Restorative Dentistry

Dental Crowns

Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth can often cause pain and insecurity, but when the crown, or top of the tooth, is damaged but has a solid foundation underneath—we can repair it with a crown replacement. A crown, or cap, as it is often called, can bring a compromised tooth back to full function. Utilizing esthetic and modern porcelain materials, you’ll have difficulty finding where the crown ends and the natural tooth starts.

Cosmetic Bonding

Sometimes cracked, chipped, or gapped teeth only need minor fixes to improve their look and function—this is where Cosmetic Bonding shines. Dr. Houck and Dr. Brown can use a specialized composite resin blend to reshape, repair, and restore your tooth, in the most conservative approach possible.

Periodontal Maintenance

Regular home care is critical to slow down or stop the progression of gum disease. Within a few hours of cleaning, the bacteria repopulate and adhere to the teeth. Plaque left undisturbed will start to harden and mineralize within 24 hours. Remember, deeper gum pockets require even more diligence to prevent the bacteria from undermining the bone structure that holds your teeth in place.
Since gum pockets previously damaged by bacteria can be difficult to reach at home, faithful maintenance scheduled with Dr. Mellert and his team is essential to your treatment. Depending on the severity of your case, your response to treatment, and the consistency of your home care, Dr. Mellert, Dr. Houck or Dr. Brown will customize your treatment plan to include 2, 3, or 4 visits a year as needed.

Inlays & Onlays

Teeth rarely fracture predictably. Sometimes, damage to the tooth is too extensive for a filling but not big enough for a crown. This is where porcelain Onlays provide an excellent solution for teeth that need extra reinforcement without being covered entirely.

Scaling & Root Planing

If the inflammation associated with your Gum Disease has advanced and there is measurable bone loss present, a proactive approach to stop further deterioration should be strongly considered. We will suggest a deep cleaning process, sometimes called Scaling and Root Planing. This process is completed over a few visits, where a portion of your mouth at a time will be treated. The infected pocket around each tooth, including the hardened tartar below the gum line, must be carefully cleaned out by hand, often using ultrasonic instruments.

Composite (Tooth-Colored) Fillings

Composite fillings serve both functional and aesthetic roles, often at the same time. The doctors may use composite fillings to treat cavities, chipped teeth, and minor fractures that can occur on any tooth surface. Fillings use a tooth-colored composite resin to repair larger surface areas of a damaged tooth, addressing the problem while avoiding the need for a dental crown. Today, tooth-colored composite resins blend into the tooth structure and are chemically bonded to the tooth providing a strong restoration.