Restorative Dentistry & Dental Repairs in Needham

A Bridge replaces a missing tooth by bridging the gap between two teeth. Open spaces from missing teeth eventually can cause the surrounding teeth to rotate/shift into the empty spaces resulting in malocclusion. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can lead to gum disease and TMJ disorders.

A bridge is bonded to adjacent natural teeth or implants. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is permanently attached to the crowns that cover the abutments.

A dental bridge can:

A composite or a tooth colored filling is used to repair damaged tooth structure caused by decay or cracks. It can also be recommended to close the spaces between teeth and restore worn teeth. The color of restoration is custom matched to your tooth color to enhance your aesthetics and smile.

A crown is a type of dental restoration used to restore weak teeth. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. They are typically bonded to the tooth using dental cement. Crowns can be made from many materials, and are usually fabricated in a lab.

Crowns can be all porcelain, all gold or porcelain fused to gold. Gold is the strongest and longest lasting material. It can last twice as long as other materials. Porcelain fused to metal (PFM) is strong and has been proven over many years. All Porcelain crowns have been around for many years but have become the material of choice in last few years due to the improvements in material sciences and dentistry.

Crowns require two or more appointments. At the first appointment, precise drilling is done, impressions are taken to make plaster models and a temporary crown is placed. The permanent crown is fabricated in a dental lab. At the second appointment, the permanent crown is tried in the mouth and cemented in the mouth.

INLAYS are porcelain restorations made to fit in the grooves of the biting surface. ONLAYS covers one or more cusps of the tooth.

When a back tooth needs a large restoration which cannot be restored with a simple filling, onlays and inlays are the best choice.

An inlay and onlay provide increased strength to a tooth as compared to a regular filling. If the tooth is significantly damaged from a filling, the inlay or onlay may be the next best alternative to a full crown. This will enable us to retain more of your natural tooth structure than a full coverage crown.

With proper oral home care and regular dental visits, these restorations can last many years. Inlays and Onlays are both precisely crafted in a dental lab to fit your tooth structure.