Restorative dentistry includes the repair of teeth that have been attacked and damaged by decay. Decay is the enemy and we fight to prevent it with education about good brushing and flossing techniques, fluoride treatment, fissure sealing and continual vigilance and monitoring. Unfortunately teeth can become decayed and then we need to restore them. We use a few techniques and filling materials depending on how badly the tooth has been damaged.

Small cavities are restored with white filling materials (we don't use amalgam fillings which contain mercury and are unsightly) under rubber dam. A piece of plastic for moisture and saliva control as the materials are technique sensitive and the rubber dam allows us to prevent contamination and this results in restorations that last longer.

If the tooth is badly compromised we can use restorations made from gold (an excellent material but unsightly so we use it only in the back molars) or more commonly restorations made from porcelain which are bonded into and on top of these teeth. If the tooth is too badly damaged to support such a restoration then it will need a crown. Crowns can be made from just porcelain or have a metal base with porcelain on top. A crown covers the weakened tooth and helps to protect it from breaking and splitting. We usually need to crown a tooth after root treating it (which leaves it vulnerable to fracture), but crowning doesn't necessarily require a root treatment first.

For decayed or discoloured and unsightly front teeth from staining chipping etc, we use white fillings or veneers. These are thin shells of white filling material or porcelain used to cover correct and restore ones smile.

Please see our gallery for before and after photographs