Getting Your Teeth Back to Healthy — and Keeping Them There
Getting Your Teeth Back to Healthy — and Keeping Them There
Dental problems do not stay small on their own. A minor cavity becomes a larger cavity. A
cracked tooth can become an infected root. A missing tooth affects the bone beneath it, the
teeth around it, and how you eat and speak. The longer restorative care is delayed, the more
complex — and costly — treatment tends to become.
At Scola Family Dentistry in Murrieta, CA, Dr. Valerie Scola takes a conservative approach to
restorative dentistry: use the least invasive treatment that effectively solves the problem,
preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible, and always treat the health of the whole
mouth — not just the presenting issue.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
When decay is caught early, a filling is all that is needed. At Scola Family Dentistry, we use
composite resin fillings that are matched to the exact shade of your surrounding teeth. You will
not see silver or gray in your smile — just a natural-looking restoration that functions like
healthy enamel. Composite resin also typically requires less removal of healthy tooth structure
than traditional amalgam, making it both a more conservative and more aesthetic choice.
Porcelain Crowns — Including Same-Day Crowns
When a tooth is too damaged or decayed for a filling alone, a crown provides the necessary
coverage to protect and restore it. Porcelain crowns are crafted to match your natural tooth in
both shape and color. They are strong, biocompatible, and virtually indistinguishable from the
real thing.
Thanks to our in-office CAD/CAM technology (Planmeca), Dr. Scola can design, fabricate, and
place a permanent porcelain crown in a single visit. No temporary crown, no second
appointment — just one efficient visit and a beautifully restored tooth.
Bridges and Dentures for Missing Teeth
When a tooth cannot be saved, replacement is essential. Bone loss begins rapidly after
extraction — in some cases, the jaw loses up to 50% of its width within the first year after a
molar is lost. Replacing missing teeth preserves bone, maintains your ability to chew and speak
clearly, and protects the alignment of remaining teeth.
Porcelain fixed bridges span the gap left by a missing tooth, anchored by crowns on the
neighboring teeth. For patients missing many or all of their teeth, full or partial dentures offer a
carefully planned, well-fitting solution that restores both function and confidence.
Dental Implants: The Gold Standard for Tooth Replacement
Dental implants are the most advanced and comprehensive tooth replacement option
available. Unlike bridges and dentures, implants replace the tooth root as well as the crown. A
small titanium cylinder is placed in the jawbone, where it integrates with the surrounding bone
— just like a natural root. This provides a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or even a full
set of implant-supported teeth.
Because implants transmit chewing forces directly into the jaw, they preserve bone density in a
way that conventional bridges and dentures cannot. They are cared for just like natural teeth:
brushing, flossing, and regular checkups.
Your Natural Teeth Are Irreplaceable — and Worth Protecting
At Scola Family Dentistry, extraction is always the last resort. We will explore every option to
save a natural tooth before recommending removal. But when replacement is needed, we offer
every level of restoration — from a simple filling to a full implant-supported smile.
If you have a tooth that has been bothering you, or one you have been putting off addressing,
book an appointment with Dr. Scola today. The sooner we can evaluate it, the more options
you will have.
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