Drs. Kiley & Roberts, LLC

We offer complete family practice services including:

Basic and Preventative Care
Bridges & Crowns
Root Canals
Wisdom Teeth
Cosmetic & Whitening (see examples)
Dentures
Restorations (fillings) for Back Teeth
Modern dentistry gives you the choice of several different ways of restoring your back teeth when there has been a cavity or other damage. The following information is provided so that you can understand your choices and make an informed decision.

Gold Inlays

This is an alloy of gold and other metals that is cast and fitted into the prepared cavity.

Advantages

Gold has long been the most enduring restoration used in dentistry. Finely crafted and precisely fitted, the gold inlay will often outlast the tooth.

Disadvantages

Some people do not like the appearance of gold in the mouth. Also, the fees are higher than for other restorations.

Composite (plastic) restorations

Here, the same material that has been used for years in the front teeth is placed into cavities in the back teeth.

Advantages

Composites are tooth colored. They blend in so well that no one can tell that there was a cavity there.

Disadvantages

On the average, these restorations wear out sooner than others. The material is very sensitive to stresses in the mouth. It cannot be placed in very large cavities. It also takes much longer to place, so fees are higher.

Silver Amalagams

These are the most common and familiar restorations. The mixture of silver, mercury and other metals are placed in the prepared cavity.

Advantages

Billions have been placed because no restoration gives so much for so low a fee. In fact, the fee is the lowest of any of the restorations we use. Longevity of the newer forms are excellent. Despite some claims, few things in life have such an outstanding safety record over the almost 200 years they have been around.

Disadvantages

Some people do not like the appearance of the silver. It can also stain the teeth. Amalgams have limited application in large cavities as they do nothing to strengthen the teeth. In fact, they may weaken the tooth.

Lab-Processed, Tooth Colored Restorations

This uses tooth-colored materials that are cemented in the mouth.

Advantages

The appearance of this restoration is the most natural of any. It is also very wear resistant.

Disadvantages

As crafted today, this restorations has been around a very short time. Longevity is a question as some experts expect an average of ten years or less. It is the most difficult and demanding of all restorations and the fees reflect this.

Crowns (see example)

This restoration covers most of the tooth. It may be made of either gold or gold-covered porcelain to look like a natural tooth.

Advantages

This is used on teeth with the largest cavities or large old fillings. It is the strongest of all restorations.

Disadvantages

More tooth structure is removed with this restoration. The fee is also more than some of the more conservative restorations.

Implants
One of the most exciting developments of the 90's in dentistry is the wider use of implants. They have given a tremendous boost to a dentist's ability to restore a crippled mouth to a much better appearance and function. While not a panacea, implants have given thousands of people the capability to bite, chew and smile like they never thought they could.

Here are some common questions and answers to help better inform you about implants:

Q:	What is an implant?
A:	An implant is an artificial root. It is fused in the bone and has a crown on it, restoring the function of the tooth. It can also be part of a clip to snap to a denture in, rather than letting is float in the mouth.
Q:	Have they been around long?
A:	Actually, humans have tried to replace teeth with something in the bone for thousands of years. Only recently have we come up with a truly successful implant.
Q:	Why is the new one successful?
A:	The modern implant is successful because it osseointegrates with the bone. This means that the bone and the implant fuse so strongly that nothing can get between them. There is tremendous resistance to stress and infection.
Q:	How long has it been used?
A:	The osseointegrated implant originated in Sweden about 30 years ago. The record in the United States is about 20 years.
Q:	What is the success rate?
A:	The rate of success is in the high 90%'s for 10 years. Most often the problem is at the start when there is one. The implant fails to osseointegrate. At that point, to placement of a crown or denture has occurred yet.
Q:	Then they are better than natural teeth?
A:	Wrong! Natural, healthy teeth (with healthy roots) are always better. They are much more resistant to breakdown.
Q:	Do I have to take care of implants?
A:	Yes you do. The infection that afflicts the roots of natural teeth (periodontitis) affects implants (perimplantitis) and can cause the loss of the implant like the loss of the teeth. Stress the implant too much or allow bacteria to set up infection and it can be lost. We will show you have to take care of your implants when we place them.
Q:	Do implants cost much?
A:	No modern, state-of-the-art advancement is cheap. Implants are not either. None the less, when you consider what you get they can be well worth it.
Q:	Is there any dental office upkeep needed?
A:	Just like your natural teeth, implants need regular exams and cleanings. Also the components of the implant may need replacement periodically. There is a fee for this service.
Q:	How do I get started?
A:	First, we have to see whether you are a candidate for an implant. While implants are widely used, there are some cases where it is not feasible.
Q:	What is the procedure?
A:	A careful examination is done in a consultation between the surgeon who will place the implant and me, the restorative dentist, who will place the top portion (crown, bridge denture, etc.). The surgeon then places the implant in the bone. After three to six months (depending on where the implant is placed) the surgeon goes back in and exposes the implant. He makes sure that it has successfully osseointegrated. These two procedures are remarkably free of serious discomfort. If everything is all right, he places a healing screw over the implant that sticks out of the gum. At that point, I do the procedures to place the proper restoration. With these, you usually do not even have to be numb.
Q:	Is there any more information that I can have?
A:	Yes, we have pamphlets that show how the implants look and give more detailed information.