Restorative Dentistry – Portage, IN
Regain Strong, Capable Teeth After Damage & Decay
Our dentists will always do what they can to help patients avoid dental injuries, but sometimes restorative work becomes necessary regardless of our efforts. In this situation, rest assured that we will preserve as much healthy dental structure as possible while also fully eliminating the decay and/or damage, bringing back much-needed form and function to your smile. If you are in need of assistance with a decayed or damaged tooth, please contact Advanced Dental Concepts for Portage for further assistance. We want to help!
Crowns & Bridges
Dental crowns are an important cornerstone of restorative dentistry. They allow us to rebuild individual teeth while also preserving what remains of the original shape. Their versatility also allows us to recommend them in a number of different situations, including:
- When fillings, inlays, and onlays cannot successfully rebuild dental damage or decay in a specific tooth
- When cosmetic imperfections need to be corrected in certain teeth, such as broken enamel, malformed shapes, or noticeable crookedness
- When a tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy needs protection
- When one or more teeth have been lost entirely and replaced with dental implants, which require restoration
If you’re in need of a custom-made dental crown, this process will require at least two appointments here in Portage. During the first one, our team will start by removing a minimal amount of the natural tooth in order to accommodate the new restoration. After capturing impressions and placing a temporary crown, you will be able to return home while we forward this information to a trusted dental laboratory. They will craft the final crown and then send it back to us for final placement during a follow-up appointment.
Dental crowns can also be used to create a dental bridge, which is a possible option for replacing consecutive missing teeth. By anchoring crowns over adjacent natural teeth, the bridge is held securely in place within the gap, restoring biting strength. Bridges can also be outfitted with dental implants for a healthier and more conservative outcome.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Traditionally, dentists relied on amalgam (a metal filling material) to repair damage caused by tooth decay and outright cavities. While these fillings are durable and functional, they also have several pitfalls. For instance, they require an excessive amount of healthy dental structure to be removed for accommodation, and their dark-colored nature was also very noticeable within a while smile.
At Advanced Dental Concepts, we’re happy to use tooth-colored composite resin as an excellent alternative. This flexible material comes in a variety of enamel-like shades that can be precisely matched to the patient’s natural shade. We can also use it to craft much smaller fillings that directly bond to the tooth for a healthier, stronger, and longer lasting result. In most cases, the placement of a new filling only requires one appointment of your time!
Dentures & Partials
If you have lost a significant number of natural teeth, it’s important to pursue a quality replacement solution as soon as possible. Our dentists may recommend a custom-made partial or full denture. Partial dentures can replicate certain teeth along a single arch, using clasps to stay securely in place within the mouth. Alternatively, full dentures can replace the entire top or bottom arch of teeth. They stay in place through the use of natural suction. Traditional dentures are removable in nature and should be taken out of the mouth when sleeping and practicing oral hygiene.
At Advanced Dental Concepts, we strongly recommend the use of dental implants combined with custom-made dental prosthetics. By anchoring the full or partial denture in place, patients can enjoy more stability, permanence, and aesthetic value.