Restorative Dentistry

C-REC

Restorative Dental Care with CEREC

Using the advanced technology of CEREC, Dr. Santos can provide patients with dental veneers, crowns, inlays, and onlays in just one appointment. The CEREC CAD/CAM system has been in use by dentists for over 30 years, and over 250 scientific studies have verified the clinical success associated with CEREC tooth restorations.

The CEREC restorations look and feel just like your natural teeth. Unlike silver dental fillings that contrast against the natural appearance of your teeth, CEREC fillings or restorations are created using ceramic porcelain, so they blend seamlessly into your smile. CEREC procedures require less time, less drilling, and fewer injections as well.

Don’t let an uneven smile rob you of your self-confidence. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Santos to learn more about how dental restoration treatments are right for you.

Dental Bridges

As their name implies, dental bridges literally bridge the space created by one or more missing teeth.
A bridge is typically constructed of two or more crowns for the teeth located on either side of the existing gap. The teeth used to help anchor a bridge are known as abutment teeth. A false tooth or teeth are inserted into the gap between the abutment teeth. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from a variety of materials, including gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of all three. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

Prior to installing a bridge, a member of Dr. Santos’ team will first prepare the teeth on either side of the space before taking a dental impression of your teeth that will be sent off to the lab. Between appointments with Dr. Santos, a temporary bridge will be provided for the protection of your existing teeth until the permanent bridge arrives.

Practicing quality daily dental hygiene habits of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth healthy and clean. Good dental care of these teeth is critically important, as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.

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Dental Implants

Dental implants offer a convenient and lasting solution to patients suffering from tooth loss.

Dental implants are fixed using titanium bases that take the place of tooth roots and are surgically placed into your jaw bone to act as an anchor for a crown or denture to fit over. Dental implants look so natural that most people can’t tell the difference between an implant and a natural tooth.
Dental implants offer a variety of advantages to patients, including increased stability and functionality. Dental implants tend to look and feel better than traditional dentures or dental bridges and offer the same force for biting as bridges that are fixed. When properly cared for and maintained, dental implants can last a lifetime.

A dental implant requires no alterations to the adjacent teeth. Quality oral hygiene is required for implants to stay healthy and clean. It’s also important to regularly visit Seaside Family Dentistry for regular cleanings and exams to protect the long-term functionality and durability of dental implants.

Dentures

At Seaside Family Dentistry, Seaside dentist Dr. Scott Santos offers both partial and complete dentures for patients. Depending on a patient’s individual needs, Seaside Family Dentistry has a variety of dentures to choose from, including:

  • Traditional Complete Dentures – This type of denture is fitted for the natural anatomy of your mouth and replaces all of the upper and/or lower teeth.
  • Overdentures – Giving dentures more stability and better fit, an overdenture is a type of denture that is placed over dental implants and typically “snaps” onto the implants.
  • Partial Dentures – A removable partial denture attaches to your natural teeth with clasps that keep them in place, completing your smile by filling out the spaces created by missing teeth. Your natural teeth are used as stable supports for removable partial dentures instead of dental implants.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Santos to determine which type of denture is right for you.

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Root Canal Therapy

Beneath the hard outer layer of your teeth, beneath the enamel and dentin, is a soft tissue referred to as the pulp. Inside the pulp, the connective tissues, nerves, and blood vessels that allow your tooth to function run to the root of your tooth. In a fully developed tooth, the tooth can continue without the existence of the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the surrounding tissues.

Despite the notions that many people have about root canals, modern root canal treatments are quite similar to having a routine filling placed. The entire procedure can usually be completed in just one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth. You can expect a comfortable experience during and after your appointment.

Saving the natural tooth with root canal therapy offers patients many advantages, including:

  • Improved chewing
  • Normal sensation and ability to bite
  • Natural looking appearance
  • Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain