Dental Restorations in Humble
Our team provides excellent dental care using state-of-the-art technology with an emphasis on building trust and personal connections. Whether your child needs a new filling or you're looking for advanced tooth replacement options, we offer comprehensive restorations and individual attention. We want to make your visit a great experience and give you a confident smile.
At Q Dental, we perform restorations to resolve both functional and cosmetic issues. Our office is fun and inviting with enthusiastic and welcoming staff members. Schedule a consultation with us for an in-depth examination and solution to your oral issues.
CALL US: (281) 852-2230 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
Our Restorative Dental Services
Our restoration services provide customized solutions to many dental problems. Our team is highly skilled, and we use the latest technology and techniques. Our services include:
Our customized procedures are designed to give you not only a bright smile but also boost your confidence. Dr. MacKay excels at creating restorations that properly align with your natural teeth for optimal comfort when talking, biting, or chewing.
Composite Fillings
If your tooth has damage from decay, a filling will restore it to a functional shape and size. The procedure is done by first removing the decayed part, cleaning the affected area, then filling the cavity.
Filling materials include gold, porcelain, amalgam, and composite resins. Various factors determine which one is best for you. They include the extent of dental damage, cost of the procedure, and potential allergies. Dr. MacKay will evaluate your teeth thoroughly and help you decide the most effective and affordable treatment.
Fillings are a cost-effective measure that prevents more serious dental issues in the future. They can last up to 20 years, depending on the material used and how well you maintain your dental hygiene. Small holes can be caught early and filled before they turn into problematic cavities.
Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays are indirect restorations, which means they're created outside the mouth as a single piece and fitted in the affected tooth. They're used to fix damaged molars and premolars that you can't restore using standard filling procedures.
An inlay consists of composite resin or porcelain materials matching the shade of your tooth. After numbing, we clear the decay, then make an impression. After fabrication of the inlay, we fit it carefully into the cavity. Inlays never extend past the cusps of your teeth. Onlays treat more extensive decay and extend over the cusp of the affected tooth.
How Do Inlays and Onlays Differ from Fillings and Crowns?
Unlike fillings, inlays and onlays fit in a way that minimizes future decay. They're more robust than direct fillings, which shrink as they harden. They're also more useful for repairing larger cavities than composite fillings. While inlays and onlays fill a cavity within a tooth, crowns cover the entire tooth above the gumline.
Why You Might Need a Crown
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is cemented onto a damaged tooth to restore its shape, size, appearance, and functionality. These replacements consist of various materials, including composite resin, porcelain, metal, and ceramic. Some are a combination of materials, such as metal mixed with porcelain. Q Dental would advise you to consider crowns for the following reasons:
- To restore broken teeth
- To support a dental bridge
- To reshape crooked teeth or cover discoloration
- To complete a cosmetic procedure, such as a root canal or dental implant
- To protect a tooth that has been weakened by decay or cracked due to injury
Before selecting the right one for you, Dr. MacKay will make various considerations. They include the location of the affected tooth, nature of your gum tissue, and color of adjacent teeth. She'll also consider the size of the remaining natural tooth that needs crowning, its function, and how it will look when you smile.
Fixed Bridges
This type of restoration works for those with more than one missing tooth. If you have natural teeth on either side of the gap, they can be used to support a replacement tooth or multiple teeth. These false teeth are also known as pontics and form a bridge across the natural teeth that support them.
How Do Dental Bridges Work?
There are various types of fixed bridges. Traditional bridges are held together by dental crowns on each of the adjacent natural teeth or abutments. A cantilever bridge works on a similar principle, but only needs one natural tooth for support. Natural teeth also support a Maryland dental bridge on either side of the gap. Instead of a crown, we'll apply a strong bond that will hold the replacement teeth to the abutments.
The final type is known as an implant-supported dental bridge. It uses a surgically inserted implant to hold each replacement tooth. If there are more than two missing teeth in a row, a pontic may be held by two implanted crowns on either end of the gap. Implant-supported dental bridges are the most durable of the four options. A surgical procedure is used to install them. We first place the implant into your jawbone, then allow time after for healing. Lastly, we secure the bridge to restore your missing teeth.
