Restorative Dentistry

Here at Ingersoll Family Dentistry, we are proud to offer some of the latest advances in dental comfort technology. Almost above all other aspects of treatment, the numbing required to perform dentistry is reported by patients to be the most dreaded aspect of their appointment. Fear and apprehension related to receiving a “shot” can be deterrent enough to postpone or avoid dental care. As part of our continued effort to enhance our patients' dental experience, we have invested in the use of The Wand anesthetic delivery system. Using a computer controlled device, The Wand delivers anesthetic more comfortably than an old fashioned syringe. Patients report it reduces anxiety and provides greater satisfaction with their dental experience than a syringe. This leads to customers who are less likely to avoid dental treatment and will follow up for needed care appointments. Many of our patients have referred family and friends just because of this one unique aspect of our practice.

Tooth Colored Fillings

Composite fillings are being used more and more to replace the traditional silver fillings. For many years, if you needed a cavity filled, you had basically one option–the silver filling. Though they worked well for so many years, the silver filling had shortcomings. First and foremost, patients would remark about their “black fillings,” and questioned whether something could be done about it. What all dentists know and patients rarely realized, was the dark filling seen on the outside was only part of the story. The various components in the silver filling (mercury, lead, tin and other metals) degraded and resulted in what we call “amalgam creep.” This “creep” is a term used to describe the expansion of the material over time resulting in cracks, fractures, and openings along the margin of the filling. The dark color was only the corrosion seen on the outside. Underneath, the tooth itself was darkening and weakening as saliva and bacteria was able to get under the filling and inside the tooth. If this permeation lasted long enough, the tooth would become brittle, more prone to fracture, and possibly even decayed to the point the tooth would need a root canal–or worse, extraction.

With the advent of composite, or tooth-colored fillings, we are able to restore your tooth with minimal invasiveness. As dentists, we are proud to use materials that are life-like, strong, and will appear as if there was never any decay. Much less tooth needs to be prepared and removed to place a composite filling compared to itʼs silver filling counterpart. Patientʼs concerns about mercury and metal sensitivity are eliminated. Without amalgam-altered dentin there is no expansion and some small cracks can be stopped in their tracks. The material is hardened with a laser-like light and is ready to chew on immediately–no need to wait for the material to get hard over time. The composite material comes in a wide range of shades making it suitable for fillings on back teeth and front teeth alike. It can also be used for bonding chips and fractures on front teeth (see our Cosmetic Dentistry-Bonding section) and also as coverage for exposed root surfaces as a result of recession. Bonding over exposed root surface can eliminate hypersensitivity experienced while eating or drinking cold or sugary substances. For small or medium sized needs, composite filling can be an ideal solution.

Crown and Bridgework

On many occasions, a tooth requires a restoration stronger than a mere filling to properly return it to form and restore itʼs function. Teeth that are fractured as a result of anything from cavities, trauma, or even presence of a large, older restoration will need strength beyond what a filling can provide. A crown, or “cap” as theyʼre sometimes referred, can provide that strength. The massive amount of chewing force concentrated on teeth necessitate the need for a restoration stronger than a filling. Without the strength of a crown, the tooth may need a root canal or even extraction.

A crown provides strength and protection to the tooth by surrounding it in a strong protective shell made of anything from gold to ceramic. When a tooth cemented with a crown bites down, the biting force is disseminated through the crown and eliminates a splitting or wedging force that could split a tooth. This potentially saves the tooth from needing advanced treatment like root canal therapy or extraction. Crowns can be made now from materials that are a vast improvement over crowns of the past eliminating unsightly dark lines and obvious cosmetic discrepancies. Crowns can be used beyond just improving strength for chewing. They can be used to correct cosmetic defects or restore smiles to an ideal appearance.

If a tooth is missing and teeth on either side of the space could benefit from increased strength as from a crown, then a bridge can be an ideal solution. The size or length of a bridge is determined by how many teeth are to be replaced. A bridge is, in essence, a series of crowns fused together. Anchored on either side, a bridge is a minimum of three units but can be much longer depending on how many teeth are missing. The missing teeth are replaced by crowns (called a pontic) that are rounded on the underside to deflect food particles and maintain a natural looking appearance emerging from the gums. Besides looking completely like natural teeth being replaced, the bridge accomplishes other things as well. Being permanently attached, it does not need to be taken out like a removable appliance such as a partial denture. The stabilization achieved prevents spacing of neighboring teeth, tipping or crowding, and eliminates potential super-eruption of opposing teeth. Bridges can be placed on both front and back teeth. In circumstances where a dental implant canʼt be used but a tooth needs replacing, a bridge can be an ideal solution.

