Selecting the Right Restoration for Your Smile

Over time, routine wear can erode the enamel of your teeth, opening the door for dental conditions that weaken the health of your smile and overall oral function. Reinforcing these damaged teeth with a comprehensive restoration can help ensure you retain your healthy smile and prevent more extensive issues in the future. However, with so many dental restorations available, knowing which treatment will most efficiently fulfill your health needs without creating future issues can be difficult.

Depending on the condition of your smile and your long-term health goals, consider the following treatment options:

For Treating Cavities, Chips, and Minor Cracks
In instances of minor tooth damage and enamel erosion, composite fillings may be the most effective, least invasive method of restoring the affected tooth. Unlike traditional metal fillings which can contract and expand when exposed to extreme temperatures and can cause the tooth to look gray, composite fillings are made of a tooth-colored resin that does not react to changes in temperature. As a result, patients are able to enjoy improved smiles without the discomfort associated with traditional amalgam fillings.

For Restoring Teeth Following Root Canal Therapy or Fractures
When teeth have been damaged as result of severe infection or abscess, a root canal is often the most effective treatment to prevent continued deterioration to a patient’s oral function. Following this endodontic treatment, porcelain crowns are often recommended as the ideal solution to reinforcing this damaged tooth while preventing reinfection.

Highly resilient and able to withstand routine function, crowns are designed to match the neighboring teeth in both appearance and functionality. Crowns may also be recommended in the event a fracture has extensively damaged a tooth and the tooth cannot be restored with composite fillings.

To Replace Single or Multiple Missing Teeth
Traditionally, fixed bridges were recommended as a comprehensive solution to correcting isolated tooth loss. However, this treatment also requires that the neighboring teeth be altered in order to successfully support the bridge. As a result, fixed bridges can require further restorations in the future. Similarly, while dentures and partials may seem like a financially sound idea early on, the long-term maintenance and replacement costs as well as negative oral health consequences can leave patients with less than satisfactory dental health and function.

By contrast, dental implants offer an ideal solution which is applicable to diverse cases of missing or severely damaged teeth. As implants are able to support extensive restorations, including bridges and dentures, this restorative treatment option opens the door for patients with multiple missing teeth to enjoy the stability and aesthetics that come with dental implants. Additional benefits associated with dental implants and implant-supported restorations include treatment longevity and improved jaw strength.

Schedule Your Restoration Consultation 
At Ted Filandrianos, DMD, FAGD, & Associates, our Newton implant dentists offer a number of comprehensive restorative treatment options tailored to your specific smile. From minimally invasive crowns to comprehensive full-arch restorations with dental implants, Dr. Filandrianos and his team utilize innovative technology and conservative techniques to provide patients with solutions that work for their unique dentitions.