Restorative Dentistry

 A dental implant can be used to restore a single tooth or multiple teeth. A dental implant is a surgical grade titanium post that is inserted directly into the jawbone. As the bone bonds to the post, it forms a secure foundation for the attachment of a crown or a bridge that is custom created for you. Some of the biggest advantages of implants are that they are more similar to your natural tooth, adjacent teeth do not have to be involved in the procedure, and implants may help decrease or prevent shrinkage of your jawbone that can occur from tooth loss. 

 An implant restoration refers to porcelain crowns, bridges or even dentures that utilize a dental implant as their supportive structure. Utilizing CEREC® technology, Dr. Matthew Guffey creates lifelike porcelain restorations that look and function just like natural teeth. Unlike removable dentures, you care for your implant restoration in much the same way as your natural teeth. 

Patients that rely on dentures must deal with a unique set of challenges. Sometimes dentures fit poorly, making speaking and chewing a challenge. Dentures must be removed for cleaning, and can require the use of adhesives.

Implant supported dentures are advanced dentistry that provides a natural, permanent smile for patients that require a whole set of teeth. Natural-looking dentures that compliment your appearance are permanently anchored into place using several dental implants - which are titanium posts inserted into the jawbone. Implant supported dentures function just like your natural teeth. You no longer have to avoid certain foods or remove your teeth to clean them. Ask if implants are an option for you!

 Your confidence fades and appearance transforms after tooth loss. With dentures, you can get back to your confident, normal life even after the loss of your teeth. Offering only the most advanced removable dentures to best fit you.  Dr. Guffey will guide you every step of the way. Our team creates custom dentures made for you and helps you select the shade and shape. You walk away with great fitting dentures that look natural and give you back form and function. 

• CROWN: Over time, injury, neglect or simply natural wear can damage your teeth. They may crack, become discolored and cause pain. Porcelain crowns may be exactly what you need to heal your smile.  A porcelain crown from Dr. Matt Guffey is a custom-made tooth, milled out of porcelain, that is placed over your own natural tooth (after a little preparation). Since the crown is made especially for you, it will be indistinguishable from your natural teeth, and will function so naturally that it feels fantastic. Additional benefits of crowns are correcting bite problems, closing spaces between teeth or changing the angulations of teeth. Whether you require one or several crowns, you can rest assured that your smile will look incredible.  Also ask us about single visit porcelain crowns. With our CEREC® porcelain system, we can create your porcelain crown in only one visit!

• BRIDGES: Sometimes a damaged, discolored tooth, or a missing tooth, creates a gap in your smile. Left unaddressed, a missing tooth can cause shifting among the other teeth in your mouth, and future problems can result. Porcelain bridges allow you to have a complete, healthy-looking smile, permanently!  A porcelain bridge "bridges the gap" in your smile by using the teeth on either side of the gap as anchor points for a custom-milled, natural looking prosthetic tooth. After preparing the neighboring teeth, Dr. Guffey will create lifelike crowns for them. The prosthetic tooth goes between the crowns, just like a bridge, and everything is comfortably positioned into place. Your newly completed smile will look as youthful and natural as ever!

• Onlays and Inlays:  Sometimes effective removal of tooth decay requires the removal of a portion of your tooth. The removed portion is replaced with a custom-milled, porcelain onlay. Dr. Guffey create an onlay to fill the space left behind when the part of your tooth is removed. Traditionally, onlays and inlays were made out of metal, much like traditional filings. Now, porcelain-milled onlays are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth and provide relief from chewing pain, cavity pain and tooth degeneration. You can even have your onlay or inlay placed in a single visit with CEREC® technology, now available in our office! 

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 discomfort you may be feeling before the procedure. Dr. Matt Guffey takes advantage of advances in technology and modern techniques that make root canal procedures less painful and 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.  Dr. Guffey gently cleanse and remove 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. You can experience relief from the pain and discomfort you may be feeling because of damage to a tooth, and root canal treatment is more comfortable than ever before!