Restorative Dentistry in Aurora

What it is

Teeth get damaged in different ways. Decay makes a hole. A large old filling cracks. A tooth breaks on a popcorn kernel. Or a tooth is lost. Restorative dentistry is the group of treatments that fix these problems so you can chew, speak and smile comfortably again.

Most repairs start small. A filling replaces the part of the tooth lost to decay. If too much tooth is gone for a filling to hold, a crown covers and protects what is left. If the nerve inside is infected, root canal treatment may save the tooth before it is rebuilt. When a tooth is missing, a bridge, a denture or an implant can fill the space.

Your dentist's aim is to keep as much natural tooth as possible. That is why the same cracked tooth might get a filling for one person and a crown for another. It depends on how big the damage is, where the tooth sits and how hard you bite. You will see your X-rays, and your dentist will explain why they suggest one option over another.

Fillings are the most common repair, so they are covered in detail here. Crowns and bridges, dentures, implants and root canals each have their own page with more on how they work.

Is it right for me?

Step by step

1. Exam and X-raysYour dentist checks the tooth and looks at X-rays to see how deep the damage goes.
2. Options explainedYou hear what can be done, how long each option tends to last and what it involves. Then you decide.
3. Written estimateBefore treatment, you get a written estimate. We can send it to your insurer first if you like.
4. FreezingFor most fillings and crowns, the area is numbed with local anaesthetic. We check that it is fully numb before starting.
5. RepairFor a filling, decay is removed and the space is filled with the material you and your dentist chose, then shaped and hardened. Larger repairs take more than one visit.
6. Bite checkYour dentist checks your bite and smooths any high spots so the tooth feels natural when you chew.

How it compares

General information. Your dentist will explain what applies to you.

Benefits and risks

Cost and coverage

Restorative work ranges from a single filling to a full plan with several steps, so the cost is set tooth by tooth. After your exam, your dentist writes a treatment plan, and fees are based on the Ontario Dental Association fee guide. Insurance often treats fillings as basic services and crowns, bridges and dentures as major services, with different coverage levels. We direct bill all plans and accept CDCP and IFHP; CDCP covers fillings, root canals, crowns and dentures for eligible people, though some services need approval first. If you need several treatments, we can stage them in order of urgency. You get a written estimate before anything begins, and if you have no insurance, ask about our in-house dental plan and student program.

What shapes your estimate

• How many teeth need work and how many surfaces each filling covers
• The filling material chosen
• Whether a tooth needs a crown instead of a large filling
• Whether root canal treatment is needed first
• Lab costs for crowns, bridges, dentures and implant parts
• Your insurance coverage for basic and major services

Read more about insurance and payment, the Canadian Dental Care Plan and IFHP coverage.

After your visit

• Wait until the freezing wears off before chewing, so you do not bite your cheek or tongue.
• Ask your dentist when you can eat on a new filling. Many materials are fully set before you leave.
• If your bite feels high or uneven after a day or two, call us. A quick adjustment usually helps.
• Sensitivity that grows worse, or a throbbing ache, should be checked.

Questions