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What to Know About Dental Restorations

Dental restorations are essential to maintaining the function and appearance of your teeth. From minor repairs to full-tooth replacements, each type of dental restoration offers unique benefits. Understanding the options available and what to expect from each treatment can empower you to make informed decisions about your oral health. Here’s an in-depth look at each restoration, enhanced with insights from years of experience.

Fillings: A Simple Solution for Cavities

Fillings are one of the most common dental restorations we perform to repair teeth affected by decay or minor damage.

What Are Fillings?

Fillings restore the structure of a tooth after decay has been removed. We use materials like composite resin for a natural look, or amalgam for strength and durability.

• Composite fillings are ideal for visible teeth, since they blend seamlessly with your natural tooth color.
• Amalgam fillings are more durable and typically used for molars.

Process and Care for Your Fillings

Fillings are like the “filler” of our daily practice and a foundational part of what we do. The procedure involves numbing the tooth, removing decay, and filling the cavity with the chosen material. The result is a smooth, functional tooth. To ensure the longevity of your filling, proper care includes regular brushing, flossing, and checkups.

Cost of Fillings

The cost of fillings typically ranges from $100 to $400 per tooth, depending on the material used.

Crowns: Protecting and Strengthening Damaged Teeth

Crowns, or caps, are used to cover and protect a tooth that has been significantly damaged or weakened.

What Are Crowns?

Crowns are necessary when a tooth can’t be restored with a filling alone. They’re made from porcelain, ceramic, or metal, with porcelain and ceramic options often chosen for their natural appearance.

At Higson Dental, we use lab-made crowns instead of same-day crowns to ensure the highest quality. Lab-made crowns are crafted by experienced technicians using precision milling machines, resulting in a better fit and appearance.

Process and Considerations

1. First Appointment: We prepare the tooth, take a digital scan, and send it to a lab. You’ll receive a temporary crown while the permanent one is being made.
2. Second Appointment: The permanent crown is bonded in place, ensuring a perfect fit and color match.

Lab-made crowns, which may require a second visit, offer superior quality and durability compared to same-day options.

Cost of Crowns

The cost for lab-made crowns ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 per tooth.

Bridges: Replacing Missing Teeth

Bridges are a dental solution designed to fill the gap created by one or more missing teeth. They are anchored to the adjacent teeth (abutment teeth), helping restore both appearance and function.

2 Types of Bridges

1. Traditional or Cantilever Bridges: Anchored by crowns on the abutment teeth.
2. Maryland Bridges: Supported by a metal or porcelain framework bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth.

Process and Importance of Bridges

The abutment teeth are prepared by reshaping to accommodate crowns. The custom-made bridge is then crafted in a dental lab and securely bonded in place. Bridges help prevent surrounding teeth from shifting, which can cause bite problems. By replacing missing teeth, they restore proper function and maintain dental alignment.

Cost of Bridges

• Traditional/Cantilever Bridges: $2,000 – $5,000 for one pontic and crowns for each abutment tooth.
• Maryland Bridges: $1,500 – $2,500 for one pontic with a bonded framework.

Dental Implants: A Permanent Tooth Replacement Solution

Dental implants are a long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth and are highly valued for their natural look and durability.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants involve placing a titanium post into the jawbone, which acts as an artificial root. Over time, typically several months, the bone fuses with the implant, creating a solid foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture.

While immediate implants were once common, we found that allowing 3–6 months, after extraction, for the bone to heal yields better outcomes. By being patient and cautious, we’ve significantly reduced our implant failure rate.

The Process and Patience

1. Initial Consultation: We assess your jawbone and overall health using advanced imaging like CBCT scans.
2. Placement: The implant is surgically inserted, and osseointegration (bone fusion) takes 3–6 months.
3. Crown Attachment: Once integrated, we place a custom crown on the implant for a natural look and feel.

Cost of Dental Implants

• Single-tooth implants range from $1,250 to $3,000 per tooth.
• All-on-4 implants for a full arch of teeth typically cost between $20,000 and $30,000.

Dental implants offer a durable, permanent solution, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics.

Inlays & Onlays: A Middle Ground Between Fillings and Crowns

Inlays and onlays are used when a tooth has moderate decay or damage that isn’t severe enough to require a full crown.

What Are Inlays & Onlays?

• Inlays: Fit inside the tooth cusps and restore the chewing surface.
• Onlays: Cover one or more cusps and extend over the biting surface.

