Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry is a dental specialty that focuses on the repair or replacement of teeth or bone structure – usually as a result of damage caused by decay or trauma. Restorative dentistry at Oakton Family Dentistry involves the application of crowns, bridges, and dental implants as well as various procedures; this includes root canal therapy, bone grafting, and full mouth reconstruction. 

The following are some reasons you might have a need for restorative dentistry:

• You’ve broken a tooth and need a dental crown for protection and further function of the tooth.
• You have suffered from severe decay or injury that requires a root canal treatment and crown.
• You have lost a tooth and need a dental implant or a bridge placed to replace it.
• You would like an implant but have lost bone density and require a bone graft first.
• Your oral cavity possesses multiple imperfections and health concerns that require a combination of procedures in a full mouth reconstruction.

Whatever your restorative needs may be, our family is here for yours! Visit Oakton Family Dentistry in Fairfax, VA, to get your smile back on track. Call today!

Crowns & Bridges

A dental crown is a prosthetic appliance that is custom-crafted to fit and encapsulate a damaged tooth. While many types of damage, like decay, cracks, and fractures, can be fixed with a filling, larger areas of decay or trauma that reaches the tooth’s interior will require a crown. Dental crowns are incredibly durable and made from stain-resistant porcelain that closely mimics the tone and texture of a natural tooth.

A dental bridge is an appliance used to replace one or more missing teeth in a sequence. The device is composed of three or more dental crowns that have been fused together to “bridge” the gap from one of your natural teeth to the other. This means that in order to secure the device in place, your natural teeth on either side of the gap must be contoured and reshaped, so the bridge will fit on top. To finalize the process, the bridge is cemented into place over your prepared teeth – using your natural tooth roots to anchor the appliance in place.

When well cared for, this appliance may last up to seven years before requiring replacement.

Bone Grafting

A bone grafting procedure is most commonly recommended to patients that are seeking dental implants but lack the jawbone density needed to secure the appliance in place. This is due to bone loss in the jaw that occurs, most commonly, as a result of tooth loss. 

Once a patient loses a tooth, the jawbone lacks stimulation and, without purpose, will begin to shrink and deteriorate. This is what most often results in premature aging of appearance as wrinkles form around the lips and the chin appears to become shorter. Fortunately, this process can be reversed with a bone grafting procedure. Once healed, a bone graft will also allow for dental implants to be placed and further bone loss to be avoided.

• By first identifying and locating areas of lost bone with a 3D cone beam x-ray, we can begin planning the bone graft procedure.
• Using either synthetic bone material, donor bone, or a bone from another part of your body, we will fill in any areas that lack bone density.
• This material will be placed into the jawbone through a small incision in the gum tissue.
• We will cover the material with a protective membrane and allow the area to heal and fuse with the surrounding bone.
• Healing may take up to three months.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a treatment option for patients who have suffered from severe decay or injury that compromises the internal tooth structure. Once decay and bacteria reach the inside of the tooth, this leads to infection, toothache, swelling, and sometimes a darkening appearance of the tooth. 

In order to save the tooth and eliminate pain from the infection, the internal contents of the tooth must be removed and the canals cleaned and sealed. While this process may sound invasive or frightening, root canals are performed under sufficient anesthetic so that pain and discomfort are not experienced. Additionally, they are relatively common and not to be afraid of! In fact, they are incredible procedures that immediately begin working to rid the patient of pain and save the tooth from further damage. The root canal process occurs as follows:

• Once any areas of decay are removed, a tiny hole is created to access the internal area of the tooth.
• From this opening, we will remove the nerves, vessels, and tissues causing your pain.
• The inside of the tooth will be cleaned thoroughly and filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha.
• From here, the tooth will be sealed and capped with a beautiful crown to prevent any further problems.

Full Mouth Reconstruction

If you have multiple concerns with your oral health that are affecting your teeth, gums, and oral tissues, full mouth reconstruction may be the best option for you. Performed to promote health and healing of the oral cavity, numerous procedures and prosthetics can be used or applied to enhance your wellbeing and function of the teeth. Some of these procedures include the following:

• Dental crowns
• Dental bridges
• Tooth extraction
• Root canal therapy
• Gum disease treatment
• Dental implants
• Dentures

To determine if you are in need of a full mouth reconstruction, contact our office today. We can conduct a full examination to develop a treatment plan just for you.