Fillings

When we find teeth that have the presence of decay we must remove the disease and replace it with a restorative material.  We use tooth colored composite restorative material. 

Tooth Decay-Tooth decay is a destruction of the tooth enamel. It is caused by plague in your mouth reacting with sugary and starchy deposits from food. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. This reaction produces acid which damages the enamel over time and weakens the tooth

The decay is removed with dental headpieces and specially designed dental burs.  Only diseased tooth structure is removed and the tooth is examined to see if there is any remaining disease.  Next, the cavity preparation is properly cleaned and a bonding agent is placed.  Composite restorative material (tooth colored) is placed to build the tooth back to original function. The material is adjusted and polished to provide the client with a quality placed restoration.

Inlays/Onlays

To repair damage involving over ½ of the tooth’s biting surface, rather than using a simple filling, or a crown, a dentist will often use an inlay, or an onlay.

Inlays and onlays, can be porcelain, gold, or composite resin cast sections that are bonded to the damaged area of a tooth.  An inlay is similar to a filling and lies inside the cusp tips of the tooth; an onlay is a more extensive reconstruction that covers one or more cusps of a tooth. 

Typically fillings can reduce the strength of the tooth by up to 50%. Inlays and onlays, however, because they are bonded directly into the tooth with special resins, can actually increase the strength of the tooth by up to 75%; as a result, they can last from 10-30 years, and in some cases, provide a good alternative to a crown.

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Last modified: 01/12/12