up to three sides of the tooth. They are commonly referred to as a partial crown.

Bridges, Dentures, and Dental Implants

Bridges, dentures, and dental implants are all designed for restoring lost teeth. However, their applications vary greatly. Bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth. The structure is generally composed of a crown-pontic (false tooth)-crown sequence, however in certain circumstances a cantilever bridge can be done which is suspended from only one side.

Dental bridges can be made from a variety of materials but full-coverage zirconia and lithium disilicate are the most commonly used today, both of which can provide a very nice aesthetic effect. Lithium disilicate has the highest esthetic results, but zirconia is also a very nice tooth colored material whose primary benefit is extremely high strength.

Dentures are traditionally known as false teeth. While most people associate dentures with full mouth restorations, there are also partial dentures which only replace a few teeth. Unlike bridges which are cemented onto teeth, dentures are removable. They come with an acrylic base with either ceramic or acrylic false teeth.

Dental implants are the most advanced dental restorations today. They provide structural and functional benefits which cannot be achieved from other dental treatments. The dental implant consists of a titanium post which is placed into the jawbone. On top of the implant, there is typically an abutment which is held into place via a small screw. Finally the crown itself can either be screwed onto the abutment below, but more commonly they are cemented on.

Getting Restorative Dentistry from the Hatch Family Dentistry in Tempe

Hatch Family Dentistry is the best Tempe dentist to visit whenever you have esthetic or functional dental problems. Our dentists, Dr. Hatch and Drs. Konkle are always here to help you restore the beauty of your smile as well as your self-confidence.

If you would like to get a consultation schedule from our dental office, please call (480) 838-3073. You can also visit our office at 7350 S McClintock Dr, #103, Tempe, to find out more about our services and payment options.

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