A guide to rebuilding healthy, appealing smiles with advanced and complete prosthodontic care

Today’s dentists, like our own Drs. Farnam and Melanie Farzam of Orion Dental Specialties can design and place reconstructed tooth structures or all of a tooth. So, the artificial or prosthetic tooth structures or whole tooth looks, feels, and functions indistinguishably from natural and healthy teeth. “Prosthodontics” refers to the branch of dentistry that is focused on replacing tooth structure (“Prostho” and “dont” are derived from the Greek words for “replace” and “tooth”).

In addition to rebuilding damaged teeth and replacing them as needed, our team in Cypress, Texas, can also restore other tissues of the mouth, face, and jaws back to health, a natural and appealing appearance, and durable function. We have highlighted some of our capabilities here:

  • Fillings represent one of the most conservative ways to rebuild damaged teeth. They may be appropriate for smaller cavities or areas of decay. Materials like tooth-colored composite resin are used to “fill in” the lost tooth structure. The tooth is strengthened, and the filling blends seamlessly with the rest of the tooth.
  • While dental veneers are most often associated with cosmetic dentistry to cover up imperfections in the smile, these thin layers of composite or ceramic may be applied to strengthen weak teeth. We can build enamel that has sustained early-stage erosion. Additionally, by using veneers, we can cover up exposed root surfaces at the gumline to prevent further damage.
  • Dental crowns may be appropriate for larger cavities and more extensive decay. We also use crowns shaped from materials like porcelain and zirconia to replace old or worn fillings and restore teeth that may require additional support and structure. Crowns also follow root canal therapy and can even be used in tooth replacement (to restore a dental implant or artificial tooth root in the jaw).
  • Bridges are a permanent form of tooth replacement. They may be recommended to replace one tooth or a few teeth. The traditional bridge is held in place by neighboring teeth. These neighbors are crowned. So, they can function as anchors to hold the prosthetic teeth in place.
  • Bridges can also be supported by dental implants. The implant is placed and secured in the jawbone. Once connected to either crowns, bridges, or dentures, implants function as tooth roots to stabilize the prosthetic teeth in the jawbone. They are the only form of tooth replacement designed to mimic the roots and structure of natural teeth. They also help to keep the bone in the jaw strong because of the continued stimulation that the hard tissue gets from the implants and their attached prosthetic teeth.
  • Orion Dental Specialties also has the onsite capabilities to address complications and resolve conditions ranging from occlusal (misalignment) disease and TMJ symptoms to periodontal (gum) disease. After all, your mouth is more than the teeth! They depend on neighboring structures, and the balance between and among these many interconnected “parts” is important.

Restorative treatments can be avoided with consistent care at our office in Cypress, TX. Do not wait for alarming changes to arise to schedule your check-up. Call our team today at (832) 906-8313.