Restorative Care

Bridges

Have you lost a tooth? Don’t worry! A dental bridge can be placed to restore your smile. Much like a bridge over a body of water, a dental bridge relies on strong supports on either side of the gap. In this case, the neighboring teeth serve as anchors, supporting the artificial tooth that fills the space.

The process begins with an initial appointment where the area is numbed for comfort. The supporting teeth are then prepared, and an impression or mould is taken. This is sent to a dental lab, where the custom bridge is created. In the meantime, a temporary plastic bridge is placed to maintain function and preserve the space until the permanent bridge is ready.

At the second appointment, the final bridge is carefully fitted and cemented into place. Most bridges are made of porcelain, allowing them to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. Because the bridge is fixed, it is not removable and, over time, will feel just like your own teeth.

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Crowns

When a tooth has suffered significant damage due to decay or trauma, a crown may be recommended. Over time, the walls of a weakened tooth can become thin, leading to cracks that cause discomfort when biting. A crown covers the entire tooth, distributing biting forces evenly to prevent further damage and reduce pain, allowing you to chew comfortably.

The process of getting a crown typically requires two appointments. During the first visit, the tooth is numbed for comfort and carefully reshaped to make space for the crown. An impression is then taken, which is sent to a dental lab to create a custom crown. In the meantime, a temporary plastic crown is placed to protect the tooth and maintain function while the permanent crown is being made.

At the second appointment, the new crown is fitted and, if everything looks and feels right, it is securely cemented into place. Crowns can be made from tooth-colored porcelain, gold, or silver, depending on your preferences and discussions with your dentist.

At Cornerstone Family Dentistry, we offer a specialized service called Custom Shading, where our in-house colorist ensures your porcelain crown is expertly matched to your natural tooth color for a seamless and natural appearance.

Tooth Fillings

Even with diligent oral care, cavities can still develop. They are typically diagnosed through a combination of visual examinations, X-rays, and dental instruments designed to detect decay. If left untreated, cavities will continue to progress, potentially leading to abscesses or extensive tooth damage that may become impossible to restore.

To repair a cavity, the first step is numbing the area to ensure a painless procedure. Once the tooth is numb, the decay is carefully removed using a dental drill, which is cooled with water and air for comfort. After all the decay has been cleared, the space is filled with a durable restorative material, such as tooth-colored resin, silver amalgam, or gold, depending on your needs and preferences.

Once the filling is placed, the tooth is fully functional again, preventing further decay and restoring your smile's health and strength.

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Laser Treatments

Lasers have many applications in dentistry. A laser is a light that is emitted, and when concentrated at various wavelengths and frequencies, can be a great asset to any dental practice.

Lasers are used in the treatment of gum disease to disinfect the gum pockets that can occur and is painless and efficient. This procedure is done in conjunction with a dental scaling (cleaning) and allows the gum tissue to heal and reattach to the tooth, improving the shape of the gum and promoting better overall gum health.

Lasers are also used to remove unwanted gum tissue, which may occur when a tooth is having a difficult time erupting into the mouth as a teenager. The laser can also contour gum tissues when we are performing cosmetic work and need to make the gums more symmetrical. Additionally, lasers can also expose tooth structure that is covered by overgrown gum tissues.

Lastly, lasers are very effective in treating herpetic cold sores (ulcers) or cankers (aphthous ulcers). No freezing is required and the treatment only takes a short time to complete. If we are able to catch cold sores in the tingly stage prior to their eruption, then we can sometimes prevent the cold sore from breaking out. Laser treatment does reduce the time that it takes for healing cold sores. Patients need to contact us promptly when they begin to feel signs of a cold sore developing, so we can then lessen their suffering and recovery time.

Root Canal Therapy

Oh, the dreaded root canal! The mere sound of the word makes people shudder with fear. But nothing could be farther from the truth. In the past, root canals have received a bad rap, but when properly performed, a root canal is no more painful than any other procedure performed in a dental office.

A tooth is made up of a number of layers. In the center is a pulp chamber, which houses the blood vessels and the nerves that give teeth their vitality and sensation. On occasion, this area can become infected, either due to a deep cavity or a crack or fracture in the tooth. If left untreated, the tooth will abscess, causing pain and swelling, which, if left untreated, can be life-threatening.

Root canals are most commonly diagnosed using a radiograph called a periapical (p.a.). When a tooth receives a root canal, we start by freezing (anesthetizing) the area. Once the tooth is numb, we access the pulp area, remove the infected material from inside the tooth and then fill the tooth with material that allows you to keep your tooth. A final filling is placed on the tooth and usually a crown will also be recommended. The procedure takes approximately 1-1 ½ hours and patients can resume their daily activities afterward.

A dentist shows a patient a dental scan on a screen, both seated in a modern office.

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Tooth Implants

One of the most innovative procedures that have happened in the last few decades is the replacement of missing teeth using implants. Whether you are missing one tooth or several, implants are the closest way of mimicking your actual teeth. The teeth implants are usually placed by an Oral Surgeon, Periodontist or a Dentist who has done specialty training in implant placement.

Once the tooth implant has been placed, and the bone has securely grown around the implant, a replacement tooth or teeth (crown, bridge or denture) can then be screwed into the implant. This allows the patient to function and chew with confidence, never having to worry about their teeth coming out. In the case where a denture has been elected, implants will hold dentures firmly in the mouth, allowing you to eat without worry. Along with peace of mind, if you can now chew properly, you also get the best nutrition from the foods you eat, with the resulting good nutrition and good health that follows.

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We’d love to make your next dental visit a great one! Call (705) 996-7035 or schedule online to book your appointment—we’ll be in touch soon to confirm.

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