Crowns, fillings and root canals
Repairing damage so you keep the tooth you already have. Tooth-colored materials, matched to blend rather than announce themselves.
What is restorative dentistry?
Restorative dentistry repairs teeth damaged by decay, cracks or wear so they can stay in the mouth and keep working. At Avenue Dentistry in Morgan Hill that mainly means tooth-colored fillings, crowns and root canal treatment.
The guiding principle is to keep as much natural tooth as possible. A natural tooth with a filling in it outperforms almost any replacement, which is why catching problems early matters so much.
When do I need a filling versus a crown?
A filling repairs a small to moderate area of decay or damage, with the surrounding tooth still strong enough to support it. A crown covers the whole tooth and is used when too much structure is gone for a filling to hold up.
| Filling | Crown | |
|---|---|---|
| Used when | A limited area of decay or damage | Extensive decay, a crack, or a heavily worn tooth |
| How much tooth it covers | Only the damaged part | The whole visible tooth |
| Typical visits | One | Usually two |
| Also used | Small cosmetic repairs at the front | After a root canal, to protect the tooth |
Are fillings tooth-colored?
Yes. We use composite fillings, which are shaded to match your own tooth and bonded into place. They do not show as dark patches when you laugh, which is the main complaint people have about older silver amalgam fillings.
Composite also bonds to the tooth, so less healthy structure has to be removed to hold the filling in place than with older materials. Look at the two filling cases below. Both were treated here, and neither reads as dental work in the after photograph.
What is a root canal, and does it hurt?
A root canal treats infection inside a tooth by removing the damaged nerve tissue from the canals, cleaning them, and sealing them. It is done under local anesthetic, and for most people the procedure itself feels similar to having a filling.
Root canals have a reputation built on how people felt before treatment rather than during it. The severe toothache that sends someone to the dentist is the infection. Treating it is what makes the pain stop.
The alternative to a root canal is usually losing the tooth. Given the choice between keeping a natural tooth and replacing it with an implant or a bridge, keeping it is almost always the better outcome.
Signs a tooth needs attention now
- Pain that lingers after hot or cold rather than fading in seconds
- Pain when biting down on one particular tooth
- A tooth that has darkened compared with its neighbors
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum near one tooth
- A crack, chip, or a filling that has come out
Any of these are worth a phone call. Call 408-779-2129 and describe what is happening, and we can tell you how urgently you need to be seen. If it is severe, see our emergency dentistry page.
Restorative work done in this office
Treated at Avenue Dentistry and photographed here. Results vary from person to person.
Crowns, fillings and root canal questions
How long does a filling take?
Usually one appointment. The area is numbed, the decay is removed, and the tooth is rebuilt with composite and shaped to your bite. You can eat normally once the numbness wears off.
Why do crowns take two visits?
The tooth is prepared and an impression or scan taken at the first visit, then the crown is made to fit. You wear a temporary crown in between. The second visit is fitting, adjusting and cementing the permanent one.
Can I replace my old silver fillings?
Often, yes. Sound amalgam fillings do not always need replacing, but where one is failing, cracked, or you simply want a tooth-colored result, we can talk through replacing it. We will tell you honestly whether it needs doing or whether it is a preference.
Does a root canal mean I will lose the tooth eventually?
No. A root-treated tooth that is properly restored, usually with a crown to protect it, can last for many years. The point of the treatment is keeping the tooth rather than delaying its loss.
My filling fell out. Is that urgent?
Call 408-779-2129 and tell us. It is not usually an emergency unless there is pain, but the exposed tooth is vulnerable and can decay quickly, so it should not wait weeks. Avoid chewing on that side until you are seen.
Get it looked at while it is small
Most restorative work is simpler, cheaper and quicker the earlier it happens.