Restorations/Prosthodontics
Expert dental restorations in Edwardsville, IL
Thanks to the use of fluoride and the increased awareness of oral health habits in the general populace, the incidence of tooth decay has dramatically diminished in recent years. The fact remains, however, that sometimes a tooth will need to be restored back to health, or replaced altogether with a prosthetic. Luckily, advances cosmetic dentistry have kept up with the demand for relatively painless and affordable procedures to restore and enhance your smile. Whether your teeth need restoration or prosthodontic services, Edwardsville Family Dentist is well equipped to offer seamless solutions that will allow you to reclaim your confidence.
Benefits of prosthodontics
Our restorative and prosthodontic techniques utilize cutting-edge technology to restore your smile to its former glory or even better than before. We use the least invasive methods possible, and are happy to talk you through all the options available to you to ensure maximum satisfaction and minimum recovery time. Whether you need to fill in unattractive spaces between teeth, correct an improper bite, prevent the loss of a tooth, relieve pain or replace missing teeth or old implants, Dr. Moody has got you covered.
Fillings and crowns
For chipped, cracked or worn teeth, composite fillings offer an attractive solution that will meld seamlessly to hide and repair the damage. Crowns (caps) serve a similar function, but for teeth that are more badly damaged or decayed. In either case, there are a variety of materials to choose from, and the procedures are relatively quite simple, usually requiring only one or two appointments. to complete. Any decay will be removed from the tooth before application of the crown or filling, and afterwards the tooth will be shaped and polished to restore its original shape. You may experience increased sensitivity to heat and cold for some time afterwards, but this is normal and will eventually subside.
Implants, dentures and fixed bridges
For those who have missing teeth, it will come as a relief to know that there are a variety of permanent and removable options to fill in the gaps. Possibly the most well known of these solutions are complete dentures and partial dentures, which are removable dental appliances made to closely resemble your natural teeth. These can be removed for cleaning, and are extremely durable. Dental implants and fixed bridges, on the other hand, provide more permanent solutions. In all cases, the process takes some time as molding, fitting and adjusting these prosthodontics all require great care.
Inlay and onlay restoration
Inlays and onlays are conservative alternatives to crowns, and repair teeth that have large defective fillings or that have been damaged by decay or trauma. The only real difference between an inlay and an onlay is that onlays cover a bit more of the tooth, usually when one or more of the chewing cusps have been damaged. These restorations are custom made from composite material, gold, or tooth-colored porecelain in a professional dental laboratory. While they are very durable and will enhance your smile and ability to chew food for years to come, they may someday require replacement.
Root canal therapy
When the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection, a root canal may be required to save the tooth. The living tissue inside the tooth (the pulp), nerves, bacteria and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special medicated dental materials which restore the tooth to its full function. While root canals suffer a maligned reputation, modern techniques make the procedure relatively painless, and it is usually the best alternative to full extraction of an infected tooth.