Restorative Care

Precision Restorative Dental Care Keeps Your Mouth Functioning at its Best

Restorative dental care returns your teeth to how they were intended to be. This usually includes fillings, crowns, bridges or dental implants, and sometimes tooth extractions, root canals, or dentures. Our goal, through precise restorative care, is to safely repair and/or rebuild your teeth and structure within your mouth where parts or all of the teeth have been lost to disease process or trauma. We always do this with an eye toward esthetics, combining cosmetic care with restorative care to give you both healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.

We’ll keep you comfortable!

It is our desire to help you stay as comfortable as possible during your appointment, regardless of whether you are having a filling, root canal or other procedure. In addition to providing as gentle care as possible, we offer a variety of ways to reduce any discomfort and calm your fears including sedation dentistry options. During your visit, we will regularly ask how you’re doing and help you stay relaxed and comfortable.

Did you know?

We never just watch a problem grow. We will talk with you about your situation and help you understand what is happening. It may mean that you treat it at home while we monitor it in regular intervals. In other circumstances, it may be better to treat it in office earlier, while it’s small. And remember, treatment doesn’t always mean drilling!

Filling Cavities

Fillings are the primary way to treat tooth decay—also known as cavities. Tooth decay is caused by the softening of the tooth enamel and dentin caused by bacteria in plaque metabolizing sugars and simple carbohydrates into acid, leading to mineral loss within the tooth’s structure. They literally dissolve holes into the tooth. Cavities should not be left untreated as they are active processes which usually lead to other problems including loss of tooth structure (that can feel like a pit in your tooth), pain, infection, pressure, and chewing issues.

Fillings stop small and routine cavities and replace the affected tooth structure that was lost during the disease process. In other words, your filled tooth will have the durability and chewing ability you can depend upon.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Whenever we can, our preference is to provide you with natural-looking tooth-colored “composite” fillings. These fillings are not only made to match your existing teeth, they’re made from a durable resin that works well when filling small to medium-sized cavities. A resin filling is a combination or “composite” of glass and special plastic. It looks as if you never had any dental work on your tooth. In other words, it looks nice and natural!

Learn more about: Tooth-Colored Fillings

Amalgam Fillings

There are times when amalgam “silver-colored” fillings are more appropriate, such as when we are restoring a tooth with significant decay below the gumline. They can also be useful in extending the life of a crown or bridge when replacement cost is an issue and the recurring cavity can be accessed and removed completely.

Amalgam fillings cost less than tooth-colored fillings because they have a long history of use. They are generally more forgiving to place in extremely challenging filling areas, such as far below the gumline or deep between existing crowns.

Dr. Duffy is always engaged with the latest research on the biocompatibility of our materials and is happy to discuss relative risks and benefits of all treatments to help you make your decision.

Learn more about: Amalgam Silver Fillings

Preventing Fillings

At Peninsula Family Dentistry, we cannot stress that prevention is the best medicine to avoid cavities. We urge you to:

Eat a balanced diet and avoid sugary foods, drinks, or lozenges

Brush your teeth twice a day (for two minutes each time) with fluoride toothpaste or similar paste which enhances the natural microscopic remineralization or rebuilding of teeth

Floss daily or consider a WaterpikR for bridges or other hard-to-floss areas

See us twice a year (or more often, if needed) for regular exams and teeth cleanings.

Porcelain Crowns and Bridges

High strength all-porcelain crowns and bridges protect one or more of your teeth and the integrity of your mouth’s structure. They can be excellent solutions for restoring your mouth to a healthier state and will protect other teeth from sliding into spaces created by any missing teeth. When creating your custom crowns and bridges, our top priority is to restore and/or preserve the health and function of your teeth, gums and jaws. The added benefit is that crowns and bridges often play a significant role cosmetically for you as well.

Dr. Duffy and his team will answer your questions and help you evaluate your options so that you can make the best decision for you. We’re here to help you restore your strong, healthy and beautiful smile!

Precision Engineered Porcelain Crowns

A porcelain crown is a sturdy, tooth-colored cap that is placed over a damaged tooth for one of several reasons:

• Cavities which are too large to be filled without a significant risk of breaking the tooth
• Cracked or damaged teeth
• One or more implants which need a permanent tooth (crown) over the implant and connecting abutment
• 360º protection of the tooth when there is high risk of cavities around the tooth at the gumline, which can happen when people develop dry mouth

Once your crown is in place, you will appreciate its natural look and feel. Advancements in porcelain crown technology allow us to preserve more critical tooth structure than ever before. And, as always, if you have any concerns or post-procedural discomfort, please contact us so we can help you right away!

Learn more about: Porcelain Crowns

Dental Bridges

If you are missing one or more teeth, or will be needing to have a tooth removed, a dental bridge can provide the support and structure you need. Bridges can be more economical than dental implants —and provide lasting results for years. A fixed bridge spans any gaps with artificial teeth and connects them permanently to neighboring teeth or implants using gold, another alloy, porcelain or a mixture of these materials. Think of it as multiple crowns connected together which look and function like your natural teeth.

