Restorative Care Services

Restorative Care Services

Crowns & Bridges

Crowns and bridges are often used to restore and enhance teeth that are damaged, or to take the place of missing teeth. What’s more, they also can greatly enhance your smile.

What is a Crown?

A crown, sometimes known as a cap, is used to entirely cover a damaged tooth. A crown not only strengthens a tooth, but it can dramatically improve a tooth’s appearance, shape and alignment aesthetics. Crowns can be used to:

• Replace a large filling when there is little tooth structure remaining
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
• Restore a fractured tooth
• Attach a bridge
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
• Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment

What is a Dental Bridge?

At ROC Dental Group we use bridges to fill the space created by missing teeth. A bridge includes one or more artificial teeth that are cemented into place using the teeth on either side for support, hence the name – replacing the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically. Bridge work is as much an art as it is an exact science and uses various materials – gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or all-ceramic material made to match your natural tooth color.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is an ideal tooth restoration for people who are missing one or more teeth as a result of injury, periodontal disease, or any other reason. A dental implant consists of a metal post being surgically positioned into the jaw. Once in place, and bone surrounding the implant has had time to heal, a replacement tooth is attached to the post. 

“I placed my first dental implant in 2007 and haven’t stopped learning all I can about them. An implant is such an incredibly efficient alternative to a bridge when a tooth cannot be saved. While they cost a bit more, implants last longer and offer a single tooth solution to a single tooth problem, rather than having to drill down into adjacent teeth to make a bridge.” – Dr. Matt Mastrorocco 

Implants are stronger than natural teeth and generally last 10-20 years. They are also a more favorable approach than bridgework since they do not depend on neighboring teeth for support.

To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support them. You must also be committed to excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits as these are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.

Fillings

A filling is a way to restore a tooth that’s been damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. A filling also helps prevent further decay by closing off any cracks or spaces where bacteria can enter. If you have a tooth that requires a filling, Dr. Mastrorocco will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned-out cavity with a composite material that’s best for you – gold, silver, plastic, and porcelain. 

Dr. Mastrorocco will work with you to determine which material is best for you based upon the extent of repair, where the filling is needed and cost. The most common filings are:

Composite (plastic) – Resins are custom made to the exact color of your natural teeth, creating a more natural appearance. While white fillings may be less noticeable than other materials, they usually only last between three and 10 years. They may not be ideal for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time and can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco.

Porcelain fillings – These inlays or onlays and are custom created in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the teeth, resist staining, and are about the same cost as gold fillings. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth, making the filling nearly undetectable.

Dentures & Partials

Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth and the surrounding tissues. Dentures are made to resemble your natural teeth so there should be no noticeable change to your appearance – other than an improved smile. There are two types of dentures – partial and complete – and ROC Dental Group offers both:

Complete Dentures – Complete dentures are removable and may require adjustments in order to create a proper fit with the gums and mouth. They are custom created to resemble your natural teeth.

Partial Dentures – These dentures can be both removable or fixed. A removable partial denture is used when one or more natural teeth still remain in the upper or lower jaw and usually consist of replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored plastic base which is held in place in the mouth. A fixed partial denture acts the same as a removable denture, but it is cemented into place using the adjacent teeth for support, filling the space created by missing teeth, as well as creating support for remaining teeth to prevent shifting.