Onlays and Inlays

For situations where a large restoration needs to be placed, yet there is still sufficient tooth structure remaining that a full crown would be too invasive, an onlay can be utilized. An onlay, or inlay, depending on where the restoration fits, is effectively a partial crown. Like a crown, itʼs made of ceramic or gold and is cemented on the tooth. It typically works best when a cusp or only part of the tooth is fractured due to decay, trauma, or aging older restoration. When more tooth needs replacement, a crown becomes a better solution. We will recommend the restoration that is best for you based on your individual situation.

Here at Ingersoll Family Dentistry, we are able to restore crowns and onlays using Cerec CAD/CAM technology. Using an advanced camera, a digital impression is taken of your tooth. This allows us to design the restoration virtually on a computer eliminating the need for impressions, temporaries, and a return visit. For more detailed information about Cerec technology, please visit our “Same Day Crowns” section on this website.

Partial Dentures

A very efficient means of replacing many missing teeth is through the use of a removable partial denture. It is the most cost effective way to restore chewing harmony and stabilize the teeth. The most natural and life-like way of replacing missing teeth is through the use of dental implants and/or bridgework. But if there arenʼt any teeth behind the missing tooth space to anchor a bridge, then implants become the only viable option. If implants cannot be placed due to lack of suitable bone or other medical factors that may impede healthy bone production, then a partial denture needs to be considered.

A removable partial denture basically consists of a framework, acrylic to simulate gum tissue, and the replacement teeth. Traditionally, the framework was composed of metal with clasps that grab onto the remaining teeth for stability. Acrylic gum tissue sat over the missing teeth areas, and plastic teeth sit in the acrylic. We now have non-metal flexible nylon framework partials that patients enjoy because of their increased comfort and esthetics. Regardless of which partial denture design you choose, metal or flexible nylon, the denture needs to be taken out and cleaned at night and stored wet to minimize drying out, distortion, and maximize oral hygiene. Be sure to ask the staff here at Ingersoll Family Dentistry not only which partial is right for you, but how to care for your denture and the anchoring teeth.

Complete Dentures

As a last resort, if all teeth are missing, a complete denture can be made to fit either the upper arch, the lower arch, or both. A complete denture is made of a hard acrylic material that fits snugly over the gums. Dentures can be made to look very realistic and provide chewing ability, but their effectiveness is much more limited than either natural teeth or restorations like implants that are anchored in the bone. Furthermore, without roots of teeth or implants to stimulate healthy bone, the jaw bone will slowly dissolve away over time necessitating the need for adjustments and relines to the inner surface. To increase stability and preserve jawbone, complete dentures can be anchored on their underside using dental implants and attachments. Feel free to discuss with us the advantages and disadvantages of teeth replacement using complete dentures.

Dental Implants

We are fortunate today that we live in an era when missing teeth can be replaced using techniques that very closely resemble natural teeth without having to alter any surrounding teeth. Dental implants can replace teeth using a form of artificial root replacement that anchors directly into jaw bone. This implant is compatible with the human body, very strong, and will never decay. Additionally, the presence of the implant in bone will help to prevent loss of periodontal bone in the jawbone. There are many advantages to dental implants over other restorations to replace teeth.

– Fit and feel like natural teeth

– Maximum esthetics

– Increased strength for chewing

– No need to alter neighboring teeth

– Preservation of jawbone

How Implants Work

If a tooth needs to be extracted be it from decay, damage, or infection, the area to be restored with an implant will be evaluated for several factors. Is there healthy bone? Is there adequate bone to support the implant? After determining the suitability of the site for the implant, a titanium implant is surgically placed into the bone. From there, natural bone must grow into and around the implant, a process called osseointegration. After a firm implant is achieved, a part called an abutment will lock into the implant itself. Finally, on top of the abutment, a crown is fabricated that will serve as the new, natural appearing tooth.

Many Uses For Implants

Dental implants can be used for many applications. It can replace one tooth. Implants can be placed over long edentulous spans and a fixed bridge attached to it to replace many missing teeth. Implants can also be used with modified attachments to secure a partial or even complete denture for increased strength. Here at Ingersoll Family Dentistry, we work to restore dental implants to their best condition. If you have a dental implant that needs to be restored, please contact our office.

Wave One Endodontics

In those instances where a root canal need not be referred to a specialist, we are proud to offer the latest in endodontic care techniques. Here at Ingersoll Family Dentistry, we use the most advanced generation of reciprocating file technology. What does this mean for our patients? It means we can treat many teeth for root canals quickly and painlessly, reducing time in the chair and completing the vast majority of cases in just one appointment. With improved instrumentation, there is a better outcome resulting in faster healing and greater patient comfort.