Full Mouth Reconstruction in Mission Valley, CA

Dental restorations can be broken down into two different classes: direct and indirect. Direct tooth restorations refer to restoration options that are applied directly to the teeth, like composite fillings. Indirect restorations are usually made in a dental lab or mill and later placed onto a dental implant or the tooth itself (crowns, bridges, etc.). Most of the dental restorations that we use in full mouth reconstruction are indirect.

A great example of an indirect dental restoration is the dental inlay and onlay. Inlays and onlays are partial restorations that are used to restore broken or damaged sections of teeth. An inlay describes a dental restoration that restores less than one cusp of a tooth, whereas an onlay describes a restoration that restores one cusp or more of a single tooth. These are created to exacting specifications in a dental laboratory and placed on your tooth several weeks later. Dental inlays and onlays can be crafted from a variety of materials to meet exacting specifications depending on what tooth the restoration will restore.

Dental crowns are made to restore the crown of the tooth, which is the portion of the tooth that is above the gumline. A crown can be placed on top of one of your natural teeth, or it can be placed on top of a single dental implant. Dental crowns, like most tooth restoration options, can be crafted out of a variety of materials depending on the tooth that it will be replacing. For example: when we are replacing one of the front teeth with a dental crown we will choose an aesthetically impressive material like porcelain to craft the crown. When we are replacing one of the molars that are constantly placed under impressive bite forces, we will usually opt for a more robust restoration material like ceramics.

A dental bridge is a multiple tooth replacement restoration that is used to replace several consecutive missing teeth. A bridge can be anchored by either your natural teeth or several dental implants. Dental bridges are a permanent restoration that gives you the ability to eat and speak as you would with your natural teeth.

Dental implants represent the pinnacle of restorative dentistry. Not too long ago dental restorations never had the ability to restore the form and function of the root of teeth. Dental implants are made of titanium that encourage the bone in your jaw to grow around them, forming a strong mechanical bond with them in a process known as osseointegration. Because of this strong mechanical bond, dental implants give dental restorations like crowns, bridges, and full arch solutions a firm foundation in your jaw so that you can eat as you did when you had all of your natural teeth. Dental implants can act as the root and the crown of your natural teeth.

Dentures and partial dentures are removable tooth replacement options that restore your ability to eat and speak as you once did. Full dentures are usually held in place by denture adhesives that must be applied daily, but some dentures are implant/bar retained. Partial dentures are usually held in place with help from clasps and wires that are connected to the surrounding teeth or dental restorations.