Benefits of a fixed bridge:

• Strong
• Protects existing teeth from sliding into the space for the missing tooth or teeth
• Helps maintain your facial structure and chewing ability
• Restores your bright smile cosmetically as well as structurally

With consistent flossing or the regular use of a WaterpikR under your bridge, this can be an excellent solution to meet your restorative dental needs!

Learn more about: Bridges 

Root Canals

If you have a deep cavity, your tooth may have developed an infected nerve space. This could mean a root canal is your best choice to save the tooth and prevent the spread of infection. This will preserve your tooth for eating, maintain your appearance, and provide needed support for your jaw bone and adjacent teeth.

During a root canal, you can be assured that we have a variety of ways to keep you pain free and comfortable throughout the entire process. During your appointment, Dr. Duffy will remove your tooth’s soft core including blood vessels and the nerves, called the pulp. Once the infected tissue is removed, the area is disinfected and sealed off. Your tooth will then be protected by a tooth-colored porcelain crown to help protect the integrity of the tooth itself which was weakened by the extent of the cavity, your jaw and other teeth.

Dentures

Unlike most other forms of restorative dental care, dentures are a removable appliance that once in place, will replace all or some of your missing teeth, assist with eating, speaking and restoring your smile. People lose teeth for a variety of reasons ranging from decay, trauma, genetics or disease. This loss can be devastating, yet dentures can make a significant difference in your quality of life and your self esteem.

Dr. Duffy has significant experience in helping each patient receive a proper fit and choose the right type of denture for their mouth, lifestyle, and budget. Additionally, Dr. Duffy will help you undergo the transition of living with your existing teeth and gums to eating, talking and adjusting to your new teeth. He will be happy to work with you and help you make decisions that will best meet your unique needs. We can’t wait to see your new smile!

Types of dentures

We will help you determine which is best for you:

• Immediate dentures: this style of complete denture allows you to keep your front teeth for smiling and eating while the dentures are being made. The denture is placed the same day the final front teeth are removed. Due to natural changes during the healing process, these dentures often need to be adjusted and re-fit during the first year
• Partial dentures: an efficient way of replacing multiple teeth at once, using remaining healthy teeth as supports
• Implant-supported dentures (overdenture): this denture is snapped down over several dental implants to improve comfort, support, and stability. Though the process takes more time, it can tremendously improve the usability of lower complete dentures, upper complete dentures for people with a strong gag reflex, or advanced dry mouth

Once your dentures have been fitted and you are wearing them, it is important that you care for your mouth, tongue and gums, in addition to cleaning your dentures so that you are maximizing your oral health.

Learn more about: Dentures

Dental Implants

Your dental health is an important component to your overall health and wellbeing. For many, dental implants are the best solution for properly restoring broken and/or missing teeth, caused by injury or decay. They are a secure, stable and natural-looking replacement that should last the rest of your life.

The best candidates for dental implants are generally in good health, have healthy gums and do not use tobacco. Following the procedures, our patients enjoy being able to eat anything, speak naturally and sport a smile that is supported by the bone structure nature intended.

Ask for a free consultation.

If you are considering dental implants, Dr. Duffy offers a free consultation where he will fully explain the process with you, as well as review other options you might consider before making a final decision. He will also explain what to expect, review any risks and answer any further questions. Depending upon your final decision we may refer you to a periodontal specialist for the seating of the implants. After all, it is an investment in time, energy and financial resource. Our priority for you is that you love your results!

Dental implants—a three-part process

Unlike the implications of some advertisements, the true dental implant process takes more than a day. It consists of three parts:

• Step one is to evaluate the quality and health of the bone the implant is to be placed in. Dr. Duffy or the specialist will take a 3D scan of your jaw, and if needed, grow new bone in the area to provide a solid, healthy foundation. This step may require several months of healing prior to implant placement but is not always required.
• The actual “implant” is a titanium or zirconia screw which is placed surgically into the jaw bone. The screw acts as the replacement root for your new teeth. You may have one or several of these implants placed into your jaws, depending upon if you require single tooth for tooth replacements, or support for a longer multi-tooth solution. Surgical healing from this process takes approximately four to six months because your bone needs to grow around the screw and heal enough to hold the implant in place. (Scientific evidence has shown that titanium and bone have a unique ability to fuse together, creating a strong foundation.)
• In the final stage, we develop your new crown or bridge which will be permanently attached to your implants, or the adaptation of your new or existing denture to them. These require an “abutment” at the top of each implant screw. The abutments will shape the gums for better health and appearance, and connect to and hold the crowns, bridges, or dentures in place. So the “dental implant” is itself also three parts: implant, abutment, and restoration.