Restorative Dentistry in Henderson, NV
Restorative dentistry is about function first. Rebuilding teeth that are broken, worn, decayed or missing so that your mouth works properly again.
Appearance almost always improves too, but that is a byproduct rather than the goal. This page is meant to help you work out which restoration your situation actually calls for, because the options overlap and the differences are not obvious from the outside.
Start with what has happened
“A large old filling keeps giving trouble.”
Large fillings eventually undermine the tooth around them. A crown replaces the filling and wraps the remaining structure. Worth doing before it cracks rather than after.
“My tooth hurts constantly, or throbs at night.”
That usually means the nerve is involved, and it needs root canal therapy followed by a crown. Nerve pain does not resolve on its own.
“I am missing a tooth.”
An implant replaces it without touching the neighboring teeth. A bridge is faster and makes sense when those neighbors already need crowns.
“I am missing several teeth.”
Depending on how many and where, some combination of implants, bridges or a partial denture. This needs an examination rather than a web page, because the arrangement of what remains changes everything.
“My teeth are wearing down.”
That is full mouth reconstruction territory, and the wear almost always has a cause worth treating first. See TMJ and bruxism.
Why the order matters
Restorative work fails when it is built on an unstable foundation.
Gum disease is treated first, because a restoration bonded to inflamed tissue with bone loss underneath does not last. Active infection is dealt with before anything is rebuilt. And where the bite itself has collapsed from years of wear, the bite position has to be established before individual teeth are restored, or each new restoration takes forces it was not designed for.
That sequence is why a proper diagnosis matters more than the individual procedures. Any competent dentist can place a crown. Knowing which tooth to crown, in what order, and what to fix first is the part that determines whether the work holds.
How long does restorative work last?
Depends on the restoration, and considerably more on maintenance.
4 to 8 years
Composite fillings and bonding
15 to 25 years
Crowns
10 to 15 years
Bridges
Decades
Implants, with the crown on top as the replaceable part
Every one of those numbers is shortened by gum disease and by grinding. Both are treatable, which is why we raise them.
Frequently asked questions
Will restorative work be covered by insurance?
More often than cosmetic work, because it is functionally necessary. Our team will verify your benefits and tell you what applies before you commit. We also offer affordable payment options.
How do I know if I need a filling or a crown?
Roughly, how much sound tooth is left. Past about half the biting surface, a filling starts wedging the tooth apart rather than holding it together.
Can everything be done at once?
Sometimes, and often it should be phased. We will give you an order that makes clinical sense and works with your schedule.
Do you make dentures and partials?
Yes. Full dentures, partial dentures and implant-retained options, fitted and adjusted here in Henderson.
I am anxious about longer appointments.
Oral sedation is available. Tell us when you book so we can plan the appointment around it.
Find out what caused it
If something has broken, worn down or gone missing, the useful first step is finding out why. Book an evaluation with Dr. Sevy.