Full & Partial Dentures
Dentures are removable, customized replacements for missing teeth. Other than maintaining your smile, they help you speak and chew comfortably. They also keep your facial structure looking youthful. Dentures are easy to remove, clean, and fit back into your mouth.
Types of Dentures
Partial dentures are the most common type. They fill the gap formed when you have a few missing teeth. They might be held in place by metal clasps, precision attachments, or crowns placed on natural teeth. If you're missing a full set of teeth, full or complete dentures are a convenient solution. The upper and lower jaw parts differ slightly to improve comfort and functionality.
Full dentures include an acrylic base that's colored to look like your upper gums. It also covers the roof of your mouth for added support. For the lower jaw, the acrylic base resembles a horseshoe. This design prevents the denture from interfering with the tongue.
Before fitting dentures, our team performs any necessary extractions, then measures the mouth. Because your jawbone adapts slowly to losing its teeth, it might take some time before the denture fits comfortably. The third type is known as an implant-supported denture. These restorative appliances are more stable than the other two because they're held in place by implants placed surgically into your jaw.
How to Care for Your Dentures
Just like your natural teeth, dentures require regular cleaning. Doing so not only improves their durability but also prevents future gum health issues. Remove and brush them every day, as well as your tongue, palate, and gums.
Simple and wisdom tooth extractions involves taking an x-ray of your mouth, administering local anesthesia or a sedative, and removing the tooth. If the wisdom tooth hasn't erupted, a small incision will be made in your gum to expose it. An oral surgeon performs more complex tooth extractions. This procedure involves making modifications to the bone or tissues that support the affected tooth. It also considers several factors. They include the extent of decay, fracture, tissue infection, misplacement, and the ability to reach the tooth.
There are various reasons for performing tooth extractions, including:
- To remove teeth from a crowded mouth, or those that have failed to erupt. Extractions are performed before initiating orthodontia, a teeth alignment procedure.
- To remove a severely damaged tooth. Although root canal therapy is a better solution, we might have to extract the affected tooth if it has a severe infection.
- To prevent the risk of infection to your body. Some medical conditions and procedures compromise your body's immunity, leaving it vulnerable to opportunistic infections. An extraction is advisable if your overall health is at risk.
Complicated extractions require stitching after the procedure and prescription of painkillers. You'll also have to book follow-up appointments so we can remove sutures and observe the healing process.
Dental Implants
Implants are biocompatible posts that we surgically place in the jawbone below the gums, which provide a stable base for installing replacement teeth. Because dental implants merge with the jawbone, they make your crowns, bridges, and dentures feel natural. Unlike conventional alternatives, implants don't shift or slip in the mouth while talking or eating.
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Most people who are healthy enough to handle standard oral surgery will also be eligible for dental implants. We'll only know for sure after performing a thorough oral examination. Generally, you should have healthy gums, enough bone mass to support implants, and maintain proper oral hygiene. Heavy smokers or people who suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes need closer examination before undergoing this procedure.
Professionally placed implants feel like your natural teeth. Before starting the procedure, an extensive analysis of your oral structure is performed. This process allows for customized, practical, and comfortable implants. Other benefits of dental implants include improved speech, appearance, self-esteem, comfort, and better eating habits. They're also durable, unlike removable dentures.
The Dental Implant Process
This procedure is performed in four significant steps. The first involves a general consultation and dental examination. Once we establish that you're healthy, we can formulate a comprehensive plan for the rest of the process. We will advise you on how to prepare for the procedure.
Next, the implants will be surgically placed. Depending on how many implants you need, it might take several appointments over months. The next phase allows you to rest while your mouth heals. This period enables the jawbone to fuse with your new implant. Each patient heals differently, so your next appointment will depend on how well the bone grows around the titanium implant.
In the final step, make sure that the implant is secure. We then make digital impressions of your teeth to create a custom crown or other restoration. Your last appointment will entail attaching your restoration and checking your bite to make sure it feels comfortable.
Q Dental Gives You a Reason to Smile!
At Q Dental, we uphold professionalism, integrity, empathy, and compassion. Our highly skilled team, led by Dr. Dianne MacKay, has a reputation for delivering on the highest expectations. If you have missing teeth or other dental issues, Q Dental can give you a beautiful new smile. Contact us today for more details on our full range of services!
CALL US: (281) 852-2230 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
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