Crowns - A crown, also known as a cap, is done when the majority of a patient’s tooth needs to be restored and/or the strength of the tooth is compromised. Some reasons for needing a crown include a bad fracture, a large filling or after root canal treatment. Crowns are the ideal restoration for these scenarios due to their strength. They are made from materials which allow us to match the shade of the crown to the patient’s natural teeth. Depending on the patient's specific needs and criteria, a crown may be able to be completed from start to finish in one visit using our Cerec system or the crown may require the use of the laboratory, which would require two visits.

The latest Cerec technology allows for the tooth to be prepared for the crown and a digital "impression" is taken. The doctor then designs the crown on his computer. Next the crown is milled in-office, stained and glazed for precise color matching and immediately bonded in place. The entire process typically only takes 90 minutes for a single crown.

Otherwise, the procedure involves two visits; the first includes the preparation of the tooth (removing outside tooth structure to allow room for the crown), taking an impression of the prepared tooth and making a temporary crown. The impression is then sent to a laboratory where the crown is made. Approximately three weeks later the patient comes in for the second visit, at which time the permanent crown is bonded in place.

Composite Resin Fillings - Composite resin fillings, also known as bonded fillings, are tooth colored restorations which are used to replace old, worn fillings as well as to fill teeth with new decay. Our office has been doing composite resin fillings (rather than silver amalgam fillings) exclusively since 1994. The benefits of composite resins are that the filling adheres to your tooth and becomes as hard as your own enamel, strengthening the tooth and preventing future decay at its margins.

Inlays and Onlays - Both inlays and onlays are procedures which involve restoring a moderately large portion of tooth. Some reasons for the need of an inlay or onlay are large, failing restorations, lost fillings or fractured cusps (the pointed portion of the tooth on the biting surface). An inlay is done if the portion of the tooth which needs to be replaced does not involve the cusps. An onlay is done if one or more cusps need to be replaced. The tooth involved is prepared in our office, an impression is taken and then sent to a laboratory where the actual inlay or onlay is made. A second visit is involved approximately three weeks later to permanently bond the restoration in place.

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