Why So Many Adults Put Off Dental Treatment
Delayed dental care is a well-documented pattern across the country. According to AHRQ Stats from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, dental care carries the highest rate of cost-related barriers of any healthcare category, with 14.3 percent of adults reporting cost as the reason they were unable to get or delayed getting needed dental care, a figure higher than for medical care, mental health services, or prescription medications.
Cost is not the only barrier. Dental anxiety affects a substantial portion of adults, and for many patients, simply not knowing what to expect from a procedure is enough to keep them away. At Richard Hardt’s Live Oak Dental Group, we address both of these realities directly. We offer flexible financing through CareCredit and an in-house membership plan, and our entire approach to patient care is built around making the experience less daunting than patients expect it to be.
Restorative Services for Westfield Patients
Our Porterville office handles a broad range of restorative cases for patients from Westfield and across Tulare County. Here is an overview of what we offer.
Dental Crowns
When a tooth has been weakened by decay, fracture, or a failing restoration, a dental crown restores it to full strength and function. Using our in-office CEREC system, Dr. Hardt and Dr. Cruz fabricate permanent ceramic crowns matched precisely to the surrounding teeth, completing the entire process in a single appointment. Patients leave with a finished restoration rather than a temporary, which matters both practically and in terms of long-term protection for the tooth.
Root Canal Therapy
Infection inside the pulp of a tooth does not resolve without treatment, and the discomfort it causes tends to intensify over time. Root canal therapy removes the infected tissue, disinfects the canal, and seals the tooth so it can continue functioning without pain. The procedure’s reputation is considerably worse than the experience itself. Patients who have been dreading it consistently tell us afterward that it was far more manageable than they anticipated, which is exactly what modern anesthesia and careful technique are designed to accomplish.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most structurally complete option for replacing a missing tooth, functioning independently without placing any demand on the teeth on either side. Our practice works in close collaboration with a trusted local oral surgeon in Porterville for implant placement, and our team manages the full restorative phase, including the crown, to deliver a coordinated result. For patients missing several teeth, implant-supported solutions can also be explored as part of a broader plan developed during the initial consultation.
Partials and Dentures
Partials and dentures give patients who have lost multiple teeth a reliable path back to normal daily function. Partial dentures fill the gaps left by missing teeth while anchoring to the remaining natural teeth for support, while full dentures replace a complete arch. For patients whose priority is a more stable, secure fit, implant-supported dentures attach to implants placed by our surgical partner, providing fixed-denture stability with the convenience of a removable design.
Diagnosis First, Treatment Second
Restorative care at Richard Hardt’s Live Oak Dental Group begins with a thorough, technology-supported diagnosis before any treatment is recommended. Our Overjet AI platform analyzes radiographic images to detect decay, measure bone levels, and identify areas of concern that may not be obvious on visual examination alone, providing Dr. Hardt and Dr. Cruz with a precise, evidence-backed picture of what is actually happening beneath the surface. The iTero digital scanner then captures accurate impressions of the teeth and surrounding structures without the discomfort of traditional putty molds, and those scans inform treatment planning down to the millimeter.
This combination means patients receive treatment plans grounded in what is real and measurable, not just what is visible, and it reduces the likelihood of surprises mid-treatment.
Westfield Patients Trust Richard Hardt's Live Oak Dental Group
More than 34 years of restorative care in Porterville has given Dr. Hardt a depth of clinical experience that shows in how cases are diagnosed, sequenced, and executed. His Loma Linda University training, combined with decades of ongoing continuing education, means patients receive restorations built to last, and he has earned the Porterville Recorder Reader’s Choice Award for Best Dentist for multiple consecutive years from a community that has seen that work firsthand. Dr. Cruz, a Loma Linda University graduate honored with the Excellence in Academic Achievement Award, delivers bilingual care in English and Spanish, which matters enormously to patients who need to fully understand their diagnosis and options before agreeing to any procedure.
Dr. Jackson Lewis, who grew up in Porterville and trained at Loma Linda University, brings the same community-first values to every restorative case he handles. Our financial options are designed to remove the cost barrier that keeps too many patients from getting care they need. When you are ready, reach out through our contact form to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hardt, Dr. Cruz, and Dr. Jackson Lewis.