Both restorations are custom-crafted in a lab, helping to preserve more of the natural tooth structure while providing strong, durable results.

Process and Benefits

Inlays and onlays are bonded to the tooth, offering both structural support and an aesthetically pleasing outcome. They are more durable than traditional fillings and can last many years with proper care. Our preferred approach involves high-quality lab-made restorations, ensuring precise fit and long-term durability.

Cost of Inlays & Onlays

The cost typically of inlays and onlays ranges from $650 to $1,200 per tooth.

Dentures: A Removable Option for Replacing Multiple Teeth

Dentures are a cost-effective way to replace several or all missing teeth and come in complete or partial options. They come in two main types: complete and partial dentures.

2 Types of Dentures

1. Complete Dentures: Replace all teeth in the upper or lower arch.
2. Partial Dentures: Fill in gaps where some natural teeth remain and are held in place with clasps.

Process and Care for Dentures

Dentures require several appointments for fittings and adjustments. Dentures are commonly chosen when multiple teeth are missing and patients want a more affordable option compared to implants.

Proper care and adjustments are needed to maintain comfort and functionality.

Cost of Dentures

• Single Denture: $300 to $500.
• Complete Set (Upper and Lower): $600 to $2,000.

Veneers: Enhancing the Aesthetics of Your Smile

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front surface of teeth to improve appearance.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are used to correct discoloration, chips, gaps, and misaligned teeth. Porcelain veneers are highly durable and offer a natural look, while composite veneers are a more budget-friendly option. Veneers are ideal for patients looking to make cosmetic improvements that significantly enhance their smile.

Process and Longevity

The procedure involves removing a small amount of enamel, taking impressions, and bonding the veneers to the teeth. Porcelain veneers generally last 10–15 years.

Cost of Veneers

The cost of veneers typically ranges from $500 to $1,500 per tooth.

Dental Bonding: A Quick and Cost-Effective Fix

Dental bonding is a simple, one-visit procedure that uses tooth-colored resin to repair small chips, cracks, or gaps.

What is Dental Bonding?

The resin is applied to the tooth, shaped, and hardened with a special light. It’s then polished to match the surrounding teeth.

Bonding is great for minor cosmetic improvements and offers an affordable, quick fix.

Durability

Bonding lasts 3–10 years, depending on the location of the restoration and oral habits. It’s best suited for teeth that don’t experience heavy biting force.

Cost of Dental Bonding

The cost of dental bonding ranges from $100 to $400 per tooth, making it an accessible option for many patients.

Contact Us for Dental Restorations Near You

From basic fillings and crowns to advanced dental implants and cosmetic veneers, dental restorations offer a range of solutions for restoring function and aesthetics. Each treatment has specific benefits, processes, and costs, and our practice is committed to providing the highest quality care tailored to your needs. By understanding these options, you can feel confident in your choices and trust that we will deliver the best results for your smile. Contact our office to learn more about dental restorations near you.

 

Why a Collaborative Approach Ensures the Best Dental Care

Delivering exceptional dental care often requires more than one dentist or a single approach. In our practice, we believe in a collaborative approach to treatment—bringing in specialists when necessary to provide our patients with the best possible outcomes. Here’s why collaboration between general dentists and dental specialists is essential, how we determine the right referral, and the benefits of this approach to your dental health.

Understanding the Limits of General Dentistry

As general dentists, our primary role is to provide high-quality foundational care, including routine checkups, crowns, fillings, and basic extractions. General dentistry focuses on core restorative and preventive services that keep your oral health in check. However, some cases require advanced treatment that extends beyond the typical scope of general practice.

1. Complex Cases: Certain cases, like full mouth reconstructions or advanced implant placements, demand additional expertise and experience. Complex cases often have multiple layers of complexity that a general practice may not be best suited to handle alone.
2. Specialized Techniques: Treatments like advanced root canal therapy, complex extractions, and sedation dentistry involve specific skills and equipment best provided by specialists.

By recognizing these limits, we can ensure our patients receive the best treatment available, whether within our office or through a referral.

