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Restorative Dentistry

Repair Your Broken Smile with Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry options from Dr. Sadeghi at First Dental Associates will make your smile beautiful and healthy once more. Our dental procedures, like dental implants and tooth-colored dental fillings, will:

  • Restore the function of your teeth so you can properly chew any foods
  • Improve the look of your smile and in some cases the shape of your face
  • Enhance your oral and overall health

Call 781-423-8138 to book your visit with our Reading, MA dentist today and start restoring your smile.

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Restorative Dentistry Solutions For Every Smile

Based on your smile’s condition, Dr. Sadeghi will determine the perfect treatment to return your smile to normal. We offer the following restorative dental services:

Dental Implants

Dental implants are an effective way to restore form and function to your teeth. They act as tooth roots to anchor replacement teeth to your jaw. Dental implants can be used to support individual crowns, bridges, partial dentures, or even a full set of dentures.

Q: When can dental implants be placed?

A: How long after an extraction you will have to wait for an implant to be placed depends on your situation. Often, they can be positioned immediately, but in some cases it might be 4-6 months after extraction before an implant can be placed.

After several months, the support bone may grow thinner and shrink because of the lack of a natural tooth to stimulate the bone itself. If you have been missing teeth for longer than one year, you may be advised to have additional bone grafted to your jaw because one-third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following the loss of your tooth.

Q: What can I expect during a dental implant procedure?

A: Each patient will be unique in their needs and treatment plan. The usual time for an implant procedure is 30 minutes for a single tooth. If you are missing more than one, the procedure may take longer, and multiple appointments may be necessary for some patients.

For a single implant, Dr. Sadeghi will use a local anesthetic and perform the procedure in his office. Multiple implants may require administration of a general anesthetic, which requires an outpatient surgery center.

With proper use of the latest anesthetics and medications, you won’t experience any pain.

Under strict sterile conditions, Dr. Sadeghi will make a small incision in the gum at the site of each implant. He will then insert the implant into the bone of your jaw. As the bone bonds to the implant, it forms a secure foundation onto which your new teeth are then attached and shaped to match your mouth. It takes several months for the bone to heal and fuse to the implant. Once healing is complete, you will return to the office to have the permanent prosthesis tooth or teeth attached.

Q: How do I care for myself after receiving implants?

A: Each procedure is different, and Dr. Sadeghi will give you specific instructions about aftercare, but here are some general guidelines to follow:

  • Don’t brush your brush or floss for the first few days following your dental implant procedure. Use a special mouthwash or salt water rinse instead.
  • Resume your normal brushing and flossing routine after 2-3 days.
  • If you had a ridge modification, crown lengthening or sinus lift, you may also need antibiotics and/or an antibacterial mouthwash.
  • If your procedure required stitches and they aren’t absorbable, you’ll need to come back in after 7-10 days to have them removed.

Depending on the procedure and your level of discomfort, you may need to temporarily change your diet, and you may require pain medications. Ice packs can also help with swelling and discomfort.

Q: How do I know if I am a candidate for a dental implant(s)?

A: If you are missing one or more teeth, you may be a candidate for a dental implant(s) if you are missing one or more teeth. However, some precautions are necessary for certain medical conditions, as well as for growing children.

Q: What are the advantages of having a dental implant(s)?

A: Implants are made of composite titanium metal that bonds to the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. You won’t have to worry about your implant-supported restoration slipping or making embarrassing noises. Implants also don’t decay like the teeth that anchor fixed bridges so bone loss is generally not a problem.

Dental Veneers

Imagine a whiter, more brilliant smile! Porcelain veneers are conservative cosmetic dentistry that makes a dramatic difference in the appearance of your teeth. If you have chipped teeth, crooked teeth, spaces between your teeth or dull or stained teeth, veneers may be the perfect solution for you. After minimal tooth preparation, Dr. Sadeghi will skillfully bond and shape thin films of porcelain to your teeth, creating a straight, brilliant smile that enhances your appearance and your self-esteem. You are only a couple of appointments away from having the smile you have always wanted!

Porcelain Crowns And Fixed Bridges

When the damage to your tooth is too severe for porcelain veneers, a dental crown may be in order. Our dental crowns are made from porcelain and cover the entire tooth.

A fixed dental bridge uses dental crowns affixed to healthy teeth to support one or more crowns that replace missing teeth.

Q: What is the difference between implants and bridges?

A: Although a bridge can restore chewing function and achieve an acceptable esthetic outcome, the bone under the replacement tooth won’t be stimulated by chewing and is often reabsorbed into the body, creating a gap between the gums and the bridge. A dental implant does not require grinding of the adjacent teeth, and it stimulates the underlying bone, enhancing long-term esthetics.

Root Canal Therapy

Damage to the nerve tissue inside of a tooth sometimes requires a root canal procedure. Despite the tales you may have heard regarding the procedure, most root canals are minimally uncomfortable, especially compared to the pain and discomfort you may be feeling before the procedure. Dr. Sadeghi takes advantage of advances in technology and dental techniques that make root canal procedures more effective while taking less time.

A root canal involves removing the soft tissue within the tooth – the pulp – when it has become infected and inflamed. Your dentist gently files the infected tissue out of the root canals of the tooth (this is where the procedure gets its name) and fills the void with an inert material. The procedure is completed with the placement of a filling or in some cases, a crown.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

If you are embarrassed about your smile because of decayed, disfigured or discolored teeth, you may be a good candidate for composite resins. A composite resin is a silicon dioxide-filled tooth-colored material mixture that can restore teeth to an attractive, healthy state. Composite resins present several advantages to the patient compared with traditional silver fillings. First, your dentist is able to blend composite shades and shapes so as to match the original teeth nearly perfectly. Second, the tooth-composite bond actually serves to support the remaining tooth structure, preventing breakage and providing insulation against temperature changes. Finally, small- to average-sized composites have demonstrated similar duration to silver fillings.

Resin placement is simple. Depending on the size of the filling and location of the composite, it may require as little as 10 or 20 minutes longer than what is needed for a traditional silver filling. Although some patients notice a bit of post-placement sensitivity, this is temporary. The only caution we usually mention is that coffee, tea and other staining types of foods and beverages may discolor your composites unless you ask to have them coated with a clear plastic sealant.

Dentures

When tooth decay or injury leaves you with missing teeth, dentures are a time-tested and reliable form of teeth replacement. Whether you need to replace a few teeth with partial dentures or you need all new teeth, Dr. Sadeghi can help with traditional removable dentures or implant-supported dentures for a more stable fit.

Q: Which is better, implants or dentures?

A: Although much of this depends on your individual needs, one thing to consider is that dental implants provide a level of stability and security not available from dentures alone. But you do not have to use implants to replace one tooth at a time. A few implants can be used to anchor and stabilize a set of dentures, either partial or full. Consult with the experts at First Dental Associates to find out which option is best for you.

Call 781-423-8138 today or use our online form to schedule an appointment. Whatever your dental needs are, we will help you find the restorative dentistry options to protect your oral health and your smile!