Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry is a branch of dental practice that focuses on restoring and repairing teeth that have been damaged or lost. This type of dental treatment may be ideal if you have tooth pain, issues with your bite, or missing teeth affecting your smile. It can also help you maintain oral health through cleaning, scaling, enamel shaping, and more.

At T. Kirk Crane, DDS, many patients opt for restorative dentistry services to strengthen their teeth and avoid more extensive future treatments. However, if you’ve already experienced tooth loss or a cavity, you can work with your dentist to find the right solution for restoring the health and aesthetics of your smile.

Cerec Same-Day Dental Crowns

When a tooth has experienced significant decay or injury, you may need more than just a filling to restore it. A crown is the complete restoration of the tooth; it is bonded to the entire tooth using a strong dental adhesive and restores the shape and function of your tooth. In the past, this process took several appointments to complete. Thanks to CEREC technology, you can walk in with your problem tooth and leave with a new restoration in just one visit. CEREC crowns use digital imaging to create a 3D model of your tooth. This digital image is sent to a machine that mills your porcelain crown. The dentist then bonds the crown to your tooth for a permanent solution. These crowns are custom-made, so your smile will be restored with a natural appearance.

Composite Dental Fillings

Composite fillings are also known as tooth-colored fillings. These dental restorations are made from a mixture of plastic and glass particles and are shaded to match the color of your natural tooth enamel. The shade of the composite resin can be customized to blend with the natural color of your tooth, which helps match the color of the bonding material to the surrounding teeth so that it will look more natural after placement. 

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is a prosthetic restoration designed to replace a tooth by “bridging” the gap left behind from tooth loss. The bridge is a false tooth anchored by the teeth on either side of the gap left from the missing tooth. It is custom-made for every patient to fit perfectly in your smile. 

Dental Crowns

A crown is a cap that fits over a tooth, covering it from view. It’s often used to restore a tooth that is too damaged to be fixed with fillings or other restorations. They can also cover a dental implant, so it looks like a natural tooth. Crowns also act as a protective barrier to prevent remaining teeth from shifting positions and becoming misaligned. Some people choose to get a crown to protect a weak tooth that is already at risk of breaking. A crown can help hold the tooth together and protect it against further damage.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are small, titanium posts placed into your jawbone where your tooth used to be. These tiny posts will eventually fuse with the bone in your jaw and serve as stable anchors for replacement teeth that look and feel natural. Dental implants can also help preserve the health of your jawbone by providing stimulation when you chew your food. This stimulation helps prevent bone loss in the jaw that can happen when a tooth is lost or removed.

Dentures & Partials

Your dentist may recommend complete or partial dentures if you have lost most or all of your teeth. Dentures are natural-looking replacements held in place by suction, adhesives, and the natural shape of your mouth. Complete dentures replace all your teeth, while partial dentures replace a few missing ones. Both options can replace lost natural teeth and improve your smile’s appearance, health, function, and comfort for years. 

Laser Fillings

Laser fillings can be used to treat a range of tooth problems, including tooth decay, trauma to the teeth, cracks, and chips in the enamel, and larger cavities that require a restoration, like a crown. During your appointment, your dentist will first numb the treated area to ensure you are comfortable throughout the procedure. Your dentist will then remove the decayed tissue from the tooth with a dental laser before filling the cavity in layers to protect the sensitive parts of the tooth. Once the filling is complete, you will be provided with a temporary filling until the permanent one is created at an outside lab.

Get in touch with T. Kirk Crane, DDS, at 104 Exchange Pl, Suite A Lafayette, LA 70503, or call (337) 232-3873 to find the right solution for restoring the health and aesthetics of your smile.