Restorative Dentistry in North Bay
Poor oral hygiene can cause teeth decay and also damage your teeth in some cases. Let us help you there. Do you have a cracked tooth filling or have you lost a crown? Visit our dentists in North Bay for restorative dentistry services. We are committed to restoring the damage caused to your teeth and gums.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings and repairs use restorative materials used to repair teeth which have been compromised due to cavities or trauma. For this procedure, a dentist uses composite resin (a soft plastic material) that will either match or enhance the colour of your tooth. Several layers of resin are applied to each tooth and each layer is hardened under an ultraviolet light. Final steps include shaping and polishing the resin material.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants, usually applied to the chewing surface of teeth, act as a barrier against decay-causing bacteria. Most often, the sealants are applied to the back teeth, e.g., premolars and molars. The tooth will be cleaned, and a very thin layer of resin material applied to the pits and grooves of the tooth. This will help ensure easier cleaning and prevention of harmful bacteria staying stuck on the tooth surface, helping to avoid future decay.
Dental Crowns
A crown is a cover that fits over a tooth (like a protective helmet) that has been damaged by decay, broken, badly stained or mis-shaped. To prepare your tooth for a crown, the tooth is filed down so the crown can fit over it. An impression of the teeth and gums is made, and a temporary crown is fitted over the tooth until the permanent crown is ready. On your next visit, the dentist will remove the temporary and cement the permanent crown onto the tooth. The crown will closely match the colour and shape of your natural teeth. A crown can be made of metal, porcelain, or porcelain bonded to metal depending on location in the mouth.
Bridges
A bridge is a way to replace a missing tooth or teeth. Bridges are false teeth anchored in place by neighbouring teeth. The bridge consists of two crowns on the anchoring teeth (the teeth on either side of the space) along with the false tooth in the centre. A bridge is completed similarly to a crown where the teeth are filed down, an impression is taken and sent to the lab for fabrication. A temporary bridge may or may not be necessary. During your next visit, the temporary bridge will be removed and the permanent cemented onto the teeth. The bridge can be made of metal, porcelain or porcelain bonded to metal, depending on location in the mouth.
Implants
An implant is a way to replace a missing tooth or teeth. Dental implants are artificial roots placed into the bone and gums to support replacement teeth. Once the artificial root is placed, the tooth is then restored with a crown. An implant is the closest thing in dentistry to a natural tooth.
