Restorative Care
The mark of excellent restorative care is that it is functional, promotes healthy teeth and gums, and maintains a natural aesthetic. Dr. Turner strives to provide this high quality care to each patient that requires treatment.
Beyond the treatment room, the success of any restorative treatment we complete is dependent on the quality of each patients' oral hygiene. The best way to ensure that restorations will last for a long time and stay healthy is to maintain a regular professional hygiene schedule and invest in excellent home care.
Fillings​
Composite, or "tooth-colored", fillings are used to treat a variety of conditions. They can provide restorative structure when cavities have caused decay, root is exposed at the base of the tooth near the gumline, or enamel is lost or a tooth is chipped.
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Amalgam, or silver, fillings were used historically in dentistry to provide the same solutions. However, silver fillings can expand over time and cause damage to the teeth they've restored. Silver fillings have also been linked to cognitive decline and even Alzheimer's disease. For these reasons, we may recommend replacing any silver fillings with composite ones for optimal oral health.
Sealants
Often used in pediatrics, sealants act as preventive restorations to ward against cavities. Teeth, especially molars, that have deep grooves along the biting surface are more susceptible to trapped bacteria that cause decay. By sealing these surfaces early with composite material, cavities can often be delayed or even prevented, provided that excellent hygiene is maintained.
Crowns
In instances where a tooth has fractured, been treated by an endodontist, or previous restorations have overwhelmed natural tooth structure, crowns may be necessary. Crowns are optimal for situations in which tooth shape, size, or color need to be adjusted, whether the reason is functional, aesthetic, or both.
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The first appointment in the process involves preparation of the tooth to fit the crown and the creation of a temporary while the permanent cap is made by our partnering lab.
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The permanent crown will be delivered in a subsequent visit. If you are scheduled for treatment, and begin to experience any aching or sensitivity at the treatment site, please contact our office prior to your appointment, as it's possible you may need to be seen by a specialist prior to restoration.
For missing teeth
In the event that you have gaps in your smile, whether teeth have been extracted or are congenitally missing, there are several solutions available that provide functional and aesthetic value. All options require an intra-oral scan, and some may involve additional preparation performed on existing structure, similar to a crown. Dr. Turner uses personalized oral history and working knowledge to recommend the solutions with the best prognosis for each patient.
Implant crowns: Implants and resulting crowns are single-site solutions for missing teeth. Implants are placed by an oral surgeon and allow for a biting surface opposite permanent teeth, and contacts between teeth to encourage gum health, without impacting those adjacent.
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Bridges: Bridges are fixed prosthetics that can fill gaps in your smile using crowns anchored to adjacent teeth.
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Dentures: Dentures are removable appliances that can replace entire arches of missing teeth, or simply fill a gap, similar to a bridge.