Restorative Dentistry in Christchurch: Revitalizing Smiles with Expert Care

Dental cavities remain one of the most common oral health issues worldwide. At our Christchurch clinic, we exclusively use composite resin for tooth-colored fillings that blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.

Unlike traditional amalgam fillings, our composite dental fillings offer numerous advantages:

• Natural appearance that matches your tooth color
• Preservation of more healthy tooth structure
• Direct bonding to strengthen the remaining tooth
• Mercury-free composition for your peace of mind
• Reduced sensitivity to temperature changes
• Excellent durability with proper care

The procedure for placing tooth-colored fillings is straightforward and comfortable. We remove the decayed portion of the tooth, clean the area thoroughly, and apply the composite material in layers. Each layer is hardened with a special light before the filling is shaped and polished to match your natural bite.

When a tooth is severely damaged, weakened, or cosmetically compromised, a dental crown provides the ideal restorative solution. Our dental crowns are custom-crafted to fit perfectly over your prepared tooth, restoring its strength, function, and appearance.

Dental crowns may be recommended for:

• Teeth with large fillings and minimal remaining structure
• Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment
• Severely worn or fractured teeth
• Misshapen or severely discolored teeth
• Securing a dental bridge
• Topping a dental implant to replace a missing tooth

We offer various crown materials to suit different needs and preferences, including porcelain, ceramic, zirconia, and porcelain-fused-to-metal options. Our Christchurch restorative dentists will help you choose the most appropriate material based on the tooth’s location, your aesthetic goals, and functional requirements.

Missing teeth create gaps that affect both your smile’s appearance and your ability to chew properly. Our dental bridges provide a fixed solution to replace one or more adjacent missing teeth, literally “bridging” the gap in your smile.

A typical dental bridge consists of:

• Crown(s) on the natural teeth adjacent to the gap (abutment teeth)
• Pontic(s) – artificial tooth/teeth that replace the missing one(s)
• Strong connectors that join these components into a single unit

Our dental bridges are meticulously crafted to match your natural teeth in color, shape, and size. They restore your smile’s completeness while preventing the remaining teeth from shifting position – a common consequence of tooth loss that can lead to bite problems and further dental complications.

When tooth decay or damage reaches the inner pulp chamber containing nerves and blood vessels, infection and severe pain often result. Root canal therapy allows us to save teeth that would otherwise require extraction.

During root canal treatment, our dental specialists:

• Create a small access opening in the tooth
• Remove the infected or inflamed pulp tissue
• Clean and shape the root canals
• Disinfect the interior spaces
• Fill and seal the canals with biocompatible material
• Place a crown or other restoration to protect the tooth

Modern root canal procedures are far more comfortable than their reputation suggests. With effective anesthesia and gentle techniques, most patients report that the experience is similar to having a routine filling placed. More importantly, root canal treatment alleviates pain rather than causing it, providing immediate relief from the intense discomfort of dental infections.

For the most natural-looking and functioning tooth replacement option, dental implants represent the gold standard in restorative dentistry. These remarkable restorations replace both the visible crown and the root of missing teeth, providing unmatched stability and longevity.

The dental implant process typically involves:

• Surgical placement of a titanium implant post into the jawbone
• A healing period of 3-6 months during which the implant integrates with the bone
• Attachment of an abutment to the implant
• Placement of a custom-crafted crown, bridge, or denture

Our dental implants offer numerous advantages over other tooth replacement options:

• Prevention of bone loss in the jaw
• No impact on adjacent healthy teeth
• Exceptional stability and chewing function
• Natural appearance and feel
• Potential to last a lifetime with proper care
• Versatility in replacing single teeth or supporting bridges and dentures

We provide comprehensive implant services, from initial consultation through surgical placement and final restoration. We use advanced imaging technology to plan implant placement with precision, ensuring optimal outcomes for our patients.

For patients missing multiple teeth or requiring full-arch replacement, we offer high-quality dentures. Our modern denture solutions combine aesthetic appeal with practical functionality to restore your smile and confidence.

We provide several denture options to meet diverse needs:

• Full dentures: Replace all teeth in an arch when no natural teeth remain
• Partial dentures: Replace multiple missing teeth while working with remaining natural teeth
• Immediate dentures: Placed immediately after extractions so you’re never without teeth
• Implant-retained dentures: Secured to dental implants for superior stability and comfort

Each set of dentures from our Christchurch practice is custom-designed to complement your facial features and provide optimal function. We carefully select tooth shapes, sizes, and shades that look natural and enhance your appearance, while ensuring proper support for facial muscles to maintain a youthful look.

For minor cosmetic and structural repairs, composite bonding offers an affordable and minimally invasive solution. This versatile restorative technique can address:

• Chipped or cracked teeth
• Small gaps between teeth
• Minor misalignment
• Tooth discoloration
• Exposed tooth roots due to gum recession

During the bonding procedure, our dental team applies tooth-colored composite resin directly to the affected tooth, shapes it to achieve the desired form, hardens it with a special light, and polishes it to match your natural teeth. The entire process typically requires just one visit and preserves maximum natural tooth structure.