Restorations (a.k.a. Fillings)
Our team uses the word "restoration" instead of "filling" when we refer to the material used to repair a cavity, chip or fracture. Everyone has teeth that come together like gears so that we can chew our food up to aid in its digestion. The dentist strives to restore each and every angle, bump and groove in the tooth so they work as efficiently as possible for chewing.
Restorations are divided into two different kinds: Direct and Indirect.
Direct Restorations are placed directly into the preparation and are made of Dental Composite or Silver Amalgam. Dental Composite is tooth colored and offers the added advantage of bonding to the tooth surface. If you have a crack in a tooth, it can help to glue the crack closed and add strength. It is placed in layers to match the shade of each layer of the tooth. Each layer is cured with a special curing light to instill immediate toughness and hardness nearly the same as tooth enamel. Silver Amalgam is useful because it is a proven, long lasting material that is cost effective.
Indirect Restorations are created on a model of a prepared tooth by a dental technician specially selected by Dr. Day. The doctor prepares the tooth to specifications for the material chosen, and then takes an impression of the mouth. This impression is poured up with dental stone (a kind of plaster) to create a model of the mouth for the technician to use. The technician can then make the restoration according to the prescription written by the doctor out of dental gold, noble metals, ceramics, reinforced composites or combinations of these materials.
Ceramic Materials
Dental Ceramic Materials is a rapidly evolving field today. Many of the choices available today did not exist even five or ten years ago. Some are designed and milled on computer controlled machines, yet others are painstakingly crafted by the hands of an experienced dental ceramist. These look so real it is hard to tell that they are not a natural tooth!
Metallic Materials
Gold, Platinum, Palladium and Titanium are the major metals used in the construction of some crowns and bridgework because it expands and contracts similar to natural teeth and last for many years due to their excellent biocompatibility
Partial Dentures
If you were unfortunate enough to lose a permanent tooth in your life, or more than one, Dr. Day can discuss with you several options to replace these teeth to help you smile more or chew better. Removable Partial Dentures attach to the abutment teeth with either metal or clear plastic arms and rest on the gum tissue.
Fixed Bridges
Fixed Bridges are carefully planned and prepared by Dr. Day so that once the bridge is cemented in place permanently, it feels very natural to your tongue and looks esthetic. All of the dental labwork is done right here in New York State by experienced dental technicians that have worked with Dr. Day for over 20 years and follow his prescription exactly.
Dental Implant Prosthesis
Many patients opt to have missing teeth replaced with dental implants. Dr. Day has restored these implants with crowns, bridges, partial and complete dentures since 1988 and has attended numerous continuing education courses on the topic as well as providing education for other dentists on restoring dental implants. He works closely with local oral surgeons who perform the actual placement of the dental implants, while Dr. Day is involved in the preparation and placement of the tooth replacements over the dental implants.