restorative dentistry

A filling is a way to restore a decay damaged tooth back to its normal function and shape. When you get a filling, the dentist will remove the decayed material from the tooth, clean the affected area, and then fill the area with a material designed for fillings.

A crown is sometimes termed a "cap" or "jacket." A crown will restore a large filling or a cracked tooth to its original size, shape and tooth color. A crown may be recommended after root canal therapy has been completed.

A bridge is made up of two or more crowns and is placed in gaps that may occur between your natural teeth. Your natural teeth are used as anchor or abutment teeth to which the bridge is attached. Bridges can be used to restore your smile and your ability to properly chew and speak and help in preventing your natural teeth from moving out of position.

You can think of a dental inlay and onlay as being midway between a filling and a crown. Inlays and onlays are used when not enough tooth structure remains to support a filling, but the tooth is not so severely damaged that it needs a crown.