Cosmetic & restorative dentistry by Todd W. Fruit, DMD

Composite resin restorations or ‘Tooth colored fillings’ are the alternative to the silver/mercury fillings that we are all familiar with. They are composed of a particle filled resin that is very similar to the hardness and consistency of tooth structure. Composite resins can be used to fill new cavities or replace worn out old fillings. The resins are available in many shades so that they can match your own tooth color. They are ‘cured’ or hardened with a special light so that they are fully functional immediately after being placed.

Porcelain onlays are the new alternative to caps or crowns. These are made by lab technicians and then bonded onto your tooth. Porcelain onlays are rather like having a new top made for your broken or worn down tooth. Onlays are conservative, so they do not require much drilling on your tooth. They have no metal in them, so they are very natural looking and they are bonded in place so that they seal out bacteria from the sensitive parts of your tooth. Porcelain onlays are used to restore badly damaged or broken down teeth or to strengthen teeth weakened by very large fillings.

Bridges

Dental bridges are a permanent tooth replacement system that uses the teeth on either side of a gap to support a replacement tooth. Bridges are strong enough to replace molars for heavy chewing and beautiful enough to restore a damaged smile.