Restorative Care - Dental Fillings

Patients have several alternatives when faced with active tooth decay and since every case has a unique set of circumstances, the ideal solution varies.  The choice of restoration should be based on the patients' wants and needs as well as the skill set of the dentist. The many types of filling material in use today can be loosely categorized for the purpose of our discussion as amalgam, composite and indirect porcelain.

Amalgam is the traditional "silver" fillig. It is made up of several diffirent elements mixed together and condensed under pressure into the restorative space. While amalgam's greatest advantages are low cost and a limited skill level needed to be successful, it contains mercury which is a known toxin.

Composite is a bonded resin or plastic based restoration that is available with many different modifications.  "Bondings" can be placed just about anywhere in the mouth to match existing tooth color; but, due to shrinkage as the "bonding" material is placed, composite restorations are much more likely to fail in the shortest period of time.

Indirect porcelain restorations are fabricated outside the mouth from a model and are then cemented into place, precisely matching with the existing healthy tooth like puzzle pieces. These restorations, termed inlays and onlays, exhibit the best long term results with the least amount of sensitivity after placement, but are usually more expensive.

For many years, inlays and onlays have been considered as the best, most conservative, long lasting alternatives to large restorations and subsequent crowns.  Traditionally, however, they required two seperate visits with anesthetic, impressions and the placement of a temporary restoration. CEREC dentistry has changed all of this. The evolution of CAD/CAM technology in the dental office has allowed us achieve all the benefits of indirect porcelain restorations without many of the drawbacks.

Dr. Mohr is sensitive to each patient's individual dental health and wishes when deciding on plan of restorative action.

Choosing the best restorative treatment for missing, broken or decaying teeth

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