Restorative Dentistry

Dental Implants are typically the ideal solution to replacing a missing tooth or several teeth. A dental implant is a titanium tooth root substitute that can replace a natural tooth that has been lost due to trauma, fracture, decay, or severe gum (periodontal disease).

A dental implant consists of three parts: the implant itself which is surgically placed under the gums and solidifies to your jaw bone; an abutment, which is the foundation on which your new tooth will be seated; and a porcelain crown, which is the tooth that is visible above the gum.

Our treatment coordinator will review dental implant cost that is customized to your insurance plan or cash payment. Each insurance plan differs in how much they will cover for your dental implant and they may vary in restrictions.

For patients without dental insurance, we offer a helpful Dentistry of Arizona Membership Club that can help make treatment more affordable. In general, a dental implant, abutment, and crown (without the need for additional bone grafting or sinus lifts during surgery to make the implant successful) is around $4,000 per tooth.

We are excited to meet with you and discuss if dental implants are the best solution for you.

A dental bridge consists of an artificial porcelain tooth connected to a set of crowns used to fill a gap created by one or more missing teeth. At Dentistry of Arizona in Surprise, Dr. Ewell will create a custom tooth bridge for your mouth that will look and function like your natural teeth. We use either all porcelain bridges or porcelain bridges with a metal substructure. Dr. Ewell will determine which material of bridge is most suitable for long-term success in your unique situation.

During your first appointment for a bridge, Dr. Ewell gets the area numb and uses a dental handpiece to prepare the neighboring teeth that are adjacent to the missing tooth. These neighboring teeth are going to support and act as anchors for the bridge. Next, an impression is taken of the prepared teeth. The impression is used to fabricate a model of your mouth on which the final bridge is made. Our skilled dental assistants will make a temporary bridge made from acrylic which you will wear while the laboratory makes your porcelain bridge. At your second visit, the temporary bridge is gently removed and the final bridge is cemented.

A bridge is not removable and gives you excellent chewing function. It is important that you floss underneath the bridge to prevent cavities. Dr. Ewell and the team will instruct you on how to clean around and under your bridge. When kept clean, bridges last for many years.

Dental inlays and onlays are considered a conservative method of treating damaged teeth. They are used instead of placing a crown. Some dentists even use inlays and onlays to treat tooth decay. Instead of filling in the tooth, your dentist may use dental inlays and onlays.

Dental inlays and onlays are made in a dental lab and then fitted to your tooth. They are then bonded to your tooth.

A rotten tooth may eventually fall out if there is severe and significant bone loss around the tooth or it may continue to crumble and break away slowly over the years. Rotten teeth harbour bacteria and cause infection of the jaw bone even if you cannot feel it. This infection causes bad breath, can affect the adjacent teeth and spread bacteria to them, or it can abscess. In some circumstances, an abscess can cause severe swelling of the face or neck and can become a life threatening emergency.

If you have a rotten or broken tooth, come in and see us for a quick emergency exam so we can remove the infection versus letting it linger in your body.

Each tooth is different and each patient has different needs. If your tooth has deep and extensive decay, Dr. Ewell will discuss with you the long-term prognosis of the tooth and whether a root canal should be pursued or an extraction is more predictable. After clinical examination, an updated x-ray and a photo of the tooth will show you the size of the cavity and how much tooth there will be remaining after the cavity is cleaned out. Dr. Ewell will discuss what your particular tooth will benefit the most from and let you make an informed decision.

Sometimes teeth are lost due to catastrophic fracture, very deep decay, or extensive bone loss. When a tooth is removed, the surrounding and opposing teeth will typically shift and move. This malalignment can affect chewing and can cause bone loss of the jaws making tooth replacement or denture wearing more challenging. Some teeth patients do not miss when they are removed and not replace (wisdom teeth or second molars), but other teeth provide more chewing and esthetic function. However, if you are bothered by one or many missing teeth, we provide a few options including dental implants, bridges, removable partial dentures, or complete dentures (with or without implants).