Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry
Providing Caring, Modern Dental Services in Lexington, SC
As a family dental practice, our team is committed to helping patients of all ages achieve and maintain
their best oral health. When your smile is healthy, you feel more confident — and are more likely to
take care of it. Our practice provides a comprehensive range of services to
help you and your family transform your smiles.
Gildner Family Dentistry was founded to provide individuals and families from Lexington, Irmo, Columbia,
and surrounding communities with the dental care they need and
deserve. We are committed to not only improving your oral health, but your quality of life.
Restorative Dentistry
This type of restoration is placed when a tooth is broken or severely decayed and
cannot be repaired with a veneer or bonded filling. Ceramic crowns look like your
natural teeth and are the most lifelike. Compared to porcelain-fused-to-metal
crowns, a ceramic crown is more aesthetically pleasing and virtually undetectable.
A dental bridge is used for patients who have lost teeth due to gum disease, decay,
or injury. Leaving gaps in your smile can cause your remaining teeth to shift, which
results in an unsightly smile. It can also result in pain and discomfort. Dental
bridges close the gap between one or more missing teeth. This restorative option
looks like your natural teeth and is composed of a series of crowns anchored to
healthy teeth or support by implants. It can be made from gold, porcelain, or an
alloy metal.
Compared to silver/amalgam fillings, composite fillings are a more conservative
restoration option. A filling is used to restore a tooth after a cavity has been
removed. Composite materials are durable and can withstand the forces of chewing. In
addition, it improves strength, stability, and color to your tooth. It also saves
natural tooth structure and protects against broken teeth. We carefully match the
composite material to your natural tooth color and structure to create a restoration
that is virtually undetectable.
This type of dentistry provides patients with permanent tooth replacement options.
Dental implants replace tooth roots and provide a stable foundation for replacement
crowns, bridges, or dentures.
Dr Gildner is qualified and skilled at placing and restoring his own implants to provide patients with a seamless
treatment.
For patients with strong bite forces, a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown may be
recommended as a restoration option. A PFM crown provides metal reinforcement under
the porcelain. This type of crown costs less than an all-ceramic or all-gold crown.
These restorations are still highly aesthetic when performed by a quality ceramist.
For patients for whom occlusion, is a problem an all-gold crown may be recommended.
The teeth in the back of the mouth can be very short and occasionally, there is not
enough tooth structure to support a PFM crown. In order to be a successful
restoration option, a porcelain crown needs to be a certain thickness. This ensures
it is able to withstand bite force and resist fracturing. Gold provides a great
restorative material because it is gentle on opposing teeth and typically does not
irritate the gums.
Dr. Gildner will work with you to determine if you need a tooth extraction to
improve your oral health. Tooth extractions may be performed if a tooth is severely
decayed, has advanced periodontal disease, or is broken in a way that cannot be
repaired. In addition, teeth may be removed because they are poorly positioned, or
to aid in orthodontic treatment.
If a dental extraction is right for you, we will work with you to determine which
restoration option best fits your dental health needs.
Endodontics
This procedure connects a tooth that has had a root canal to a crown. It is
typically performed after a root canal, prior to placing the crown on the tooth. Not
every tooth that receives a root canal need posts and cores, but many do. It is
recommended that a crown be placed on the tooth after the placement of a post and
core. This prevents the tooth from breaking and potential tooth loss.
After the root canal is performed, the canal is shaped using a dental file to
receive the post. The post is then cemented in place. We fill the tooth with new
core material once the post is in place. Once it has hardened, this material is
shaped and prepared to receive the crown.
Endodontic therapy — a root canal — is necessary when a cavity has reached the pulp
of a tooth, or if you have experienced severe trauma to a tooth. During this
procedure, the interior of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected, and the infected
pulp is removed. The canals of the tooth are sealed to prevent further bacterial
infections. A root canal can save your tooth from further pain, infection, and
removal. During the procedure, we will numb the area so you will not feel any pain
or discomfort.
Cosmetic Dentistry
We offer a range of teeth whitening options for patients looking to achieve a
brighter, whiter smile. Dental bleaching can be used to correct many tooth
discolorations due to staining, chemical damage, or aging. We utilize the latest
bleaching technology to help you gain the look you’ve always wanted. Our team will
work with you to determine which bleaching option fits your needs and goals for your
smile.
Veneers provide you with a permanent restoration option. Typically made out of
porcelain or other tooth-colored materials, veneers are used to correct
imperfections in your smile, such as gaps or spaces. These can also be utilized to
to repair chips or give your teeth a straighter appearance. A veneer is bonded to
your teeth using strong adhesives, feel like your natural teeth, and are
stain-resistant.
For more information about our restorative and cosmetic dental services, please contact Gildner
Family Dentistry today at 803-957-2440 We look forward to helping you
improve your dental health and smile.