When tooth decay causes a cavity, or small hole, in the tooth, the decay is removed and the hole is filled with either a silver amalgam or composite resin. A composite resin filling will match the same color of the tooth.

When a tooth is weakened from being chipped, broken, cracked or decayed, the tooth is capped with a crown that will protect it and keep the appearance of a natural tooth. Crowns are normally needed for teeth that have had a root canal and are also placed on dental implants to replace missing teeth. Crowns are made of porcelain or gold. Porcelain is preferred for teeth that are visible as they are made to look like natural teeth while gold crowns are often used on back teeth as they will not chip when being used for chewing.

Implants are prescribed to replace a missing tooth or teeth and are a more permanent solution and, when appropriate, are often a better option than bridges, partials or dentures. The dental implant itself is a titanium post that Dr. McAllister surgically places in the jawbone.  This post will become anchored in the surrounding bone over a four to six month healing period. Once this post is solidly anchored in the jaw, it becomes the new, stable “root” of the tooth. An artificial tooth, or crown, is then placed on this new implant and the end result is strong and stable, with the look and feel of a natural tooth.

Implant Dentures are a good solution for loose, ill-fitting dentures because the implants and crowns will provide a stable anchor for the dentures to attach to.

Sometimes a decayed tooth can be fixed with an inlay or onlay which fits onto the tooth and covers one or more surfaces. This restoration is more conservative than a crown as less tooth structure is removed when preparing the tooth and the end result is repair that looks like a natural tooth.

A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth with artificial teeth that are bonded onto healthy surrounding teeth for support. A bridge literally “bridges the gap” of a missing tooth.  A bridge looks like natural teeth and can improve a patient’s chewing, speaking and appearance.

The root of a tooth contains the pulp which carries the tooth’s nerves and blood supply. Sometimes the pulp can become infected and inflamed due to bacteria entering through deep decay or through a fracture or chip in the tooth. When this happens, the tooth becomes painful and is at a risk of being lost. Dr. McAllister will remove the infected pulp and replace it with a rubber sealant, then cover the tooth with a protective cap.  Also referred to as Endodontic treatment, a root canal can save a tooth that would otherwise be lost to infection.

Extracting a tooth may be necessary as a last resort when a tooth can not otherwise be saved or restored.

Dentures: Dentures are designed to look and feel like natural teeth and are used to replace lost teeth. Dentures are not as preferable as having dental implants but will still help to improve one’s appearance, prevent further bone loss in the jaw, prevent the sagging of facial muscles and improve speaking and eating.  If you have ill fitting dentures, Dr. McAllister can use dental implants to support, or anchor, your denture.