Restore Healthy Function and Confidence to your Smile!

Restorative dentistry seeks to repair and restore full function to badly damaged or neglected teeth, helping patients chew, speak, and smile with confidence once more. It can involve a wide variety of treatments – including periodontics (gum disease treatment), endodontics (root canals), prosthodontics (replacement of missing teeth), and general and cosmetic dentistry – and requires a dentist skilled in a broad range of dental specialty areas.

Dr. James Taneyhill brings more than 20 years experience as a comprehensive dentist to his restorative work, as well as a lifetime of continuing education in numerous dentistry subjects. Since opening his practice in 1981, he has averaged 100 hours a year of continuing dental education studies in areas as diverse as full mouth restoration, implant supported denture dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and full smile design. Few other dentists in Maryland have achieved this level of training and experience.

Dr. Taneyhill performs a wide variety of restorative dentistry procedures, and would be glad to give you further information about any procedure. Please contact The Practice of Dr. James Taneyhill today for further information.

• Crowns
• Bridges
• Dentures
• Endodontics
• Periodontal Treatment
• TMJ Treatment
• Full Mouth Restoration

Crowns

A crown is a restoration that covers, or caps, a tooth to restore its normal shape and size. Its purpose is mainly to restore the strength and integrity of the tooth, but also to improve the appearance of the tooth and overall smile. Crowns might be placed to support a large filling, protect and restore weakened or fractured teeth, cover badly shaped or discolored teeth, cap a dental implant, or attach a bridge. Depending on your functional and esthetic needs, they can be composed of a number of different materials, including porcelain and gold. To learn more about dental restoration with crowns, contact The Practice of Dr. Taneyhill today.

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Bridges

Missing teeth can have serious dental health consequences. Teeth were designed to work together as a unit. When a tooth is lost, nearby teeth may move toward the empty space, placing unusual stress on the adjacent teeth and tissues. This can cause your teeth and gums to break down prematurely. A bridge (also called a fixed partial denture) is a restoration that replaces or spans the space where one or more teeth have been lost. A bridge restores your ability to chew and speak with ease, protects your existing teeth and gums, and helps support and maintain the natural shape of your face. For further information about bridges, please contact us today.

Implant-Supported Dentures

If you have lost all or most of your teeth, dentures might be the best option to restore your teeth and smile. When correctly designed and fitted, dentures restore chewing and speaking function and help maintain normal facial structure. Dr. Taneyhill offers a wide selection of denture options, including implant-supported dentures for those patients with sufficient bone mass to support them. Your dentures will be custom designed to precisely match the contours of your mouth and the color of any existing teeth. To learn more about implant-supported dentures, contact our Bel Air practice today.

Endodontics (Root Canal)

Endodontic treatment has given dentists a safe way of saving damaged or badly infected teeth. If the dental pulp at a tooth’s soft core becomes diseased or injured and can’t repair itself, the tooth will die. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity that has allowed bacteria to enter the pulp. Dr. Taneyhill uses root canal treatment to find the cause and then treat problems of the dental pulp. During treatment, the doctor removes the diseased pulp, cleans and seals the pulp chamber and root canals, and caps the tooth with a gold or porcelain crown. Endodontic treatment generally requires one to three visits. For further information about endodontic treatment, contact our dental practice today.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is a condition in which bacteria attack tissues that surround and support the teeth. These bacteria, found in a sticky film called plaque, can attach to the teeth above and below the gum line and cause irritation, chronic inflammation, and infection between gums and teeth if not removed. Left unchecked, periodontal disease can result in tooth loss, bone shrinkage, and other possibly more serious health consequences. Dr. Taneyhill has a variety of treatments available to combat periodontal disease, including oral rinses, scaling and root planning, and if necessary, surgery and bone regeneration techniques. He can also employ cosmetic dentistry techniques to restore damage caused by late-stage periodontal disease. Protect your gum health today. Contact The Practice of Dr. James Taneyhill to schedule a cleaning or oral examination.

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TMJ Treatment

While “TMJ” is actually an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint (the jaw joint), the term is commonly used to describe a variety of painful or functional problems of the jaw. These problems can generally be divided into two categories: problems with the muscles that move the jaw and problems with the TM joints themselves. TMJ disorders may involve painful, aching muscles; headaches; and clicking, grinding, or pain during jaw movement. The problems can be caused by emotional stress, trauma to the jaw, bite problems, or any combination of the three. Dr. Taneyhill is well-versed in TMJ treatments and may employ various therapies for your treatment, including heat, medication, physical therapy, behavioral modification, removable splints, crowns, or orthodontics. If you suffer from chronic jaw pain, contact our Bel Air, Maryland practice to learn more about your TMJ treatment options.

Full Mouth Restoration

A full mouth restoration involves significant repair or reconstruction of most or all of the teeth to return a smile to full function and beauty. There can be a number of reasons for such extensive work. In some cases, teeth have not received the dental treatment they needed over the years. In others, regular treatment has been performed, but at different times with different dentists. These individual fixes may not function well together or may be breaking down at different rates. Other reasons might include periodontal disease, the replacement of badly deteriorated fillings, and bite alignment problems. Dr. Taneyhill starts from the ground up, building strong, natural-looking restorations on a healthy base of bones, teeth, and gums. If you think you might be a good candidate for a full mouth restoration, contact our Maryland dental practice today.

Learn More About Restorative Dentistry

Dr. James Taneyhill would be happy to evaluate your smile and advise you of the best restorative dentistry treatments for you. Get back on track to a healthy, gorgeous smile. Contact The Practice of Dr. James Taneyhill today to learn more about our procedures or set up an initial consultation with our dentist.

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