Restorative Dentistry

The Hills Family Dentistry in San Marcos prioritizes the health of your mouth. When your teeth suffer from decay or fracture, it affects your overall well-being. Cavities cause pain and infections that hinder basic functions, potentially leading to tooth loss. This can impact your ability to eat, speak, and your appearance. To address these issues, we offer restorative dentistry services. This field involves restoring the health of your mouth and giving you back your beautiful smile.

Mimicking Nature for Stronger, Healthier Smiles

At The Hills Family Dentistry in San Marcos, we embrace the philosophy of Biomimetic Dentistry, also known as “conservation dentistry.” This innovative approach prioritizes preserving natural tooth structure while restoring function and aesthetics, drawing inspiration from nature.

Key Principles of Biomimetic Dentistry:

Minimal intervention: We prioritize smaller restorations and repairs, avoiding extensive drilling or tooth removal.
Biocompatible materials: Our restorations are chosen to match the strength, elasticity, and bonding properties of natural teeth, ensuring long-term success and minimizing future problems.
Preserving tooth vitality: We employ techniques to maintain blood flow to the inner pulp of the tooth, keeping it alive and thriving.
Strength and aesthetics: Our restorations combine strength and beauty, replicating the natural appearance of teeth.

Benefits of Biomimetic Dentistry:

Stronger, longer-lasting restorations: By preserving natural tooth structure and using biocompatible materials, Biomimetic restorations are known for their strength and durability.
Reduced chance for future procedures: Our focus on prevention and minimal intervention helps minimize the need for future invasive treatments.
Improved oral health: By preserving tooth vitality and minimizing trauma to teeth and surrounding tissues, we contribute to better overall oral health.
More natural-looking results: Biomimetic techniques allow us to create restorations that blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing smile.

Experience the superior approach of Biomimetic Dentistry at The Hills Family Dentistry in San Marcos. Our commitment to preserving your natural smile while enhancing its health and aesthetics sets us apart. Discover the long-term benefits, including stronger restorations, reduced need for future procedures, improved oral health, and natural-looking results. Your smile's health and longevity are our top priorities.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

When you eat or drink, sugars and acids are left in your mouth, feeding oral bacteria. As bacteria multiply, they produce acids that erode tooth enamel, causing cavities. If untreated, cavities can reach the dentin and lead to significant health issues. Composite fillings, made of resin and fine glass silica, match your natural tooth color and are strong enough to withstand normal biting and chewing forces. These fillings seal the tooth after decay removal, preventing further damage.

Even after getting a filling, continued oral hygiene is crucial to prevent bacteria from contaminating the tooth again. Proper brushing and flossing are recommended. A biomimetic filling is usually placed with a rubber dam that isolates the tooth from saliva or blood, ensuring a well-adapted and bonded filling with no moisture contamination.

Dental Crown

Damage to your teeth can compromise their structure and strength, making them vulnerable to breaking. While extraction is one option, it leaves you needing a replacement tooth. If the tooth is still firmly rooted, a dental crown can be used. Crowns are caps that cover the affected area, protecting the weakened tooth from further damage and bacteria, allowing it to function for years. Crowns are also used after root canal procedures to ensure the tooth's strength and durability, particularly for back teeth.

Dental Bridge

Dental bridges, sometimes called fixed partial dentures, act as a bridge across gaps left by missing teeth. They are permanently cemented or bonded with an artificial tooth in the middle, supported by neighboring teeth. Dr. Martin or Dr. Thomas will prepare the adjacent teeth to support the bridge. Dental bridges are made from strong materials like zirconia, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or gold to ensure durability and functionality.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction involves removing a tooth damaged beyond repair from its socket in the jawbone. Extractions are also done for impacted wisdom teeth or teeth that could cause future problems. Many extractions can be performed in our San Marcos office, but more complicated cases may be referred to a trusted specialist (oral surgeon or periodontist).

Dentures

Significant decay or gum disease can lead to tooth loss, affecting your ability to eat and speak. Dentures, or removable prosthetic teeth, can replace missing teeth. Partial dentures replace a group of missing teeth, while full dentures replace an entire set. Custom-fit to your mouth, dentures ensure a proper and comfortable fit.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures replace multiple missing teeth and are removable. The base is usually a molded plate of pink acrylic to mimic gums, with replacement teeth attached. Our doctors will discuss the process of removable partial dentures and how they attach to surrounding teeth. Partial dentures are easier to clean and adjust, though they may take time to get used to.

Choosing between Dentures and Bridges

When choosing between partial dentures and bridges, consider how each solves the problem of missing teeth. Both fill gaps and prevent teeth from shifting. Bridges are fixed and best for smaller gaps, while partial dentures are removable and easier to adjust. Consult our dentists to evaluate your oral health and determine the best treatment option for you.

Root Canal

A root canal can save a tooth from extraction, especially if the infection has reached the nerve. Root canals are also necessary for teeth with trauma or extensive decay. After removing the infection, the canals are filled with gutta-percha, and the tooth is usually capped with a crown for protection. Root canals in our office are referred to endodontists (root canal specialists) in our area that we trust. Endodontists have advanced equipment and instruments, as well as sedation options available, that will put all your root canal fears at ease.