Restorative Services

A comprehensive range of restorative options are available:

  • fillings
  • inlays and onlays
  • crowns
  • bridges
  • veneers
  • dentures

We will assess your restorative requirements and discuss ideal and alternative options to suit your individual needs.

Forestville Dental uses the best laboratories in Sydney to deliver the highest quality dental work. We work in close communication with our technicians who are up-to-date with the latest technologies and use only materials approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Fillings

A direct restoration, commonly referred to as a filling, is a plug of material which replaces lost tooth structure. Fillings may be either tooth-coloured (composite resin) or silver (amalgam).  They are usually placed when there is sufficient tooth structure to maintain the majority of natural tooth. Such cases may include small to moderate decay or a minor tooth fracture. A filling is usually placed in one visit.

Crowns

A crown (or “cap”) covers the entire tooth surface.  A crown is the ideal option when rebuilding a broken or decayed tooth, where the tooth structure is weakened. The crown adds structural support and and has the appearance of a natural tooth. Crowns are also recommended after root canal therapy.

Crowns are made from a variety of materials. They include porcelain crowns, porcelain-bonded-to-metal crowns, which combine the appearance of tooth coloured material with the strength of metal, gold alloy crowns and temporary acrylic crowns. The selection of a type of crown is based on function, aesthetics and strength.

Two visits are normally required. The first stage is to reduce the size of the existing tooth, make a mould and fit a temporary crown. The crown is made in a dental laboratory by our highly skilled dental technicians. In the second visit, the crown is fitted and cemented in place.

Bridges

A bridge is an option to replace a missing tooth. Other options include an implant or denture.
The bridge relies on the neighbouring teeth for support. It consists of a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is fused between two crowns attached to the teeth on either side of the space. Fixed bridges are typically made from porcelain with a metal sub-structure and they require at least two appointments.
The procedure for having a fixed bridge made is essentially the same as having a crown made except that a fixed bridge usually involves two supporting teeth.  The first appointment is used to prepare, take moulds, and temporize the teeth.  At the second appointment the bridge is bonded in place.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin covering which is made to cover the front surface of the tooth (much like a false fingernail bonded to a nail). Veneers are usually placed on upper front teeth that are discoloured, poorly shaped or slightly crooked.

Porcelain veneers are thin shells made of a strong, durable material which can create a natural smile. A small amount of tooth is removed from the front surface of the tooth to make sufficient space for the veneer. Moulds are taken and sent to the laboratory. Here the tooth shade is matched before the veneers are fabricated. A second visit is required to bond the veneers in place.