Why Restorative Dental Care Matters
Tooth damage and tooth loss are far more common than many people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth loss affects millions of American adults and is closely linked to overall health, quality of life, and the ability to eat a nutritious diet. When a tooth is lost or severely damaged and goes untreated, the surrounding teeth can shift, bone loss in the jaw can accelerate, and the resulting bite changes can create problems that extend well beyond the original tooth.
Restorative care at Richard Hardt’s Live Oak Dental Group is approached with both function and aesthetics in mind. We use CEREC same-day crown technology to design and mill tooth-colored restorations right here in our office, which means fewer appointments and no temporary crowns in between. Whether a patient needs a single crown or a more involved treatment, we build every restoration to match the surrounding teeth as closely as possible.
Restorative Services Available to Strathmore Patients
Our practice offers a full range of restorative treatments, and most can be completed in our Porterville office without the need for specialist referrals. The following represent some of the most common services we provide.
Dental Crowns and Bridges
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap placed over a damaged, weakened, or decayed tooth to restore its shape, strength, and appearance. Bridges use crowns on neighboring teeth as anchors to fill the space left by one or more missing teeth. Both are matched to the natural color of surrounding teeth and are fabricated with the precision our CEREC technology makes possible. For patients missing several teeth, a bridge can restore chewing function and prevent the shifting that commonly follows tooth loss.
Root Canal Therapy
When decay or injury reaches the inner pulp of a tooth, root canal therapy removes the source of infection and preserves the natural tooth structure. Root canal therapy has a reputation that far exceeds its actual discomfort. With modern anesthesia and the techniques our team uses, most patients find the procedure no more uncomfortable than a standard filling. Saving a natural tooth is almost always preferable to extracting it, and root canal therapy makes that possible in the great majority of cases.
Partials and Dentures
For patients who have lost multiple teeth or an entire arch, partials and dentures offer a reliable and affordable path to restored function and appearance. Partial dentures replace a section of missing teeth while working alongside remaining natural teeth, while full dentures restore a complete arch. We also offer implant-supported options for patients who want a more stable, secure fit.
Comfort and Technology at the Core of Your Care
We understand that dental anxiety is real, and many patients who need restorative care have been putting off treatment precisely because they are nervous. Our team takes that seriously. We offer sedation options for patients who want additional comfort during longer procedures, and Dr. Hardt’s approach has always centered on going at a pace that keeps patients informed and at ease. The iTero digital scanner allows us to take precise impressions without the traditional putty molds most people find unpleasant, making the diagnostic and planning portion of any treatment considerably more comfortable.
Restorative work at our practice is also coordinated with cosmetic dentistry when relevant. If a restoration is visible when you smile, we treat it as both a functional and aesthetic concern, ensuring the result looks as good as it performs.
Serving Strathmore with Richard Hardt's Live Oak Dental Group
Dr. Hardt built his career on restorative work, and the attention to detail that has defined his practice for more than three decades is evident in every crown, bridge, and full-mouth case his team completes. He graduated from Loma Linda University, has earned the Porterville Recorder Reader’s Choice Award for Best Dentist for multiple consecutive years, and brings a level of craftsmanship to restorations that patients across Tulare County have come to rely on. Dr. Cruz, a fellow Loma Linda University graduate honored with the Excellence in Academic Achievement Award, provides bilingual care in English and Spanish, removing language barriers that might otherwise prevent a patient from getting treatment they need.
Financing should never stand between a patient and a healthy mouth. Our financial options include CareCredit and an in-house membership plan built specifically for patients without insurance coverage. When you are ready to move forward, Dr. Hardt, Dr. Cruz, and Dr. Jackson Lewis are here to help. Fill out our contact form to schedule your visit and take the first step toward restoring your smile.