Restorative Dentistry in Taupō

Teeth wear down, chip, crack and decay. Left alone, a damaged tooth stops doing its job: chewing gets harder, the teeth either side take more load than they were built for, and what began as a small repair turns into a bigger one. Restorative dentistry is about returning a tooth to full function and making it look as though it was never damaged.

We will always talk you through your options first, including what happens if you do nothing, so the decision is yours to make with the full picture in front of you.

What we can restore

• Fillings: tooth-coloured composite that seals decay and blends with the tooth around it
• Crowns: a full cap for a tooth that is cracked, heavily filled, or has had root canal treatment
• Bridges: replacing a missing tooth by anchoring to the teeth on either side
• Implant restorations: a crown fitted to an implant when the whole tooth, root and all, is gone
• Dentures and partial dentures: removable options when several teeth are missing
• Inlays and onlays: for damage too large for a filling but not enough to need a full crown

Signs a tooth may need restoring

• Sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet that lingers after the source is gone
• A rough edge you keep finding with your tongue, or a visible chip
• Pain when you bite down on one particular spot
• An old filling that has darkened, cracked or fallen out
• Food packing into the same gap at every meal

How long does it take?

A filling is usually a single appointment. Crowns, bridges and implant work are staged across a few visits while the laboratory work is made. You will get a written treatment plan with costs before anything begins, so there are no surprises partway through.