Crowns are used to strengthen and improve the shape, size or color of teeth. They can support broken or weak teeth or those with large fillings; provide a smooth, strong, attractively contoured surface for stained, misshapen or otherwise abnormal teeth; and aid in the implantation of bridges and other implants.

Bridges are natural-looking tooth replacements which help maintain facial structure, reduce stress on the jaw and fill in the gaps caused by missing teeth. Bridges may be made of porcelain, gold, or a combination of both. Removable bridges can be taken out and cleaned at home, while fixed bridges are implanted in the jaw and bonded to the teeth with crowns or caps.

Dental inlays and onlays are solid fillings used to restore damaged or decayed teeth. They are often needed when there is not enough healthy tissue left in the tooth to support a regular filling. (If a tooth is severely damaged, a crown may be necessary to cover the entire surface instead of an inlay or onlay.) Unlike regular fillings, they strengthen rather than weaken teeth. Inlays lie within the cusps, or bumps, on the surface of a tooth, while onlays cover one or more cusps. They are often placed over two visits: one in which the tooth is prepared, a temporary filling is placed and an impression is made, and one in which the specially constructed inlay or onlay is cemented onto the tooth. Inlays and onlays made of composite resin or porcelain are tooth-colored, while those made of gold alloy offer increased strength and durability.

The back teeth are noticeable when we talk and especially when we laugh. Seeing dark, unsightly areas of metal can detract from what otherwise might be a perfect set of teeth. Now there are fillings available that are specially designed to match the natural color of the tooth. These directly placed, bonded resin fillings can make a tooth look like new, whether they are used for small areas of decay or to replace current fillings.

Good oral hygiene - brushing and flossing daily - and a healthy diet are the best way to prevent plaque build-up in the mouth. But even the most thorough brushing does not always reach the deepest indentations in the back teeth (molars). Dental sealants fill in these depressions, preventing bacterial formation that causes tooth decay and other damage. In a procedure that takes only a few minutes per tooth, the tooth is cleaned, an acid solution is applied to roughen the surface texture, the plastic sealant is bonded to the tooth and a light may be shone on it to speed the hardening process. Sealants can be used to help both adults and children and may be reapplied every few years.

Patients who are uncomfortable with needles and drills, who have sensitive teeth or gums or who have a strong gag reflex can be helped with dental sedation. After one pill or injection, many patients feel no discomfort whatsoever during and after treatment. They often have little or no memory of the visit. Another benefit is that extensive treatment can be done in one or two appointments, including whitening yellow or stained teeth, replacing crowns or dentures, fixing chipped or damaged teeth, and restoring sore gums to good health.