Dental Fillings

Composite (or white fillings) match the color of your natural teeth and actually bond to your teeth, creating restorations that are nearly undetectable and make the restored tooth stronger than it was before. Composite fillings can also be made much smaller than an amalgam filling, so less natural tooth structure is lost.

When cost is an issue, and a large portion of a tooth is damaged or decayed, amalgam may be a patient’s first choice. However, the mercury in amalgam fillings expands and contracts with heat and cold (think of the mercury in a thermometer). This will eventually cause the filling to fracture your tooth, and a crown will be required. Frequently these fractures also require root canal therapy or even loss of the tooth. For these reasons, an amalgam filling may not be the most cost effective or most sensible over time. Therefore, when decay or damage to a tooth is large an inlay or onlay will often be recommended rather than a filling.

Dental Inlays

Inlays fill teeth like fillings, but are crafted in a dental laboratory to precisely fit your tooth. As a result, inlays are more durable and more resistant to wear than fillings and are expected to last much longer than fillings. Inlays may be made of gold, porcelain or composite resin.

While inlays are initially more expensive than amalgam or white fillings, they may ultimately be less expensive because they are more durable and may reduce the need for a crown in the future. Inlays are constructed in a laboratory rather than in your mouth and therefore require two or more appointments to place. The laboratory hardens the restoration by curing it with heat and pressure, making it much more durable.

Dental Onlays

Onlays fill teeth like inlays, but also cover the biting surface like a crown. They can be utilized to conservatively repair a damaged area of tooth due to trauma or decay while conserving healthy tooth structure.

Onlays can be made of porcelain or gold. Porcelain onlays are made to closely match your natural tooth color, so they look great and wear like natural teeth. However, the most durable option is a gold onlay.

Root Canal Therapy

No treatment can replace the benefits of a natural tooth. However, your tooth may need root canal (endodontic) treatment for it to remain a healthy part of your mouth.

A tooth is made of pulp (also known as nerve tissue) on the inside and enamel and dentin on the outside. A root canal is necessary when the pulp, the nerve inside the root, develops infection.

The infection can have a variety of causes, including a crack in the tooth, repeated dental work, or deep decay. A tooth that has been injured may also sustain pulp damage even when there are no visible signs on the outside of the tooth. Without treatment, pulp infection can result in pain or lead to an abscess.

Root canal therapy is a treatment that will save your damaged tooth. In this situation, a tooth is restored through removing the infected nerve tissue, treating any remaining infection, and filling the empty root canals with medicated dental materials. Antibiotic treatment may also be required in conjunction with root canal therapy.

Root canal therapy usually involves one office visit to complete. Afterwards, it is essential that you return to have a crown or other restoration placed over the tooth to protect it. For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, but any pain can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications as needed.