If you have teeth that need to be repaired or replaced, you would likely benefit from the expertise of a restorative dentist. Dr. Emmanuel Puddicombe is one of Wayne County, New York’s finest restorative dentists and has extensive experience rebuilding and constructing complete, functional mouths.
Restorative Dentistry Benefits
Restorative dentistry serves multiple purposes at once:
- Offers relief to patients who experience pain or discomfort due to a dental issue
- Allows patients to eat and speak normally again
- Boosts the appearance of the mouth by rebuilding an attractive smile
- Protects patients from subsequent dental problems
By not dealing with your dental issues in a timely manner, you put your mouth at increased risk for further problems, so don’t put off making an appointment for a restorative dentistry procedure.
Among the more frequent restorative dentistry procedures that Dr. Puddicombe performs are:
Dental Bridges
Patients who are missing a tooth or have several missing teeth in a row are often good candidates for a dental bridge. This device attaches prosthetic teeth — chosen to correspond with the size, shape and color of your natural teeth — by anchoring them onto dental crowns on either side of the gap. There are several types of bridges (traditional, Maryland, cantilever and implant-supported), with each designed to address a different type of problem. After examining your mouth, Dr. Puddicombe will select the version that fits the situation at hand.
Dental Implants
Another way to replace a missing tooth (or teeth) is a dental implant. For this procedure, Dr. Puddicombe surgically inserts a metallic post directly into the jawbone. At a subsequent appointment after your mouth has healed, he will attach a prosthetic tooth to that post as a permanent replacement. Dr. Puddicombe will seek your input so that your artificial tooth looks just like your normal tooth and does not impede your bite.
Dentures
Patients who are missing a lot of teeth may find that dentures are the most convenient way to reconstruct their smiles. Today’s dentures are custom-made to fit your mouth and look much more natural than those you remember from your grandparents’ generation. While patients can choose traditional dentures, Dr. Puddicombe also offers implant-supported dentures which can easily snap in and out of the mouth onto dental implants.
Veneers
If your natural teeth are not as attractive as you would like them to be, veneers may be the solution. Veneers are thin covers that attach to the front of your teeth, masking any imperfections behind them. You can choose from a wide range of veneer styles to get the precise size, shape and shade to correspond with your other teeth, or you can opt for an entire row of veneers, allowing you to pick out teeth covers that are as pretty and bright white as you want.
Full Mouth Reconstruction
Full mouth reconstruction is a term used to describe a combination of procedures employed by a dentist to restore the look and functionality of your teeth. The approach will differ from person to person depending on each patient’s needs. Patients should always choose a skilled restorative dentist — like Dr. Puddicombe — for full mouth reconstruction because it requires a professional who is talented in all areas of dentistry.
Inlays and Onlays
When a tooth is damaged but not significantly enough to warrant a crown, Dr. Puddicombe can fit you with an inlay or onlay as an alternative. Inlays are custom molded to fit inside large cavities and then cemented onto the tooth. Onlays serve the same purpose as inlays but go a step further by extending over the cusps of the tooth. Dr. Puddicombe uses porcelain inlays and onlays to match the color of your natural teeth.
ClearCorrect/Clear Aligners
Most patients today who want to straighten their teeth will forego traditional braces in favor of clear aligners. Not only is the course of treatment generally quicker, ClearCorrect is also transparent enough that most people will not even recognize that it is in your mouth. At any point, you can remove the aligners to eat a meal or brush your teeth, making hygiene that much easier as well.
Book an Appointment
No matter which restorative dentistry procedure you need, you can count on Dr. Puddicombe and the team at Family Dentistry of Lyons to repair your smile. To schedule an appointment, please call us today at (315) 946-4656.
