Restorative Dentistry
Cracks, chips, tooth decay, and gaps left by missing teeth can have a significant impact on your smile as well as your overall well-being. As part of Dr. Rafael Yanez’s mission to help each of his patients maintain a healthy and beautiful smile, I.Dentical – All About Your Smile offers a number of procedures that can protect and renew the teeth. The innovative restorative techniques from our top Philadelphia dentist take advantage of the latest dental technology to deliver results that can look natural, inconspicuous, and even boost your confidence in your personal and professional life.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a popular alternative to traditional dentures or bridges and can replace each missing tooth with a permanent restoration. Using a combination of a titanium rod that serves as the tooth’s root and a custom-made porcelain crown, dental implants can remain securely in place and give renewed confidence when eating or speaking. Added advantages of dental implants include zero slippage, reduced wear to the gums, and no additional maintenance.
Dentures
For patients who are missing a number of teeth or even an entire row of teeth, dentures can provide an effective solution. Removable dentures are handcrafted from durable materials and designed to fit your mouth for a natural look and comfortable feel. If you have difficulty speaking or eating due to missing teeth, dentures can restore this lost functionality.
All-on-4®
All-on-4® implant-supported dentures can be an excellent alternative to traditional dentures, particularly for individuals who find those dental appliances to be uncomfortable. The All-on-4® technique utilizes four dental implants to anchor the denture into place on the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. Stable, durable, and natural-looking, this restoration is designed to fit precisely so you can enjoy all your favorite foods with confidence.
Composite Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings allow patients who have cavities to effectively eliminate decay and protect the tooth in a manner that looks more natural when compared to traditional silver or mercury amalgam fillings. Dr. Yanez utilizes composite, “white” filling material to match the shade of natural teeth for a restoration that is nearly undetectable. Our patients who opt for tooth-colored fillings fall into two categories: patients who are having a cavity filled for the first time and patients who want to replace old metal fillings with a more cosmetically attractive option.
Tooth-colored fillings also have other advantages over their traditional counterparts. Metal fillings can expand and contract due to temperature changes, creating spaces that allow harmful bacteria to reach beneath the filling and cause further decay. Conversely, tooth-colored fillings are made of a composite resin that can offer more stability and better protection for the tooth. From an environmental perspective, tooth-colored fillings also avoid the hazardous waste disposal often required when dealing with mercury fillings.
Dental Crowns
When tooth decay becomes so severe that the structure of the tooth becomes compromised, a dental crown is often used to provide additional support. For patients with teeth that have been weakened by cracks or chips, dental crowns can also be used to strengthen the teeth. Dental crowns offer cosmetic benefits as well, creating a healthier look to the affected tooth in addition to enhancing its function. Made of a tooth-colored porcelain, Dr. Yanez matches your crown to the shade of your natural teeth to maintain a seamless look.
Dental crowns are designed to fit over your tooth with remarkable precision. Dr. Yanez will first take a mold of the affected tooth and then send the impression to a lab where your porcelain crown will be custom-made. Once your crown arrives back at our office, Dr. Yanez can bond the crown to your tooth for a permanent restoration that can protect and support the tooth while improving the appearance of your smile.
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge can be used to replace a missing tooth or several adjacent missing teeth. When left unattended, a gap in your smile can negatively impact the health of your smile as well as its appearance, as the healthy adjacent teeth may begin to shift position and cause occlusion problems. In addition, gaps along the gumline can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria. Dental bridges are custom-made to match your natural teeth, restoring the appearance of your smile while allowing you to once again eat and speak with ease.
To secure your dental bridge into place, Dr. Yanez will attach dental crowns to each adjacent tooth that will serve to support the restoration. Also known as a fixed partial denture, your dental bridge can then be bonded to the adjacent teeth for a durable method of tooth replacement.
If you would like to learn more about any of our restorative dentistry techniques, or to schedule a complimentary consultation, please contact our office today at (215) 923-2233.
