Restorative Dentistry in Sarasota & Manatee County

Reclaim Your Smile's Strength, Function, and Beauty

The philosophy of Siesta Dental is to provide thorough and proactive dentistry to our patients. The dental field has grown leaps and bounds over the years and we are so excited to bring the latest state-of-the-art dentistry to Sarasota and Manatee County. Whether you need a simple filling or a complete smile restoration, we have the advanced solutions to help you.

Tooth-Colored Cavity Fillings

Cavities are holes in your teeth formed by decay, and they are the number one cause of toothaches. If left untreated, dental cavities can also cause serious infections and ultimately lead to tooth loss. Treating cavities early is the best way to prevent unnecessary pain and expense.

When you have a cavity, we will carefully remove the decay, thoroughly clean the tooth, and place a filling to make your tooth pain-free and as good as new. There is a wide variety of materials used for filling cavities, varying in strength and color:

  • Composite Fillings: Sometimes referred to as composites or filled resins, these feature a combination of glass or quartz filler and can be made to seamlessly match the color of your tooth. They are highly durable, ideal for small-to-midsize restorations in areas that perform moderate chewing, and will last many years.
  • Amalgam Fillings: Also known as “silver fillings,” dental amalgam has been used by dentists for over 90 years and is the least expensive cavity filling material. As of 2017, the FDA states that amalgam fillings are completely safe for adults and children six years old and older, finding no reason to limit its use after extensive research.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a custom cap put over a tooth to strengthen it and drastically improve its appearance. If you have lost part of a crown, sustained a tooth fracture, or if your dentist feels it is necessary to save the tooth, we will prepare it and fit you with a new, beautiful crown.

Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth-colored) crowns are the most popular because they closely resemble your natural teeth. They are highly durable and are meticulously made to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth, giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.

The Crown Procedure (Two Appointments):
  • First Visit: The area is numbed, and the dentist prepares your tooth by removing decay and shaping the surface. Highly accurate molds (impressions) are taken to create your custom crown, and a temporary crown is placed to protect your tooth while a dental laboratory fabricates the final piece.
  • Second Visit: The temporary crown is removed, the tooth is cleaned, and your new permanent crown is carefully placed to ensure the spacing and bite are perfectly accurate.

Dental Bridges

Bridges are made to replace missing teeth, whether it is one tooth or multiple teeth next to each other. Unlike partial dentures, a bridge is permanently set in your mouth, providing exceptional stability.

Traditional bridges are the most popular type of dental bridge for restoring lost teeth and can be used when you have natural teeth or implants on either side of the space. They are small, lightweight, and provide excellent chewing comfort by properly re-distributing your normal bite force that was compromised by missing teeth.

Getting a bridge usually requires two or more visits. While numb, the two anchoring teeth are prepared by removing a portion of enamel to allow for a crown. A highly accurate impression is made and sent to a lab, and you will wear a temporary bridge. At your second visit, your permanent bridge will be carefully checked, adjusted, and cemented to achieve a perfect fit.

Broken & Chipped Teeth Repair

Although teeth are remarkably strong, a bad fall, a blow, eating hard foods, or contact sports can cause a tooth to chip, crack, or break. When a tooth cracks, it can expose the sensitive nerves beneath the surface, causing extreme sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks, limiting what you can consume, and causing significant pain. Furthermore, an untreated crack can lead to an infection in the tooth’s root that can enter the bloodstream.

Modern dentistry has advanced solutions to restore your broken tooth:

Dental Crowns

Useful for covering the entire affected portion of the tooth, restoring its shape and appearance with perfectly color-matched porcelain or ceramic.

Porcelain Veneers

Custom-made colored shells made out of porcelain or composite resin. This is a highly popular restorative solution widely used to beautifully correct a chipped or cracked tooth.

Cosmetic Bonding

The dentist uses a composite material to seamlessly mold and correct the chip or crack. A blue light then hardens the molding to instantly fix the tooth.

Dental Implants

An extensive, permanent procedure where the severely broken tooth is extracted and replaced with a brand-new artificial tooth root and crown.

Tooth Fillings

Among the safest and most used procedures to painlessly and cost-efficiently fix cracked or broken teeth using restorative material.

Dental Sealants

A protective barrier placed on the backside of molars and premolars to protect your broken tooth against cavity-causing bacteria.

It’s crucial that you contact us immediately for a broken, cracked, or chipped tooth in order to avoid a severe dental emergency.

Custom Dentures & Partials

Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth and help fully restore your smile. When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older; dentures help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. Whether you lost teeth from gum disease, tooth decay, or injury, replacing them will benefit your health and make it drastically easier to eat and speak.

We offer a wide variety of denture solutions tailored to your specific needs:

  • Traditional Complete Dentures: Replace all of a patient’s teeth, sitting on top of the gums. They are typically placed within 8-12 weeks after teeth extraction.
  • Partial Dentures: Used when a patient still has some natural teeth remaining. They feature a pink-colored base attached to a metal piece that securely holds the denture in the mouth.
  • Custom Dentures: Made of high-end materials for a more natural-looking smile, fully customized to suit your aesthetic needs.
  • Immediate Dentures: Placed on the exact same day that teeth are extracted under certain conditions.
  • Implant-Supported Dentures: Dental implants are used to securely hold the denture in place, offering incredible stability, a natural look, and long-lasting durability.
  • Snap-In Dentures: The most effective choice for stability. They are held securely with dental implants or anchors and feature locator attachments that "snap" into place while remaining convenient and removable.
  • Overdentures: Sit on top of the gums and are held firmly in place with dental implants on the upper or lower jaw.
  • Upper Dentures: Specifically designed for patients missing teeth only in the upper jaw.
  • Economy Dentures: A cost-effective, generic option that requires denture adhesive for a more secure fit.

Root Canal Treatment

Every tooth has at least one root, and large molars in the back can have up to four. When an abscess forms at a tooth’s root, it causes severe inflammation and pain. When this happens, our dentists clean out the canals of the affected tooth, treat the abscess, fill the canal with gutta-percha (a rubber-like material), top it off with a filling, and cap the tooth with a new crown so it won't break. (In some complicated cases, we may refer you to a specialized endodontist).

Recognizing the Need for a Root Canal

The physical symptoms of a root problem don’t usually start until the advanced stage, which is why regular dental check-ups and X-rays are critical. Usually, pain is the main indicator. If you have trouble drinking or eating without feeling pain, you should see us immediately. If the pulp of the tooth (blood vessels and nerves) is infected or inflamed, antibiotics will be given, and the damaged pulp must be removed to save the tooth.

Don't fear the procedure: Many people dread a root canal because they imagine it to be painful; however, with modern anesthetics, the process of removing the damaged root is equal to simply filling a cavity.