When you think of dental restoration, the first thing you probably think of is fillings. After all, 96% of people in the U.S. have had at least 1 cavity! We hope that’s the worst that happens with your smile. But if more serious conditions occur, we’re prepared to treat cavities and cracks, or remove and replace decayed or damaged teeth. Some of the outstanding restorations Dr. Dudley can perform right here at Lompoc Family Dental are:
- Tooth-colored fillings
- Porcelain inlays/onlays
- Crowns and bridges
- Dentures and partials
- Root canal
- Tooth extraction
- Root canal (endodontics)
With tooth-colored fillings, you can forget you had a cavity. The resin Dr. Dudley uses is matched to be the same color as your own teeth. Its consistency lets it completely fill in all the gaps and crevices in the tooth after the decay has been cleared out. They’re safer and last longer than metal.
Restorative Dentistry at your Convenience
This is the hallmark of everything we do at Lompoc Family Dental. We employ gentle dentistry and the newest technology to give our patients the best treatments with the least discomfort and anxiety we can. We don’t want you to fear coming to the dentist!
Most of our restorations can be completed in a day, even when it’s an emergency. If you call us as soon as possible, we have the best chance of getting you in here and working on your problem that very day. It can spare you future visits to see us, too! We love to see our patients, but we really want them to see less of us!
Fillings
Dr. Dudley uses all the technology and training available to repair decayed or damaged teeth, with as little discomfort to you possible. One big improvement to filling cavities is to use color-matched composite resins to repair decayed teeth. These are often called white fillings, one of the easiest, yet most dramatic methods to improve the health and appearance of your teeth.
White fillings don’t use metal, so they’re healthier for you. Metal fillings can contain harmful mercury and can expand and contract over time, letting decay seep in underneath. White fillings fill in space in the tooth and last much longer than metal. In addition to being stronger and healthier, white fillings are tinted to match your own teeth. The filling blends in with your tooth and is imperceptible like you never had a cavity!
Porcelain Inlays/Onlays
Dr. Dudley may use a porcelain inlay or an onlay when decay is more extensive than a composite filling can cover. Inlays are used when the decay is within the indented top surface (cusp) of a tooth, and an onlay is used when the cavity extends beyond one or more cusps.
With the latest technology, Dr. Dudley can create an inlay/onlay in just one visit.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns are one of the most common methods to replace a missing tooth. You may have also heard crowns called “caps.” A crown is an artificial tooth that fits over your own tooth. They’re used after root canals, or when a tooth is so decayed it needs extra support. A crown will protect and preserve your own natural tooth, which is always our first priority.
Your crown is made from porcelain or porcelain fused to metal (PFM). After Dr. Dudley makes impressions of your mouth, a dental lab will make the crown and Dr. Dudley will place it for you when it is ready.
Bridges consist of an artificial tooth and crowns, which are “caps” that go over the teeth on both sides of the bridge. Dr. Dudley may suggest an implant-retained crown, where the artificial tooth is attached to a dental implant.
Partial Dentures
Dentures and partials replace missing teeth and can be taken in and out of your mouth. They give you the ability to chew your food and maintain your natural appearance. Wearing a denture to replace missing teeth provides support for the lips and cheeks and prevents the sagging that can result from lost teeth.
Partial dentures are an alternative for our patients who are missing one or more teeth. A partial is a dental prosthetic that includes an artificial tooth or teeth that can be removed from the mouth. Artificial teeth are placed on a molded base to which clasps are added that fit over the adjacent teeth.
You may also opt for a dental implant on which the partial can be placed. An implant creates a secure base for the partial and can allow you to clean your teeth, including the partial, just as you normally do.
Dentures
Patients who have lost all of their teeth have several options at Lompoc Family Dental. A common choice is dentures, appliances with full sets of top or bottom teeth that are set into a plastic form and then temporarily attached to your gums with a fixative paste. You take them out to clean them.
Dentures that are carefully and securely fit will result in a natural look and feel.
Another popular option that we offer our patients is implant-retained dentures. An implant-retained denture is similar to regular dental implants. Instead of a crown that is attached to the implant, there are special snaps attached to the denture and the implant.
Oral Surgery
In many cases, Dr. Dudley can extract wisdom teeth in our office. If your teeth are impacted, he will likely coordinate your care with an oral surgeon.
After tooth extraction, the recovery period is especially important. We want you to heal and begin to chew and talk normally as quickly as possible. We may graft bone material in your jaw to replace bone removed during the surgery. This procedure is done in our office. The graft is made from processed bone material or donated human bone tissue.
Dr. Dudley also uses advanced techniques after tooth removal to help with healing. He places small membranes that speed healing in the tissues surrounding the tooth area. To help the bone repair at its own pace, Dr. Dudley uses a natural membrane made from your own cells to accelerate healing.
Emergency Care
Accidents can happen to anyone. A toothache can attack at any time and you know it needs immediate attention. At Lompoc Family Dental, we are especially committed to taking care of people with emergency dental situations.
If your tooth has been knocked out, try to put it back into the socket and get to emergency care as soon as possible. Saving your natural tooth is every dentist’s first priority. We will get you in to see Dr. Dudley to save the tooth or do whatever is necessary to treat you. If you can’t put the tooth back into its socket, store the tooth in a container of milk or in your cheek until you arrive at the dentist office.
Technology
Dr. Dudley is committed to the comfort of his patients, and modern technology is a big part in keeping patients in as little pain and anxiety as possible from their first visit on. The iTero scanner takes 3D images of your teeth and gums that are incredibly detailed. Dr. Dudley utilizes these images to plan your treatments with great accuracy and precision.
Same-Day Crowns
At Lompoc Family Dental, we now provide our patients with the ability to have crown work completed in-office in one day! Our goal is to eliminate the hassle of coordinating multiple office visits. Using our iTero 3D scanner, Dr. Dudley and his team are able to complete the “impression” process for your teeth using this advanced technology. Without this 3D scanner, the process would take several weeks for the crown to return from the lab. But we are able to complete it during your visit. The crown is then placed, and you are able to go about your day!
For more information regarding this amazing procedure, we have provided this brochure for you to download prior to your visit:
Glidewell In-office Solution for Same-Day Crowns
