When a tooth is missing a large portion of its enamel, a dental crown is the best type of restoration because it is a cap that completely surrounds the tooth. This way, you can bite down with full force and not worry about being uncomfortable or damaging the tooth further. This is most frequently used after a root canal or when the tooth is severely cracked or chipped. Fortunately, they now come in all-ceramic and ceramic-on-metal in addition to the traditional all-metal material. Patients getting crowns for restorations can have natural looking teeth after the fact.

If a tooth is only slightly damaged with a small chip or crack, a veneer can be used to restore it. A veneer is a thin shell that is placed on top of a natural tooth and frequently used for restorations of the front teeth. The process of placing a veneer is similar to that of a dental crown only with less tooth preparation. If you live in Rohnert Park, schedule an appointment so that we can discuss both options with you.

At Graton Dental Group, we use tooth-colored fillings as a way to restore teeth that have had cavities. Once we remove the decayed area of the tooth, a filling is necessary to replace the missing enamel. Traditionally, this was done using silver amalgam but now we can complete dental restorations using materials that look natural so that when you smile, no one can tell that you had cavities.

Those that need minor restorations can often benefit from a simple bonding procedure. This is popular when restoring baby teeth. Children, for example, do not need a dental veneer on a tooth that is going to fall out in short order. With this in mind, we can keep a baby tooth in place and ensure that it is functioning properly by restoring it using a bonding procedure. We can use a tooth-colored material so that it looks completely natural.

At times, patients need dental restorations to replace teeth. Whether a tooth has been knocked out or has fallen out due to an infection, there are several ways that it can be replaced. In order to determine what procedure is right for you, call (707) 622-6748 to schedule an appointment and consultation.

In many cases, the patient wears temporary dentures while deciding how they want to permanently replace their tooth. These temporary dentures are held in place by a wire that is similar to wearing a retainer. They are not meant to be worn long-term but will help you to look normal while deciding which cosmetic dentistry procedure to use.

Dental bridges are popular for dental restorations. Patients can use a bridge to replace a tooth without undergoing surgery. In this procedure, a dental crown is placed on the two teeth that surround the missing one. The crowns are used as anchors to hold a gum-colored bridge in place that the new tooth is secured to. The entire bridge is created in a local dental lab and will look completely natural by blending in with the surrounding teeth.

Patients may prefer to use dental implants instead of other treatment options. An implant is by far the most durable option for replacing a missing tooth. In this procedure we will implant a metal post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone. The bone and metal fuse together to create a synthetic root system that the new tooth is secured to. With this type of dental restoration, patients can maintain an active lifestyle without worrying about the impact on their new tooth.