Restorative Dentistry in San Marco, Jacksonville, FL
A damaged tooth leaves you with a choice that is easy to put off, which is whether to repair a little of it now or rebuild more of it later. The right repair depends mostly on one question, and that question is how much healthy tooth is still there to work with.
JAX Dental Studio helps neighbors answer it from our Hendricks Avenue office on the south end of San Marco. Dr. Charles Poblenz, your dentist in San Marco, uses digital X-rays and a 3D scan to see the damage clearly, then walks you through each repair option before any work begins. Repairs happen at that same office in South San Marco, which is home base for each area we serve.
What Restorative Treatments Do We Offer in San Marco?
Restorative dentistry covers two jobs, which are repairing teeth you still have and replacing teeth you have lost. Dr. Poblenz reviews your images and iTero 5D scan with you before suggesting anything. Most patients need only one or two of these treatments at a time.
Repairing a Damaged Tooth
Small cavities usually call for a tooth-colored filling. Larger damage may need an inlay or onlay, which covers part of the chewing surface, or a dental crown, which covers the whole visible tooth. When infection reaches the nerve, root canal therapy may save the tooth before a crown goes on top. Crowns come in porcelain, zirconia, and other materials, matched to where the tooth sits and how hard it works.
Replacing Missing Teeth
A bridge fills a gap of one to three teeth by anchoring to the neighbors. Partial or full dentures replace several teeth or a whole arch, and dental implants in San Marco offer a fixed option. When many teeth need work at once, a full-mouth restoration puts every step in order. Bridges usually take two visits, and dentures are refined over a few fittings so they feel secure.
Deciding Together
We start with the most conservative repair that will hold up, then weigh cost, the number of visits, and your goals. Sometimes more than one option could work, and we tell you that plainly. A treatment coordinator reviews the price of each choice and what insurance may cover before you commit. If you are planning whitening, we suggest doing it before a crown or bridge so the new work matches your brighter shade.
Most PPO Plans Accepted With Flexible Financing
We are in network with BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Cigna, Aetna, and Florida Combined Life, and we offer CareCredit, Cherry, and an in-house membership plan for patients without insurance.
When Is a Filling Enough, and When Do You Need More?
Each repair keeps a different amount of natural tooth. A filling rebuilds a small area with composite resin, usually in one visit. Inlays and onlays are made in a lab and bonded in place over two visits, saving more tooth than a crown. A crown covers everything above the gum and suits cracked teeth or very large cavities. A temporary restoration protects the tooth while the lab works, and we check the fit and bite before bonding.
Decay keeps working until it is removed, so timing matters. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research figures indicate that nearly 90% of adults ages 20 to 64 have had decay in their teeth, and about 1 in 5 have had decay that went untreated. A few signs suggest a tooth deserves a closer look soon:
- Sensitivity: a quick, sharp twinge with hot, cold, or sweet foods.
- Pain when biting: discomfort on one side when you chew.
- Visible changes: a dark spot, pit, or chip you can see or feel with your tongue.
- Food traps: food that catches in the same spot meal after meal.
- Old dental work: a filling that feels rough, cracked, or loose.
Not every cavity hurts, which is why routine exams catch so many of them first. Our digital X-rays can show decay hiding between teeth, where a mirror never reaches. Coming in when you first notice a change may keep more of your options open.
Why Do San Marco Patients Trust JAX Dental Studio With Repairs?
San Marco’s preservation society formed in 1975 to protect the neighborhood’s historic character, and we bring a similar mindset to teeth by keeping original structure wherever it is sound. Our iTero 5D scanner captures precise 3D impressions without messy trays, which helps crowns and onlays fit properly. If dental work makes you uneasy, we keep you informed at each step. We also check existing fillings and crowns at every checkup, so wear or a rough edge gets noticed early.
Continuing education is a yearly habit here, and our hours run well beyond what Florida requires. If a tooth breaks without warning, our emergency dentistry in San Marco team sets aside time each office day for urgent repairs.
Will Cosmetic Dentistry Fit Alongside Tooth Repairs?
Repairs restore function, and San Marco cosmetic dentistry changes color, shape, or spacing, so the two can be planned together. All-white fillings sit in both groups, since shade-matched composite replaces dark metal fillings.
Questions About Crowns and Fillings From San Marco Patients
Before repairing a tooth, most people want to know about timing, durability, and cost. These answers cover what San Marco patients ask us about crowns and fillings.
How long does it take to get a crown?
Most crowns take two visits spaced a few weeks apart. At the first visit we numb the area, reshape the tooth, take a 3D scan and color photos, and place a temporary resin crown. The lab then makes the permanent crown from porcelain ceramic, which takes a few weeks. At the second visit we check the fit, adjust it if needed, and bond it in place.
What affects the cost of a crown or filling?
Cost depends on how much of the tooth needs repair, the material used, and whether other work, such as a root canal, comes first. Before treatment begins, our treatment coordinator gives you a clear breakdown of each option and what your insurance may pay. Coverage through Aetna, Cigna, Humana, BlueCross BlueShield, or Florida Combined Life is in network here, and patients without insurance can ask about our savings plan or about CareCredit and Cherry payment options.
How long do tooth-colored fillings last?
Tooth-colored composite fillings can last for years with regular checkups and good brushing. The resin is shaped and bonded in a single visit, and a metal-free all-white option is available. Lifespan depends on the size of the filling, where it sits, and how hard the tooth works, so we check every filling at your exams and replace one that wears or cracks.
Can a cracked tooth be saved?
Often yes, depending on how deep the crack runs. A chip or shallow crack may be rebuilt with a filling, inlay, or onlay, while a deeper crack usually calls for a crown that holds the tooth together. If the crack reaches the nerve, root canal therapy comes first, and a tooth cracked below the gumline may not be savable. Dr. Poblenz uses an exam and digital X-rays to tell which applies.
How do I care for a new crown?
Treat it like a natural tooth: brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, pay attention to the gumline where the crown meets the tooth, and floss every day. Avoid chewing ice or hard candy, and tell us if you grind your teeth at night, because a night guard can protect the crown. The tooth underneath can still decay, so regular checkups matter.
Repair Your Tooth at JAX Dental Studio
The earlier a damaged tooth is repaired, the more choices you may have. A 2015 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Dr. Charles Poblenz stays connected to colleagues across the region through the Northeast District Dental Association. We accept most PPO plans, handle the insurance paperwork for you, and offer financing through CareCredit and Cherry.
From homes near I-95 to the blocks around Greenridge Road, San Marco residents can have a tooth checked without leaving the neighborhood. Online booking works at any hour, even on our closed days from Friday to Sunday. Schedule your visit and we can show you exactly what your tooth needs.
