Restorative Dentistry

Repairing teeth that are damaged, decayed or missing, so they work properly again rather than just looking mended.
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Function First

Restorative work is about getting a tooth back to doing its job. A tooth that cannot be chewed on comfortably changes how you eat, and the teeth compensating for it wear unevenly as a result. The guiding principle is to remove as little healthy tooth as possible and to choose the smallest repair that will actually last, because every restoration has a lifespan and each replacement takes a little more of the original tooth. A filling that holds for fifteen years is a better outcome than a crown placed too early.
A daylit dental treatment room at Refresh Dental in West Edmonton

Common Repairs

Fillings

The first line of repair once decay has been removed. Tooth-coloured material is bonded into the cleaned cavity and shaped to your bite. Suitable while enough sound tooth remains around the damage to support it.

Crowns

Where too much tooth has been lost for a filling to hold, a crown covers the whole tooth and takes the chewing load. Commonly needed after a large fracture, a very large old filling, or root canal treatment.

Bridges

One way to replace a missing tooth, using the teeth on either side of the gap as support. It is fixed rather than removable, though it does mean preparing the neighbouring teeth, which we will explain before you decide.

Replacing Failing Old Work

Fillings and crowns do not last forever. Decay creeping in at the margin of an old restoration is common and often invisible without an X-ray, which is one of the main things we are looking for at a routine check-up.

Choosing Between Options

There is usually more than one reasonable answer, and the differences are worth understanding before you decide. A missing tooth can be left alone, bridged, or replaced with a partial denture, and each has different consequences for the teeth around it, different costs, and a different lifespan. A cracked tooth might be restorable now with a crown, or might be at the point where treating it is spending money on something unlikely to last. Our job is to lay out the realistic options, say which we would recommend and why, and be straightforward about the ones we would not. You should leave the appointment knowing what happens if you do nothing, because that is a legitimate option too and it deserves an honest description rather than a scare.

Restorative Questions, Answered

Materials, lifespan, timelines and coverage.

How long do fillings and crowns last?

Years, but not forever, and the range is wide. It depends on the size of the repair, where it sits in the mouth, how heavily you chew or grind, and how well the area is kept clean. We check existing work at every routine visit specifically to catch a failing restoration before it becomes a bigger problem.

Do I have to have silver fillings?

We place tooth-coloured fillings. They bond to the tooth, which allows a more conservative preparation than older materials required, and they are far less visible. Where a tooth-coloured filling is not the right choice for a particular tooth, we will tell you why and set out the alternatives.

How many visits does a crown take?

Typically more than one, because the crown has to be made to fit your prepared tooth. We will give you the timeline at the start, including what you will be wearing in between and what you can eat while you wear it.

Is restorative work covered?

Fillings and crowns are commonly covered at least in part, though plans differ on percentages and annual maximums. Our fees follow the Alberta Dental Fee Guide, we offer direct billing, and if you are covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan we bill Sun Life directly. Crowns and bridges often need pre-approval, which we submit before starting.

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Visit Us in West Edmonton

1018 Webber Greens Drive
Edmonton, AB T5T 4K5

780-705-5557
info@refreshdental.ca

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Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday9:00 AM – 2:00 PM*
SundayClosed

*Open two Saturdays a month — please call to confirm.

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