Restorative Dentistry Services

Fillings
Various health issues are associated with mercury fillings that are not present in newer materials. Therefore, our practice restore 99.99% of teeth with newer composite materials; for example, bonding to the teeth to ensure greater strength (and frequently), these fillings can be resurfaced with age, rather than removing the entire filling. Additionally, they look much more natural.

-Bonding is a popular method to enhance the aesthetics of your smile. Bonding can be used to correct cracks or gaps in teeth, as a filling after a cavity has been removed, or to cover up stains or discolored teeth.

A composite resin bonding is used on the affected tooth or teeth. It is molded and sculpted over an adhesive gel that is placed on the tooth. After the resin has been applied an LED light is used to harden the resin, which is then polished to give you a fresh, new smile.

Bonding is an obvious improvement over unsightly silver amalgam fillings. With the advancements in dental technology, bonding usually lasts for over 10 years. It is a safe,
affordable, and attractive solution for many dental problems.

-PRR – preventive resin restoration (fisherotomy) with glass ionomer resin, or preventive in case of sensitivity at root areas.

-Amalgam restoration.

Do cavities happen from decay only? What is abrasion, erosion or attrition?
Some of the commonly misunderstood cavitations that I face in day-to-day practice is abrasion, erosion, attrition and abfraction. Almost everybody knows what abrasion is, which is the wear of teeth due to hard brushing. Attrition is wear and tear due to age. Erosion is the chemical insult of food and drinks and its dissolving effect on our teeth or in some cases acid reflex or bulimia. However, the fourth cause of tooth wear is abfraction, which is one of the misdiagnosed cervical lesions or cavitations.

What is abfraction?
Abfraction lesions are small notches caused by stress (force) on your teeth. Biting, chewing, clenching and grinding all put pressure on your teeth. Over time, this pressure can cause cracks and splits in the outer layer of your teeth. This occurs in the thinnest part of your enamel, near the gum line.

Grinding your teeth puts pressure on them over and over again. For this reason, people who grind their teeth are more likely to get abfraction lesions. Abfraction lesions are fairly common in adults. Older adults are especially likely to have them. They appear as crescent-shaped or wedge-shaped notches near the gum line. Teeth with abfraction lesions are more likely to decay, but they can get weaker over time. Weak teeth may be more likely to break. In severe cases, the dentin and cementum layers of a tooth may become involved. Dentin is the layer below the enamel. Cementum covers the tooth root instead of enamel. Dentin may be exposed if a crack develops. In these cases, the tooth may become sensitive. Otherwise, the lesions do not cause symptoms.

Abfraction lesions do not heal over time. Some may worsen, but in some cases they do need to be treated. Abfraction lesions are caused by the uneven forces produced when you bite or grind your teeth. Therefore, you usually can’t prevent them. If you grind your teeth, you can wear a night guard to reduce the pressure on them. In some cases, a few teeth get extra pressure because of the way the teeth come together (the bite). Dentists can often fix this kind of problem.

Whether to treat the lesions depends on where they are, how many there are, and other factors. At Grace Dental of Virginia Dr. Jarwa treats abfraction lesions by filling them. The process is often like filling a cavity. In other cases, the tooth does not need to be drilled first. The material also is similar to a tooth filling. Choices include a composite material or glass ionomer cement.

A tooth with severe abfraction lesions may be more likely to break. In these cases, treatment will strengthen the teeth. Some people may not like how the lesions look and therefore ask for them to be covered.

Abfraction treatments include:

-Fluoride therapy (varnish).

-Desensitizing bonding agent.

-Bonding filling.

-Night guard.

-Occlusal adjustments.

In severe cases root canal therapy and even crowns may be required.

Inlay and onlay
Inlays and onlays are often referred to as partial crowns. They use the existing tooth as a base and fit the inlay or onlay onto the tooth. This is done to strengthen the tooth, restore its shape, and prevent further damage. An inlay is done when there is no damage to the cusps of the tooth and the inlay can be placed right onto it. An onlay is used when the damage is a little more extensive. The decayed area of the tooth is first removed during the procedure. A mold of the tooth is then taken and sent to a dental lab. They create a restoration made from porcelain, gold, or a composite resin. The restoration takes about 2-3 weeks to make, so a temporary inlay or onlay will be placed on the tooth for that time. During your next visit the inlay or onlay will be placed into your mouth and set with cement. Your tooth will look natural and you or anyone else won’t be able to tell the difference.

Crown (cap)
Crowns are coverings that are placed over the majority of the tooth to restore its full functioning. Crowns can be made with many materials (porcelain, porcelain over metal, or gold) in restorative dentistry. Sometimes various teeth on the same patient require different materials.

It’s a statement of fact that our teeth absorb a ton of daily abuse. Whether it’s eating candy, drinking soda, tea or coffee, or simply competing in sporting events, there are times that our teeth become damaged and need to be repaired. And believe it or not, a very easy and affordable method to improve your smile due to damaged teeth is to consider the addition of dental crowns.

It has always been our mission at Grace Dental of Virginia to provide each patient with exceptional, comfortable and personalized dental care. We want to do everything in our power to help you improve your smile and quality of life. And one way we can deliver on our mission is to provide affordable and comfortable dental crown services to each of our patients. A dental crown or cap is defined as a tooth that is molded out of metal, porcelain or a combination of both that is formed and fitted over a currently damaged tooth. This very simple and pain-free procedure to vastly improve the overall look of your smile.

There are several types of dental crowns, all used for different purposes:

-Porcelain fused to metal PFM or porcelain fused to Gold PFG – This type of crown is manufactured with a metal interior supported by a smooth porcelain exterior. These types of crowns are very strong, but sometimes tend to chip easier than full ceramic crowns.

-Zirconia (or Full Ceramic) – Traditionally used in posterior or rear teeth, Zirconia crowns are extremely durable and can withstand daily chewing much better than other types of crowns

-Metal Crowns – Metal crowns are extremely durable and are often used as back teeth like molars. However, sometimes patients prefer to have silver or gold crowns for their front teeth as well.

Fixed Bridges
A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges.

Adjective restorative treatment
Pin-reinforced restorations and post-reinforced restorations – When tooth structure is not enough to retain the restoration Dr. Jarwa will recommend placing a pin and/or post (in the case of a root canal treated tooth) so the filling can be retentive and won’t come out. Simply put, the pin is like a nail and the post is like a screw.