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Restore Your Smile’s Strength, Function, and Confidence
Damaged, decayed, or missing teeth affect more than just your appearance. They compromise your ability to eat comfortably, speak clearly, and maintain proper oral health. Each compromised tooth puts additional stress on remaining teeth, potentially leading to a cascade of problems, including jaw pain, bite misalignment, and further tooth loss. If you’ve been adapting your diet, avoiding certain foods, or experiencing discomfort while chewing, restorative dentistry can return full function to your smile.
South Hills Dental Arts’ Sewickley location takes a comprehensive approach to restorative dentistry, considering how each tooth contributes to your overall oral health system. With 35 years of experience and all treatments available under one roof, we eliminate the need for referrals while ensuring seamless, coordinated care. Our advanced technology, including same-day CEREC restorations and 3D imaging, allows us to restore your teeth efficiently while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible.
Understanding Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing or replacing damaged teeth to restore normal function and appearance. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, nearly 90% of adults ages 20 to 64 years have had decay in their teeth, demonstrating the widespread need for restorative treatments. Unlike cosmetic dentistry, which primarily addresses aesthetics, restorative treatments prioritize health and function while also improving appearance.
Common restorative procedures include fillings for cavities, dental crowns for severely damaged teeth, bridges to replace missing teeth, dental implants for permanent tooth replacement, root canal therapy to save infected teeth, and dentures for multiple missing teeth. Each treatment addresses specific problems while contributing to overall oral health.
The interconnected nature of oral health means that one problem often leads to others. A single untreated cavity can progress to infection, requiring root canal therapy or extraction. Missing teeth allow remaining teeth to shift, creating bite problems and jaw pain. Our comprehensive approach addresses not just individual teeth but the entire oral system.
The Importance of Timely Treatment
Dental problems rarely resolve on their own and typically worsen without intervention. A small cavity left untreated grows larger, eventually requiring a crown instead of a simple filling. An infected tooth that could be saved with root canal therapy may need extraction if the infection spreads. Missing teeth allow remaining teeth to shift, creating bite problems and making future restoration more complex.
Beyond preventing progression, timely restorative treatment prevents complications. Damaged teeth are more susceptible to infection that can spread to other parts of your body. Missing teeth lead to bone loss in your jaw, changing your facial structure over time. Compromised chewing ability affects nutrition and digestion. By addressing problems promptly, we minimize treatment complexity and preserve more of your natural tooth structure.
The financial aspect also favors early intervention. Treating a small cavity costs far less than a crown, root canal, or implant. Regular checkups allow us to catch problems when they’re small and easily treatable. This preventive approach saves money, time, and discomfort in the long run.
Advanced Diagnostic Technology
Accurate diagnosis forms the foundation of effective restorative treatment. Our 3D X-rays reveal hidden problems like infections, fractures, or bone loss invisible to the naked eye. Intraoral cameras allow us to show you exactly what we see, making you an active participant in treatment planning. Digital impressions eliminate messy traditional molds while providing more accurate models for restorations.
Our Tekscan digital bite analysis reveals how your teeth come together and distribute forces when chewing. This information proves invaluable when planning restorations, ensuring new crowns or bridges harmonize with your bite rather than creating stress points. By understanding the complete picture of your oral health, we can create restorations that last longer and function better.
Early detection technology like our OralID system can identify potential problems before they become symptomatic. This allows for more conservative treatment and better outcomes. The investment in advanced diagnostics pays dividends in treatment success and longevity.
Crown and Bridge Solutions
Dental crowns serve as protective caps for damaged teeth, restoring strength, function, and appearance. Modern crowns made from high-strength ceramics look and feel like natural teeth while providing superior durability. Our CEREC technology enables same-day crown creation, eliminating temporary crowns and multiple appointments. The digital design process ensures a precise fit and natural appearance.
Dental bridges replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent healthy teeth. The bridge literally bridges the gap, preventing remaining teeth from shifting while restoring chewing function. Modern materials create bridges that blend seamlessly with natural teeth. For patients who aren’t candidates for implants, bridges offer an excellent fixed solution for tooth replacement.
The key to successful crown and bridge work lies in proper preparation and design. We preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible while ensuring adequate support for the restoration. Our digital technology allows us to design restorations that distribute forces evenly, reducing stress on supporting teeth and extending the life of your restoration.
Dental Implant Excellence
Dental implants represent the gold standard for tooth replacement, offering the closest alternative to natural teeth. The titanium implant post fuses with your jawbone, providing stable support for a crown that looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth. Unlike bridges, implants don’t require alteration of adjacent teeth and actually preserve jawbone by providing stimulation similar to natural tooth roots.
Our comprehensive implant services include single tooth replacement, implant-supported bridges for multiple missing teeth, and All-on-4 solutions for full arch restoration. Using digital implant planning and 3D imaging, we precisely position implants for optimal function and aesthetics. Our Plasma Rich Growth Factors therapy accelerates healing and improves success rates.
