Click here for our COVID-19 Update

Restorative

To ensure overall oral health, missing or damaged teeth need to be replaced or restored by a licensed dentist. At Pacific Oak Dental, Dr. Thompson will provide a personalized treatment plan that is right for you to get your smile back to its best.

Below are some of the restorative services that our practice offers.

Bonding

Bonding is a procedure in which we apply a tooth-colored composite material to a tooth, shape it, allow it to harden and polish it. It can be used in certain situations where a tooth has been damaged or become stained. These are generally minor repairs, ones that can be resolved through this relatively inexpensive means rather than through a more costly dental procedure.

Here's How it Works

The dentist prepares the tooth surface so that the bonding material will adhere. Once that's been applied, the dentist will shape it so that it has a natural appearance. Then the material is allowed to harden, usually with the help of a light. Finally, the composite is polished and buffed so that the surface is smooth.

This is not a process that is recommended if you are a smoker as smoke causes staining. Also, the material is not as durable as porcelain veneers and crowns so it chips more easily; eventually it may require replacing.

Bonding is a perfectly adequate and more affordable solution to certain dental problems. Dental bonding can take less time to accomplish and may not even require anesthesia. Depending upon the issue, insurance may cover it.

Please don't procrastinate if you have a dental problem but are worried about the time, cost or pain involved. Perhaps dental bonding can offer you a solution. Give us a call so we can discuss options with you.

Crowns

A crown is a covering that will wrap and protect the entire surface of a tooth, allowing it to look and function just like the original tooth. Crowns work to strengthen the tooth while protecting the existing structure, extending the life of the tooth longer that it would be with a filling or another restoration. There are three main types of dental crowns available: all porcelain, gold, and porcelain fused to metal. We'll help you choose the right one for your mouth.

Reasons for Choosing a Dental Crown

Dental crowns can correct a variety of problems that you might be experiencing with your teeth:

•	Fractured or broken teeth
•	Severely decayed teeth
•	Cosmetic imperfections
•	Fractured fillings
•	Tooth protection needed after a root canal

Same Day Crowns

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) is an instrument that we use to restore your teeth. The CEREC allows us to provide you with ceramic fillings that are naturally colored and can be bonded to your teeth quickly. Learn more about CEREC same day crowns.

The Dental Crown Procedure

If you'll be getting a dental crown, you can plan on having two appointments to complete the process. At your first visit, the tooth will be prepared by removing decay, and the surface will be shaped so that it can fit the crown. We will take impressions of your teeth so that your customized crown can be created, and you'll likely wear a temporary restoration while we wait for your crown to be finished.

At your follow-up appointment, we'll take off your temporary crown and carefully place the permanent one in place. We'll also ensure proper bite and spacing.

After your appointment, we'll encourage you to follow-up with us regularly. While proper oral hygiene is essential, you'll also need regular dental care to ensure that your crown is in the best possible shape.

Bridges

Dental bridges are fixed appliances that will work to restore the structure and function of your teeth after tooth loss. These appliances are non-removable, so they will become a permanent part of your smile. There are many different types of bridges, and we can help you hoose the option that is right for your unique dental needs.

A traditional bridge is the most common type of bridge that is used to treat tooth loss, and it is made of metal and porcelain. The bridge contains two porcelain crowns fused to metal that will slip over two anchoring teeth found on either side of the artificial teeth. The bridge then fills the gap that was created due to tooth loss. For this procedure, using CEREC same-day crowns can save you time and money.

Reasons for Choosing a Fixed Bridge

There are numerous reasons that you might choose a fixed bridge to correct your tooth loss:

•	Restore the smile
•	Improve your ability to speak and chew like normal
•	Maintain your normal face shape
•	Fill in the spaces left by missing teeth
•	Prevent the remaining teeth from shifting positions
•	Upgrade from removable dentures

Getting Your Fixed Bridge

The process of getting your bridge will generally require at least two appointments with your dentist. Your teeth will be numbed to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure, and the anchoring teeth will then be prepared by having a thin portion of the enamel removed to make room for a crown. Molds will be made of your teeth to be sent into a dental lab, and the bridge is fabricated at this facility. You may also be able to wear a temporary bridge until your follow-up appointment, which will usually be scheduled about two weeks out.

