Restorative Dentistry in Westport, CT

Restorative dentistry refers to procedures that restore the health and function of your teeth. Some restorative procedures repair damage to the existing teeth, allowing them to stay in place. Other restorative procedures replace teeth that are missing or too decayed or damaged to be saved.

Cavities can be repaired with tooth-colored fillings that blend in with your natural tooth enamel.

When the damage to a tooth is too extensive for a filling alone, an inlay or onlay can be used to replace a larger portion of the tooth.

A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that has extensive decay or damage, allowing the natural root of the tooth to remain in place.

A dental bridge can replace a tooth with a prosthetic using the neighboring teeth for support. A traditional bridge attaches to the teeth on either side of the gap via crowns that fit over the teeth.

• • Dental Implant Bridges. An implant supported bridge consists of dental implants on both sides of the gap, making it possible to replace multiple teeth in a row.
  • Maryland Bridges.  A Maryland bridge attaches to the neighboring teeth with metal clasps that are bonded to the teeth.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth and root system. The implant is surgically placed in the jaw where it bonds with the bone. A crown is attached to the implant to replace the tooth.

Dentures can replace some or all of the teeth. Traditional dentures are held in place with suction and adhesives.

• • Implant Retained Dentures. Dentures can be held more securely in place with 4-6 dental implants placed in the jaw.

Teeth may need to be extracted for a variety of reasons from severe damage to orthodontic purposes. We provide extractions when it is in the best interest of the patient.

Root canal, or endodontic, treatment may be necessary when the pulp tissue inside the root canals of a tooth becomes infected or damaged, which can be caused by dental trauma or decay.

During this procedure, the crown of the tooth is opened, allowing the doctor to access the root canal. The pulp tissue in the infected root canal is removed and the canals cleaned. A series of files is used to remove any remaining tissue, slightly enlarge the canals, and smooth the walls of the canals. Once any infection has completely cleared up, which could take a few days or longer, the root canals are sealed with a material called gutta percha or with root canal sealer to prevent bacteria or debris from entering the root canals and causing further infection. Finally, the crown of the tooth is sealed with a filling or crown.