How Collaboration with Dental Specialists Enhances Treatment

We’ve found that working alongside specialists enhances the quality of care patients receive by combining the skills of multiple professionals. Here’s how this collaboration works:

1. Oral Surgeons for Surgical Extractions and Implant Placement: While we handle many standard extractions and restorative procedures, complex extractions, wisdom teeth removal, and implant placements are often referred to oral surgeons. In cases where IV sedation is necessary, such as in surgical procedures or for patients with anxiety, oral surgeons provide a controlled, comfortable environment.
2. Orthodontists for Complex Orthodontic Needs: Orthodontic treatments require a precise approach, especially for complex cases. While we handle some straightforward orthodontic needs, we refer more involved cases to orthodontists who have specialized training in alignment and bite correction.
3. Periodontists for Advanced Gum Health and Implant Support: For gum surgeries, grafts, and specific periodontal treatments, we collaborate with a periodontist who has expertise in managing advanced gum health issues. The periodontist also assists with implant cases requiring gum preparation or grafting, ensuring implants are supported by healthy, strong gums.

Our Process: How We Identify the Best Dental Specialist for Your Needs

Every patient has unique needs, and our referral process is about matching those needs with the right dental specialist near you. When a case is outside the range of standard dental care, we first evaluate the patient’s individual circumstances and consult our network of trusted specialists.

1. Assessment and Diagnosis: If we identify a situation that could benefit from a specialist’s input, we explain the benefits of seeing an expert and the advantages they bring.
2. Choosing the Right Specialist: In collaboration with the patient, we determine which specialist aligns best with their specific dental needs. Whether it’s a surgeon for wisdom teeth or a periodontist for gum surgery, each specialist brings a unique skill set that enhances patient outcomes.
3. Coordinated Care: We maintain open communication with the specialist throughout the treatment process, ensuring we’re fully informed of the patient’s progress. Once specialized treatment is complete, the patient returns to our practice for any follow-up care, with a seamless transition from specialist to general dentistry.

The Benefits of a Collaborative Approach to Dental Care

A collaborative approach to dental care brings multiple benefits for patients:

1. Improved Outcomes: Dental specialists offer expertise that allows for better, longer-lasting results, particularly in complex cases.
2. Reduced Risk of Complications: By ensuring the right professional handles each part of the treatment, we minimize the risk of complications that can arise from attempting every procedure in one office.
3. Enhanced Patient Comfort: Patients benefit from knowing they’re in skilled hands. Specialists not only handle complex procedures efficiently but also offer the right environment for procedures that may require sedation or a higher level of technical support.
4. Streamlined Care and Support: Through a coordinated approach, patients experience a smooth journey from diagnosis to treatment completion, with each specialist contributing to a cohesive treatment plan.

The Value of Long-Term Relationships with Dental Specialists Near You

Building relationships with dental specialists is about more than referring cases—it’s about creating a network of trust. Over the years, we’ve built strong partnerships with dental specialists we refer to regularly. For instance:

1. Oral Surgeons in Edmonton: As one of the largest practices in our area, we frequently refer patients to Edmonton’s oral surgeons for complex cases. Because we send a significant number of patients, we have established a close relationship with them, ensuring that our patients are prioritized and treated by professionals we trust.
2. Local Orthodontists: Rather than handling all orthodontic cases ourselves, we collaborate with local orthodontists who bring specific expertise to more complex alignment issues.
3. Experienced Periodontists: Periodontists help manage advanced gum care, and our patients benefit from their specialized knowledge when they need surgeries, implants, or gum treatments.

These partnerships mean we’re able to offer consistent, high-quality referrals, knowing our patients are in excellent hands. Moreover, by referring patients to dental specialists near you with years of experience, we avoid the pitfalls of attempting complex treatments that are outside our primary scope.

Ensuring Safety and Success Through Specialization

One of the most critical reasons for taking a collaborative approach is patient safety. Attempting every type of dental procedure within a general practice can introduce unnecessary risks. Instead, we take a more selective approach:

1. Focusing on Core Services: Within our practice, we focus on the services we’re best equipped to handle, such as crowns, fillings, basic extractions, and general restorative care. This allows us to deliver consistently high-quality results.
2. Selective Treatment Approach: By referring cases that require specialized training, we provide patients with access to advanced care without sacrificing quality. This way, we minimize the likelihood of complications and ensure that our patients receive the highest level of expertise.

Contact Higson Dental in Grande Prairie, AB for All of Your Dental Care Needs

Our commitment to a collaborative approach ensures that each patient receives the most appropriate care for their unique needs. By focusing on what we do best and involving specialists for complex cases, we provide safe, effective treatments that achieve excellent outcomes. This patient-first approach is designed to give you the best possible experience, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up care.