Restorative Dentistry
Restore beautiful smiles with restorative dentistry
Have your teeth been damaged by decay or injury? If so, then we offer highly attractive, functional, and durable restorative dentistry options. We utilize some of the most advanced restorative dentistry techniques available to correct anything from a minor cavity to one or more missing teeth. And our approach to restorative dentistry goes beyond fixing individual cavities or teeth, we can use restorative dentistry to improve the function of your mouth as a whole.
Below you will find descriptions of some of the techniques we use, but to find out which is the best procedure for you, please call (559) 298-4700 or email Nicolas A. Ravon, DDS, MSD today for an appointment at our office in .
Composite-Resin Fillings
Composite-Resin filings are a far more aesthetically pleasing alternative to the metal fillings used for restorative dentistry in the past. They have similar tactile characteristics to natural tooth enamel and can be shaped and color adjusted to match existing teeth, blending perfectly with your existing smile.
Porcelain Inlays and Onlays
Dental porcelain has many benefits when used in aesthetic and restorative dentistry. Also known as dental ceramic, not only is porcelain an extremely hard and durable material, but it can also mimic the natural color and translucency of tooth enamel for an exceptionally natural look. A porcelain inlay, as the name implies, is porcelain used to fill “in” a cavity or crack in a tooth. A porcelain onlay is similar to an inlay, except it extends to replace a cusp (tip) of a tooth.
Ceramic Crowns
A dental crown is a ceramic cover or cap placed over a tooth (above the gum line) to restore its shape, size, strength, color, and other natural appearance attributes. They are often needed when a large cavity or other structural damage threatens the ongoing health of a tooth or destroys its cosmetic appearance.
A major plus of ceramic crowns, in particular, is they can improve the strength and appearance of teeth while seamlessly blending in with surrounding natural teeth.
Porcelain Veneers
One of the most versatile and popular restorative dentistry options, porcelain veneers can correct tooth shape, whiteness, and alignment all at the same time, and can be applied to the full mouth or a single tooth.
In the veneer process, a thin layer of hard, durable porcelain is placed over the tooth surface. Once you have lived with it for a period, are certain you like it, and the color and shape of the veneer is approved by you, it is permanently affixed, giving you an aesthetically perfect smile for years to come.
Gold Inlays and Crowns
Long used in restorative dentistry, gold oftentimes remains the material of choice due to a number of its unique benefits. In addition to being very malleable without it compromising strength, gold expands and contracts at a rate similar to natural teeth. This makes it ideal for building tooth structure since over time it better maintains its shape and contact with the surrounding tooth. As a result, gold can last for decades without incident.
In most cases gold can be applied in a way that is not easily visible, thus maintaining the natural aesthetic qualities of the smile.
Crown Lengthening
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Cosmetic – Some people are born with excessive gum tissue around their upper teeth resulting in what is commonly known as a “gummy smile.” This common occurrence can be treated with crown lengthening to produce a fuller, more aesthetically pleasing smile.
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Functional – In certain other instances there may not be enough tooth remaining above the gum line to support a needed bridge or crown. Perhaps a tooth broke off at the gum line, or maybe a crown or filling fell off a tooth and there is decay underneath. When more tooth is needed functional crown lengthening can provide the solution.
Missing Teeth Replacement
Loss of a tooth or a number of teeth affects more than just the appearance of your smile. Left unattended the resulting space can allow other teeth to shift and even the underlying bone structure to deteriorate.
Dr. Ravon can use dental implants to replace your teeth with fully-functional artificial teeth that preserve your other teeth and maintain your jaw bone.
Full Mouth Reconstruction
In extreme cases where all teeth have been lost or damaged (be it due to excessive wear, decay, or accident), or if there is persistent discomfort in the jaw, then reconstructive dentistry is likely what’s called for.
The process begins with assessing and (if needed) correcting jaw function. This involves the use of orthotics and various other advanced technologies to scientifically determine the anatomically correct function for your particular facial structure.
Once correct jaw motion is established, correct positioning and shaping of the teeth begin. Correct tooth structure and alignment, in conjunction with correct jaw movement, assure a comfortable and relaxed movement.
Other procedures that may play a part in full mouth reconstruction through restorative dentistry include bone or soft tissue grafting, crown lengthening and contouring of gum tissue, tooth reshaping, crown replacement, or other ceramic restorative dentistry, implant placement, and orthodontics.
Experience our Expertise in Restorative Dentistry in
Every dentist is capable of performing restorative dentistry, but the quality of the work that you receive depends on the skill, training, and experience of the individual dentist. At our practice, we draw on our combination of European and American training in restorative dentistry, decades of experience, and the keen eye and deft hands of our dentists to give singular results.
Please call (559) 298-4700 or contact Nicolas A. Ravon, DDS, MSD in today to schedule an appointment.
