Restorative Dentistry in Locust Valley

For more significantly damaged teeth, a crown may be needed to restore the tooth’s function. Crowns are often needed in scenarios of tooth decay or when teeth are weakened due to large cavities. Dental crowns can be metal, porcelain, or ceramic, depending on their location and extent. They are placed over the existing tooth and anchored using dental cement.

This procedure takes two appointments with a follow-up check to ensure the crown is secure and acting normally. In the first appointment with Dr. Koster, she will address any issues related to the tooth, take a scan or impression of the tooth to be replicated by the crown, then gently reduce the size of the tooth. The crown takes a while to be made, so a temporary crown will be placed at the first appointment, which will be replaced with the permanent crown at the second.

Dental implants are a permanent solution for a missing tooth, providing a strong placeholder to keep your jaw and other teeth in alignment and restoring function. Today’s dental implants can perfectly match your natural tooth color for a seamless appearance. Once in place, dental implants look and act like a normal tooth and require no special treatment besides regular brushing, flossing, and dentist cleanings.

The implant process spans four or five appointments, as Dr. Koster evaluates your condition, discusses your goals and options, and performs the procedure. The implant foundation will be inserted under anesthesia at the second appointment and allowed to settle into the jawbone and tissue for several months. Dr. Koster will add the implant to the foundation at the third appointment and may need to make adjustments to the artificial tooth. Finally, at a follow-up, she will review your recovery and appearance and address any issues that have arisen.

For people who have lost multiple teeth that were next to each other, a dental bridge can be placed to restore function, protect the gums and jawbone, and provide a natural-looking smile. Bridges can be anchored using a dental implant technique or by being anchored to natural teeth on either side of the gap if possible.

Dental bridges have a similar procedure timeline to dental implants, whether being implanted into the jaw or anchored to neighboring teeth. This takes several months, providing permanent results at the end.

Sometimes, achieving a healthy smile can require a multi-faceted approach. Full mouth rehabilitation is designed to reconstruct your smile from the ground up when it’s subject to factors like severe injury or decay. Dr. Koster can create a personalized treatment plan using our best restorative dental treatments so you can achieve a complete, healthy smile. And, as always, our team will be here for you at every step.