At your next visit, we'll remove your temporary bridge, and the new bridge will be checked for proper fit. Once it is determined that the appliance is ready, it will be bonded or cemented into place.

Root Canal Therapy

A "root canal," or endodontic therapy, is a procedure available to save a tooth that is infected and would otherwise require extraction. There are many reasons that teeth can become infected, including: cavities, previous large fillings, crowns, cracks, trauma and extreme wear.

Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (nerve and blood supply), bacteria and any decay are removed, and the resulting space is filled with an inert material called gutta percha. After the tooth is healed, getting a crown is recommended, because the tooth will become brittle.

Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients believe that removing a problematic tooth is the best (and most economical) solution. Extracting, or pulling a tooth, could ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth, as well as causing loss of bone around the extraction site.

While root canal therapy has a high degree of success, it is not 100% guaranteed. It is very important to have a permanent restoration (usually a crown) placed within 30 days of the root canal. If a permanent restoration is not placed, the tooth can fracture or further decay to the point where the root canal must be re-done or, worse, the tooth must be removed.

Dentures

When teeth have deteriorated so much that they can no longer be repaired, removal is the only option. Dentures are a "replacement" option for missing teeth. There are two variations of dentures: partial dentures and full dentures. The difference between the two lies in how many natural teeth remain.

A complete denture is a removable prosthesis of white plastic teeth in a pink gum-colored plastic base; the denture rests on the remaining gum ridge once all of the teeth in the arch have been removed.

It is important to note that life with an upper and/or lower denture is a major lifestyle change when compared to natural teeth. Dentures impact the type of food you are able to eat, your self-confidence in social situations and even your self-esteem.

Reasons for a Full Denture

•	All teeth missing in the same arch
•	Restore chewing ability
•	Restore a natural looking smile
•	Economical alternative to other procedures

An upper full denture will almost always feel better than a lower full denture. In order to dramatically improve the fit of a lower full denture, we frequently suggest using dental implants as a retentive mechanism. Implants placed in the lower jaw can help anchor the denture and significantly improve comfort. Sometimes, the implants can even be placed in the jaw after a denture has been in use for several years.

Extractions

A tooth extraction is the procedure done to remove a tooth that is damaged beyond repair from its socket in the jawbone. Extractions are also done to remove wisdom teeth that may be impacted or create future problems.

Many extractions can be performed in our Forest Grove office; however, more complicated procedures may be referred to one of our trusted oral surgeons.

Why are teeth extracted?

•	Severely decayed teeth
•	Periodontal disease leading to bone loss
•	Fractured in such a way that it is impossible or impractical to repair
•	Badly positioned (impacted wisdom teeth)
•	Non-functional or poorly functional teeth that should be replaced with a bridge, denture or dental implant

Extractions are generally classified as either non-surgical (also known as "simple") or surgical (involving cutting through the gums and tooth). A simple procedure can quickly become a surgical procedure if the tooth fractures or refuses to loosen under pressure. We perform these procedures only after making the extraction site(s) profoundly numb.

Tooth Extraction Post-Operative Instructions

Following tooth extraction you may experience bleeding, oozing, soreness or moderate to severe pain.

Bleeding should stop by 8–12 hours following the extraction. If you experience significant bleeding past this time please call our office immediately. Oozing of pink fluid for 1–2 days is normal.

Discomfort following the tooth extraction is best managed with a mild analgesic like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve. If you experience severe pain that lasts more than 2–3 days after your extraction please call our office.

Healing should be as smooth as possible following tooth extraction. It is important to not disturb the extraction site. Remember to eat a soft diet and avoid vigorous rinsing for 24 hours following the extraction.

After 24 hours rinse with strong warm salt water for 1 minute a couple of times daily for 3–4 days. This will reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth and will promote better healing.