The versatility of implants makes them suitable for many patients. Young adults with congenitally missing teeth, middle-aged patients who’ve lost teeth to decay or gum disease, and seniors seeking stable alternatives to dentures all benefit from implant technology. We’ll evaluate your bone density, overall health, and specific needs to determine if you’re a candidate.
Root Canal Therapy
Despite its reputation, modern root canal therapy is a comfortable procedure that saves teeth from extraction. When infection or damage reaches the tooth’s pulp, root canal treatment removes infected tissue, cleans and shapes the canal system, and seals the tooth to prevent reinfection. This preserves your natural tooth, which is always preferable to extraction when possible.
Our advanced techniques and technology make root canals more efficient and comfortable than ever. Digital imaging guides treatment, while rotary instruments clean canals more thoroughly than traditional methods. Our virtually painless anesthesia system ensures comfort throughout the procedure. Most patients report the experience is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling.
Saving natural teeth through root canal therapy offers numerous advantages. Natural teeth maintain jawbone density, preserve facial structure, and provide the best chewing efficiency. The cost of root canal treatment and a crown is typically less than that of extraction and tooth replacement with an implant or bridge.
Filling Materials and Techniques
Today’s filling materials offer superior aesthetics and durability compared to traditional silver amalgam. Tooth-colored composite resins bond directly to tooth structure, allowing us to remove less healthy tooth material while creating invisible restorations. These materials can repair small to moderate cavities while maintaining your smile’s natural appearance.
For larger restorations, ceramic inlays and onlays provide exceptional strength and longevity. Created using our CAD/CAM technology, these indirect fillings fit precisely and distribute chewing forces evenly. They’re particularly beneficial for teeth with extensive damage that don’t quite need full crowns, preserving more natural tooth structure while providing superior protection.
The choice of filling material depends on various factors, including cavity size and location, aesthetic concerns, and functional demands. We’ll discuss options and recommend the most appropriate material for your specific situation. Our goal is always to provide durable restorations that preserve maximum tooth structure.
Comprehensive Treatment Planning
Complex restorative cases require careful planning and sequencing. We begin by addressing urgent issues like pain or infection, then systematically restore function and aesthetics. Our treatment plans consider your overall health, lifestyle, budget, and long-term goals. We’ll present options with clear explanations of benefits, risks, and costs.
Using Digital Smile Design, we can show you projected results before beginning treatment. This technology helps patients understand how different restorative options will affect their appearance and function. We can adjust the plan based on your input, ensuring you’re comfortable with both the process and expected outcome.
Phased treatment allows you to spread costs and procedures over time while addressing the most critical issues first. We’ll create a roadmap showing which treatments to prioritize and how they work together for optimal results. This strategic approach ensures efficient use of time and resources.
Maintaining Your Restorations
Restorative dentistry represents an investment in your oral health that requires proper maintenance. We’ll provide specific care instructions for your restorations, but general guidelines include excellent oral hygiene with twice-daily brushing and daily flossing, regular professional cleanings and checkups, avoiding habits like ice chewing or using teeth as tools, and wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth.
With proper care, modern restorations can last many years. Composite fillings typically last 5-10 years, crowns 10-15 years or longer, and implants can last a lifetime. Regular dental visits allow us to monitor restorations and address any issues before they become significant problems.
Preventive maintenance extends the life of restorations significantly. Professional cleanings remove plaque and tartar that can compromise restoration margins. Regular exams catch problems early when they’re easily correctable. This proactive approach protects your investment and maintains optimal oral health.
Restore Your Quality of Life With South Hills Dental Arts
The impact of restorative dentistry extends beyond oral health into every aspect of daily living. Patients report improved confidence from an attractive smile, better nutrition from restored chewing ability, clearer speech, elimination of chronic pain, and enhanced overall well-being. Our comprehensive approach combines cutting-edge technology with decades of experience to deliver results that truly transform lives, not just smiles.
Stop letting damaged or missing teeth dictate how you live, eat, and smile. Take the first step toward reclaiming your oral health and confidence with our free virtual consultation, where you can explore your restorative options from home. Contact us today at (412) 725-9939 or through our contact form to schedule your comprehensive evaluation and discover how we can restore your smile’s full potential. Visit our homepage to learn more about our complete range of restorative services and see why Sewickley residents trust us with their most important dental needs.
Our Restorative Services
Dental Implants
Dental implants replace missing teeth with durable, natural-looking restorations that restore function, preserve bone health, and enhance confidence through long-lasting, seamless results.
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Same Day Crowns & Bridges
Same day crowns and bridges restore damaged or missing teeth efficiently, providing durable, natural-looking results that improve function, aesthetics, and overall oral health.
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Botox & Fillers
Botox and fillers enhance facial aesthetics by reducing wrinkles, restoring volume, and complementing smiles while maintaining natural, balanced, and professionally tailored results.
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Snap-In Dentures
Snap-in dentures provide secure, comfortable tooth replacement, restoring function, improving aesthetics, and enhancing confidence with stable, natural-looking results tailored to individual needs.
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