Prosthodontics: rebuilding function and looks, one tooth or a full arch
A restorative dentist is the specialist who restores and replaces teeth - from a single crown to a full-mouth rehabilitation. Our restorative team restores the implants our surgeons place, so placement and final teeth are planned as one.
Fixed teeth and removable teeth, and how to choose
Nearly everything in prosthodontics falls into one of two categories, and the choice between them shapes cost, comfort and how the work is looked after.
Fixed restorations stay in your mouth. A crown caps a tooth that is cracked, heavily filled or root canal treated and rebuilds it to full shape and function. A bridge spans a gap by anchoring replacement teeth to the teeth on either side. An implant restoration puts a crown, bridge or full arch onto titanium posts anchored in your jawbone, which comes closest to a natural tooth because it does not lean on its neighbors for support. Implant-supported bridges start at $5,500 and implant-supported dentures at $8,500.
Removable options come out for cleaning. Full and partial dentures start at $1,800 per arch and are still the most affordable way to replace several teeth at once. They can be upgraded later too, since a denture can be made to snap onto implants for a much steadier fit.
Crowns, bridges and full-mouth rehabilitation all begin with a free consultation.
Signs you may need restorative work, and what has to happen first
People usually arrive with one of a handful of stories. A tooth broke on something soft, which almost always means it was already cracked. An old crown came loose, or the tooth underneath it decayed. Front teeth have worn short and flat over years of grinding. A missing tooth has let the teeth on either side tip into the gap while the opposing tooth drifts down. Or a denture that fit fine for years now rocks and rubs.
All of these are treatable, but a few things have to be sorted first. Active gum disease is treated by our periodontist before final restorations go on, because there is no sense building on a foundation that is still moving. Decay and infection are cleared, sometimes with root canal treatment by our endodontists. If you grind heavily, that habit needs managing with a night guard, or it will break the new work the same way it broke the old.
Implants need enough bone, which our oral surgeons assess with CBCT 3D imaging.
How the work is planned, and how long it takes
The first visit is an examination, digital scans and, when implants or a larger rebuild are involved, CBCT 3D imaging. That scan shows bone volume, nerve position and sinus anatomy in three dimensions, which is how implant positions get planned before anything is placed rather than discovered during surgery.
Because Omega is a multi-specialty practice, the surgeon placing an implant and the restorative dentist making the final tooth plan the case together in the same building, from the same scan. Where an implant sits determines what the finished tooth can look like, so planning backwards from the result you want is not a detail.
Timelines vary, and we would rather be straight about that. A single crown is typically two visits with a temporary in between. An implant involves placement, then a healing period of a few months while bone integrates with the post, then the restoration. Larger rebuilds are staged, often with provisional teeth you wear and test so you can approve shape and bite before the final work is made.
Getting used to new teeth, and keeping them working
New teeth feel like new teeth for a while. With a crown or bridge that usually means a few days of sensitivity and a bite that needs a small adjustment once you have chewed on it properly. Come back for that adjustment rather than living with it, because a high spot loads one tooth with force it was not built for.
Dentures ask more of you. Expect sore spots in the first weeks and plan on a couple of adjustment visits. Speech and eating take practice, and starting with softer food cut small makes the transition easier. Gums and bone keep changing shape underneath a denture over the years, so relines are normal maintenance, not a sign that something went wrong.
Cleaning matters most where you cannot see. Bridges and implant restorations need floss threaders, interdental brushes or a water flosser to clean underneath and around, since gum inflammation around an implant is a leading reason implants are lost. Keep your checkups, and wear the night guard if you were given one.
Cost, insurance and financing
Crowns, bridges and full-mouth rehabilitation begin with a free consultation, because those numbers depend entirely on what your mouth needs. Implant-supported bridges start at $5,500, implant-supported dentures at $8,500, and full and partial dentures start at $1,800 per arch. Whatever the plan, you get an itemized written quote before treatment begins, with the sequence and what each stage costs. Nobody gets handed a surprise halfway through.
Dental insurance usually contributes toward crowns, bridges and dentures, though how much depends on your plan's percentages, deductibles and waiting periods, and most plans cap what they will pay in a year. Larger cases will pass that cap. Coverage for implants varies a great deal between plans. We verify your benefits free of charge and tell you what your plan will genuinely pay.
For the rest, we offer financing through Cherry, Affirm and Sunbit so a rebuild can be paid monthly, and patients without insurance can use our in-house membership plan. Staging treatment across two benefit years is often worth discussing.
Treatments & pricing
Crowns & bridges
Custom ceramic restorations that rebuild damaged or missing teeth and balance your bite.
Implant restoration
The crown, bridge, or denture that goes on top of a placed implant - the part you actually chew with.
Full-mouth rehabilitation
Coordinated rebuild of a worn or collapsed bite using crowns, implants, and prosthetics.
Full & partial dentures
Precision-fit removable replacements, including implant-retained overdentures.
Prices are estimates for self-pay patients before insurance. Insurance reduces costs significantly. Financing available - most patients qualify in minutes via Cherry or Sunbit.
Frequently asked
What does a restorative dentist do?
A restorative dentist is a dentist with three extra years of specialty training in restoring and replacing teeth - crowns, bridges, dentures, and the teeth that go on implants. For complex cases, a worn-down bite, or full-mouth work, a restorative dentist plans how all the pieces fit together so the final result functions and looks right.
What's the difference between a crown and a veneer?
A veneer covers only the front face of a tooth and is used for cosmetic improvement. A crown covers the whole tooth and is used when the tooth itself is damaged or heavily restored. We choose based on what your tooth actually needs - see our cosmetic dentistry page for veneers and smile design.
Does Omega restore implants placed somewhere else?
Yes. Our restorative team restores implants placed by our own surgeons and, in many cases, implants placed by another office. We evaluate the existing implant with a scan to confirm it's healthy and compatible before making the crown, bridge, or denture that attaches to it.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
A well-made crown typically lasts 10-15 years or more, and bridges similar, depending on your hygiene and bite. Grinding shortens that, so we may recommend a night guard. We use materials matched to where the tooth sits - stronger ceramics for back teeth, more translucent ones for the smile zone.
How much does full-mouth rehabilitation cost?
It varies widely because it's built from individual restorations - crowns, implants, and prosthetics - chosen for your mouth, so we don't post a flat figure. After a scan and exam you get an itemized plan with exact pricing and phasing options, plus financing through Cherry and Sunbit, often with 0% plans.
Related specialties
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Book a consultation. We'll walk you through your options, your costs, and your timeline - no pressure.