Restorative Dentistry in Durham, NC
Give your smile a second chance.
Do You Believe Your Smile Needs Some Attention?
Find out how Durham restorative dentistry can help you change your smile.
Restorative dentistry combines various services to repair or replace damaged or missing teeth. The main goal is to restore teeth function and appearance – while making sure you smile with confidence once again.
No matter how complicated your case might seem to be, our team at Stead Willis DMD will find the proper treatment for you. We have vast experience, and our office is equipped with cutting-edge technology to ensure top-quality restorative dental care.
Restorative dentistry includes the following dental treatments:
We can solve anything from minor problems like small cavities to big complications such as multiple teeth loss. However, we always encourage our patients to visit the office at least every six months to catch dental issues on time and solve them with simpler and equally effective procedures.
Restorative Dentistry Benefits
How Restorative Dentistry Works
Our experienced and caring team will make you smile again.
Restorative dentistry aims to recover your smile’s beauty and function. Every case is unique and requires different procedures, so once our dentist has examined your teeth and reached a diagnosis, they will talk to you about your treatment alternatives. Some patients only need a simple filling, but if your case is more complex, our dentist will explain all the options that you have and, together, you will find the one that suits you best.
Most treatments require local anesthesia, and at Stead Willis DMD, we understand how anxious some patients can feel about injections (and restorative treatments in general). That’s why we do our best to create a relaxing atmosphere. We use numbing gel before all injections, and we offer N20 (laughing gas) to those patients that are particularly nervous or worried about dental procedures. We strive to make the appointment pain-free and comfortable for every patient.
Your teeth deserve a second chance. Book an appointment with our skillful dentist in Durham, NC… opens in a new window to Google Maps…, and discover how we can transform your smile.
Our Restorative Dentistry Services
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If you do require a filling or perhaps you have some unsightly silver fillings, then Dr. Stead Willis is the dentist for you! Our restorative dentist only uses top-quality materials to fix your teeth, which includes composite, metal-free fillings. Unlike traditional silver fillings, the composite material matches the color of your natural tooth and bonds to the tooth. The more stable restoration prevents plaque build-up under the filling and restores the function of your tooth.
Metal-free fillings can be placed in a single visit and are cared for as you would your natural, healthy teeth.
The quality and convenience of dental restorations continue to move forward leaps and bounds. This is especially true thanks to CEREC® technology, which allows us to provide you with one-day dental crowns and bridges. How?
CEREC® is an advanced piece of 3D computer design software. It enables Dr. Stead Willis to capture digital impressions of your teeth and design your new restoration in our office. Using CAD/CAM technology, an accurate and custom restoration is then created in our on-site milling machine.
Our doctor can fit, adjust, and place the restoration during the same appointment! Despite this all taking place in one day, there is no sacrifice on quality and world-class materials such as Zirconia and Emax can be used.
So, if you have damaged your tooth and need a crown replacement, then CEREC® can help. If you have knocked out a tooth and need a bridge replacement, then CEREC® can also help! What’s more, this innovative technology eliminates goopy impressions and multiple appointments. You can have a new smile in just a single visit.
As we age, our teeth can begin to fail us. In time, this can lead to multiple teeth falling out and, in some instances, all of your teeth going missing. At Stead Willis DMD, your beautiful smile doesn’t have to be a memory. Instead, we can give your smile a second chance.
Our experienced dentist in Durham, NC offers both partial and complete dentures designed to fit into your mouth comfortably. More impressively, these dentures restore the function of your smile and are created to feel like your natural teeth.
Our partial dentures fill gaps vacated by multiple teeth, whereas, our complete dentures are a full set of new teeth. Both styles are removable and are custom-made to your specifications. This means we can adjust the style, shade, and shape of the teeth so you can enjoy a unique smile.
After your dentures are fitted, Dr. Stead Willis spends some time discussing how to maintain them and how to get the most from your new teeth.
Severe trauma or decay can leave parts of your natural tooth missing. Step in dental inlays and onlays! These common restorations are specifically created to prevent the removal of your healthy tooth while restoring its shape and function.
At our dental office in Durham, NC, both inlays and onlays can be created using CEREC® technology and natural-looking materials. This means you can enjoy both a fully functional and aesthetically pleasing smile in just one day. But how do you know if you need an inlay or an onlay?
Inlays: The ideal replacement when your tooth damage is within the cusp of your tooth (similar to a filling).
Onlays: When the damage goes over the cusp and biting surface of the tooth, a dental onlay is the best option.
Inlays and onlays are prepared by our Durham dentist and are bonded to the remaining tooth structure. This conservative procedure yields excellent results and can last a long time if cared for correctly.
Our conservative approach to dentistry means we do our best to always save your natural tooth. However, there are instances when tooth removal or extraction is the best option. If your tooth is badly infected, damaged, or broken, then Dr. Stead Willis may recommend removing the tooth to prevent further issues.
The good news is Dr. Stead Willis has performed many extractions and uses modern techniques to make it a comfortable procedure.
During a typical extraction, Dr. Stead Willis begins by explaining why it is necessary to proceed and how the procedure works. When you give the green light, he will clean and numb the area around your tooth. The tooth is gently rocked and extracted with the area kept clean post-procedure.
Our knowledgeable team will outline your options moving forward, which may include dental implants, a dental bridge, or a similar restoration.
Dental implants are the number one way to replace missing teeth with a permanent restoration. A titanium post fuses with the jawbone, and a replacement crown is attached on top. They’re the most lifelike option.
Restorative Dentistry FAQs
The answers to the most commonly asked questions.
- Should I have my tooth extracted instead of trying to save it?
Unless strictly needed, no dentist would advise a patient to have a tooth extracted when there is still a chance to save it. Before doing any extraction, our dentist will first evaluate if there are any other viable options, like root canal treatments or fillings. Dentists can restore severely damaged teeth using materials and techniques that no one could have dreamed of only a few decades ago.
- How can I replace a missing tooth?
There are multiple options available to patients, but the gold standard in tooth replacement are dental implants. No other restoration achieves the same results in terms of functionality and aesthetics. However, we also offer alternatives that might suit more reduced budgets, like full or partial dentures or dental bridges.
- How long does a crown last?
It is hard to determine the exact lifespan of a crown, as it depends on multiple factors. But, with proper care, a patient can expect a dental crown to last up to 30 years.
- Do I need a crown or a filling?
That depends on how much structure the affected tooth has lost. We try to preserve as much dental tissue as possible, so a filling will always be our first choice. But when the damage is too extensive, or if the tooth has been root-filled, our team will place a dental crown.
- What is the most popular material for fillings?
Nowadays, the most frequently used restorative material is composite resins. Composite resins are a tooth color material that closely mimics natural enamel’s texture, transparency, and shade. Composite restorations are durable and highly esthetic and usually are the restorative dentist’s top choice.
- What is tooth wear?
Tooth wear is the loss of external layers of the teeth due to natural or pathological wear down. It’s usually a consequence of night grinding or clenching, but sometimes there are other factors involved like diet, medical conditions (sleep apnea), or a problem in the patient’s bite. Our team can build affected teeth back up using composite resins, or bonding, and fit custom-made night guards to prevent it from happening again.