Also known as resin restorations, composite fillings are most commonly used in dentistry today to restore decayed, fractured, or chipped teeth. The offending tooth structure is excavated, and the resin is chemically bonded to the existing dentin and enamel. If the tooth decay is extensive, oftentimes a protective liner or medicament is placed prior to bonding in order to protect the pulp, or nerve, of the tooth. In addition to causing fewer tooth fractures over their lifespan, composite fillings are beautiful and aesthetic restorations whose shade is matched to that of the tooth, creating a perfectly blended and inconspicuous final result.

Used in dentistry for decades before the advent of resins, amalgam fillings are both safe and long-lasting. Aside from causing less postoperative tooth sensitivity, amalgam restorations have been proven in study after study to last longer than their composite (resin) counterparts. Well-placed amalgams routinely last 25 years or longer. As has been demonstrated by both the FDA and ADA, dental amalgam is entirely harmless and has been shown not to cause any adverse systemic or localized health effects. Depending on the type, location, and size of restoration needed, dental amalgams represent an excellent choice for those individuals for whom longevity is the main concern.

Dental crowns, or “caps,” are a common restoration whose materials and technique have been refined for over a century. Indicated for those instances where a simple filling would be too large for the tooth or too difficult to place, crowns are custom-fit to the tooth and act as a “helmet,” simultaneously protecting the tooth and sealing it from the oral cavity. At the first visit, the tooth is filed down into a “preparation,” after which an impression (digital or analog) is taken and sent to the laboratory. Approximately two weeks later, the crown is permanently cemented. Crowns can be made of metal, porcelain with a metal substructure, zirconia, or lithium disilicate. Well-made crowns can last decades, and should feel almost exactly like your original tooth.

In order to support a dental crown (or “cap”), a tooth must have enough healthy structure remaining after a cavity, fracture, or failing restoration has been removed. If the amount of sound tooth structure is lacking, a post will oftentimes be utilized to provide a dowel effect and improve retention. Following root canal therapy, a fiber or titanium post is fitted approximately halfway down the canal space, and cemented into place. This post retains the “core,” which is resin material used to build-up the lost tooth structure. With the post and core in place, we can be confident that the subsequent crown will have a strong foundation beneath it which will not dislodge or de-bond during normal use.