When your teeth are decayed, chipped, or just plain worn down, it’s tough to approach life with confidence. You may get into the habit of smiling with your mouth closed in an effort to hide your not-so-pearly pearly whites. You may avoid social situations or feel embarrassed every time you have to meet someone.

Over time, these feelings not only drag down your self-esteem, they can have real consequences on your personal and professional life.

If your smile is broken, it’s time to fix it.

At Davenport Dental Group, we practice a wide range of restorative dentistry procedures designed to make a dilapidated grin look and feel shiny and new again.

We have two offices in Laredo, TX. Call the one that is most convenient for you: Junction Drive at 956-242-6745 or Winfield at 956-517-2695.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

A cavity is an area of decay in your tooth. It must be repaired with a filling to stop the decay from spreading further and reaching the tooth’s inner structure.

The metal amalgam fillings of yesteryear did the job, but not without drawbacks. There’s the obvious: metal fillings stand out against your tooth enamel, visible every time you open your mouth. Plus, they contain very small amounts of mercury. While there’s no evidence that the amount found in fillings is harmful, some people prefer not putting any of the element into their bodies. And amalgam fillings contract and expand at a different rate than your teeth. This may weaken your teeth and make them more susceptible to breakage. And some people are allergic to the metal.

At Davenport Dental Group, we fill cavities almost exclusively with composite resin. This material is colored to match your tooth enamel perfectly. It is durable, allergy-free, and invisible on your teeth.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that fits over and covers an entire tooth, offering protection and strength. It is custom-crafted from detailed impressions of your tooth and colored to blend right into your natural smile. A crown restores the integrity of even severely decayed and weakened teeth, staving off the need for extraction. A dental crown may be called for in the following situations:

  • A cavity that’s too large for a filling
  • A tooth that’s been damaged by trauma
  • A badly cracked tooth
  • A severely worn-down tooth
  • A tooth that is discolored or blemished
  • To protect a tooth after a root canal
  • To top a dental implant
  • To support a dental bridge

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth, or more than one adjacent missing teeth. Its name makes sense when you consider it is bridging a gap in your smile. A bridge is constructed of two dental crowns that are placed on the healthy teeth adjacent to the gap. These teeth will have some enamel removed so the crowns fit correctly. They support an artificial tooth in the middle called a pontic. Dental bridges restore the beauty of your smile and much of its functionality.

Root Canal

The root canal is seriously misunderstood. It has a reputation for being excruciatingly painful, but most people who undergo the procedure say it’s about the same as getting a filling. And it’s a necessary procedure if you have an abscess or tooth infection. In fact, if you have one of these problems, you are likely experiencing pain already. A root canal will clean out all that bacteria and put a stop to the discomfort. The process is simple.

  • We numb the area thoroughly, ensuring you won’t feel a thing. We have dental sedation available as well.
  • We access the inner chamber of the tooth, where the pulp resides. We clean out every trace of pulp and infected material. We also remove the nerves.
  • Once the inside of the tooth is sterilized, we fill it with a special material called gutta-percha that prevents bacteria from entering and causing further infection.
  • We seal the access hole and cap the tooth with a custom dental crown.

With proper care, there is every reason to believe your newly restored tooth will last your lifetime.

Dental Veneers

But wait, maybe you’re thinking. Aren’t dental veneers cosmetic? It’s true that veneers are generally thought of as a cosmetic dentistry procedure, but they also serve in a restorative capacity. They can be used to cover cracks and chips, and they actually strengthen and protect your pearly whites.

A dental veneer is a thin shell-like structure, custom made from impressions of your tooth, that is permanently bonded to the front. Veneers give teeth a flawless appearance and are popular with actors and other celebrities.

At Davenport Dental Group, we three excellent veneer choices: conventional porcelain veneers, minima prep veneers, and prepless veneers. Because they don’t require any alteration of your tooth enamel before placement, prepless veneers are a good choice if you may want them removed down the road.

Dental Implants

When it comes to tooth replacement options, dental implants look and feel the most like the real deal. In fact, many people forget they have them in their mouth! This restoration is made up of a titanium post that is surgically implanted into your jawbone. We give it a few months to heal, during which time the post fuses with the bone in a process called osseointegration.

Once you are healed from the initial operation, you will come back to our office and we will attach an abutment and a gorgeous, custom-crafted crown.

Your strong bite will be restored, enabling you to eat what you want with confidence. Because dental implants stimulate the jawbone, they prevent bone loss, which is a common problem with conventional restorations, which sit atop the gums.

Dentures

We can craft gorgeous custom dentures to replace full or partial arches or teeth. We offer traditional dentures, as well as restorations that are attached with dental implants for added stability.

For top-quality restorative dentistry in Laredo, TX, trust the Davenport Dental Group. Request an appointment through our online form or call either one of our Laredo, TX offices: Junction Drive at 956-242-6745 or Winfield at 956-517-2695.