Restorative Dentistry | Shelby Township Dentists
Restorative dentistry helps patients reduce or eliminate issues of dental pain and discomfort. Using today’s advanced dental techniques, our dentists will work with you to restore one tooth, several teeth, or provide you with a full set of custom-fitted dentures.
Learn More About Restorative Dentistry:
Implant Restorations
are a biocompatible, man-made substitute that replaces missing tooth roots. Usually made of the space-age titanium alloy, implants come in various shapes and sizes to fit the situation. If you have implants that are painful, loose, worn, or simply not functioning properly, our dentists can repair and restore your dental implants so that they work properly and do not cause you any pain or discomfort.
Mini Dental Implants
A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root that supports a dental crown or denture. There are several types of mini dental implants available. But the most widely accepted and used option is the osseointegrated implant because the titanium can be successfully fused into bone. This forms a structural and functional connection between the living bone and the implant. A variation on the implant procedure is the implant-supported bridge or implant-supported denture.
Individuals missing one or more teeth looking for a permanent replacement solution may opt to use an implant crown. An implant crown is a composite reproduction of the lost tooth that is placed over a dental implant or post. The implant crown replicates the original tooth in shape, size, strength, and appearance. When the crown adheres in place, it will fully encase the entire visible portion of the dental implant. If you are considering a dental implant, our dentists can help you decide whether or not you need an implant crown.
Dental Bridges
Our dentists at our Shelby Township dental practice may suggest that you need a bridge to restore and enhance damaged teeth or to replace missing teeth. Dental bridges literally bridge the gap caused by one or more missing teeth, where one or more artificial teeth are cemented into place using the teeth on either side for support. Bridges are very durable and can last a lifetime with extra care and by practicing good oral hygiene.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that our dentists may place over a tooth, helping to restore its shape, size, strength, or to improve its appearance. A crown not only strengthens a tooth but also can dramatically improve a tooth’s appearance, shape, and alignment. When a crown adheres into place, it will fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Our dentists may use a crown to replace a large filling when only minimal tooth structure remains, protect a weak tooth from fracturing, attach a bridge, or to restore a fractured tooth. In addition, a crown may be used to cover a dental implant, a discolored or poorly shaped tooth, or a tooth that has had root canal treatment.
Dentures
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and their surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures available, which are partial and complete dentures. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain, while complete dentures are used to completely replace all teeth. Dentures are made to resemble your natural teeth so there should be no noticeable change to your appearance. In fact, dentures may even improve your smile!
If you have lost some or all of your teeth due to gum disease, decay, or accidental impact, dentures can dramatically improve your smile. Our dentists may suggest full dentures or partial dentures, depending on how many natural teeth you have lost and the condition of your existing teeth.
Inlays & Onlays
Our family dentists care about your oral health. As such, they offer beautiful porcelain inlays and onlays to patients in Shelby Township, MI. Inlays and onlays are used in place of traditional metal fillings that can shift or crack, leaving you vulnerable to bacteria and further decay.
Inlays and onlays are a more conservative treatment because less tooth material is removed. Unlike fillings, these procedures strengthen a tooth’s structure and leave your smile whiter and healthier than ever before. Inlays and onlays provide strength, durability, protection, and brilliance.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment—or endodontic therapy—is necessary when a cavity is neglected, allowing it to penetrate all the way to the pulp. Sometimes deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged to the point it needs root canal therapy. Once this occurs the pulp becomes infected and can even extend through the root tip and begin to eat away at the surrounding bone, which would be considered an abscess.
By the time the pulp is infected, it must be treated because it cannot heal on its own. It can even weaken the entire immune system. Usually, a core build-up and crown is recommended for restoring a tooth that has had root canal therapy.
Request an Appointment With Us
Our dentists in Shelby Township, MI, would be more than happy to help you restore your smile and oral health. To request an appointment and learn more about restorative dentistry, call Frank P. Ruffino DDS at (586) 799-4240.
