Operative Dentistry
About Operative Dentistry
Operative dentists provide general dental care with a focus on conservative restorative dentistry.
Operative dentistry, also called aesthetic dentistry, is primarily concerned with the treatment of diseases and/or defects of the teeth which do not require full restorations. Emphasizing both function and aesthetics, operative dentistry integrates the latest materials, technologies, and evidence-based practices to address diverse clinical challenges while enhancing patient outcomes.
Services Offered
Procedures that aim to improve the appearance and function of teeth.
Crowns function as covers or caps on a damaged tooth, helping to strengthen and improve its appearance, shape and alignment. Crowns may also be placed on top of dental implants to provide a tooth-like shape and structure.
Using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), crowns can be made in one office visit while the patient waits. After taking a digital scan of the mouth using an intraoral camera (think of an over-sized pen with a video camera on the end), a 3-D image of the teeth and gums appears on a computer screen. Based on the position, size, and shape of the damaged tooth, computer software suggests the ideal dimensions of the needed crown. The dentist fine-tunes the virtual restoration and sends the digital information to a “milling” machine that carves the crown out of a ceramic block, ready to be bonded to the patient’s tooth.
Bridges may be recommended for patients who are missing more than one tooth. They span the space where teeth are missing and are anchored to natural teeth or implants surrounding the missing teeth.
Although crowns and bridges can last many years, our prosthodontists assist patients in providing education and maintenance to make sure they last.
A dental filling that is placed directly into the tooth.
Through direct restoration or crown as described above based on your dental needs.
A cosmetic dentistry process that removes tiny amounts of tooth enamel to change the shape, length, or surface of one or more teeth. Reducing the enamel recontouring by a few millimeters can make a significant difference to the appearance of the tooth. Tooth reshaping is often combined with dental bonding, a cosmetic dentistry procedure using tooth-colored composite resin to sculpt and shape the teeth.
Take-home, custom-made whitening trays, as well as whitening formula to brighten teeth.
Enamel microabrasion is a cosmetic dentistry treatment that involves removing a very thin layer of enamel from the tooth surface. This procedure is typically done to improve the appearance of tooth discoloration from enamel defects that occur during tooth development or from fluorosis. can also be used to remove yellow and brown spots on the teeth caused by decalcification of the enamel. This can occur due to a build-up of plaque on the teeth, which produces acid that leaches the minerals from the enamel. A dental professional may also recommend the treatment for people with discolored teeth from dietary choices, tobacco use, or genetics.
These veneers are thin shells of porcelain adhered to the outer surface of the tooth that mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth that are stain-resistant, and gum-tolerant. Despite being no thicker than a fingernail, veneers can easily conceal dental issues, such as: gaps between teeth, chipping, discolorations, crooked or oddly shaped teeth, and misalignment.
Inlays and onlays are often referred to as partial crowns. They use the existing tooth as a foundation and fit into or onto the tooth. This is done to strengthen the tooth, restore its shape, and prevent further damage. An inlay is done when there is no damage to the cusps of the tooth and the inlay can be placed right on the tooth. An onlay is used when the damage is a little more extensive.
Clinic Details
Location
Brauer Hall, 4th Floor
Room 401
120 Dental Circle
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone
(919) 537-3832
Hours
Monday – Tuesday
8 a.m. – Noon
Wednesday
Noon – 5 p.m.
Thursday
8 a.m. – Noon
Closed: Friday – Sunday
Providers include:
Residents overseen by faculty
Clinic Information
We are a referral-based clinic. Your dental provider can place a referral through CareLink. All referrals from outside the dental school will require an initial evaluation to confirm diagnosis and needed treatment. If accepted into the Graduate Operative program, you will be added to the waitlist for resident assignment. The average wait time for treatment to begin is 1-3 months. Patients are assigned to a resident provider based on their treatment needs. Due to the learning environment your treatment may take longer to complete than in a private practice. Please be prepared for the possibility of multiple 2-3 hour appointments, depending on treatment plan.
Faculty appointments are the same price as a dental office.
The Graduate Operative clinic provides services at a reduced fee, roughly half of the cost of private practice. All treatment is expected to be paid for in full on the day the service is provided. We can only accept Delta Dental or Dental Medicaid insurance and will file the claim for you. Patients with either Delta Dental or Dental Medicaid are responsible for their estimated portion and/or all services not covered by a copay. Payment will be expected at check-in on the day services are rendered. If you have dental insurance other than what is listed above, we are happy to provide you with the documentation needed to submit your own claim for reimbursement.
All patients will be given a treatment plan outlining the recommended treatment and associated fees.
We take seriously our commitment to provide high quality dental care for our patients while maintaining the continuity of our residents’ clinical training. We will continue treatment following your understanding and agreement to the following conditions:
- Be considerate and respectful of all members of our team. To maintain a safe and stable learning environment, the Graduate Endodontics department has a zero-tolerance policy for threats of violence, abusive language, or sexual harassment.
- Maintain open and consistent communication with the staff and your resident provider.
- Be available to schedule the appointments your provider indicates are needed to treat your dental disease. This includes availability to make appointments during the entire treatment phase, keep scheduled appointments, and arriving on time to appointments.
- All appointments you agree to have scheduled must be attended or cancelled with at least 48-hour notice. Same day cancellations are considered a no show. Multiple cancellations and/or no shows are grounds for dismissal.
- Available to stay at the school for the entirety of scheduled appointment.
- Ask questions and understand the nature of your dental condition and financial responsibility of treatments.
- Follow treatment recommendations to include after care.
Failure to comply with any of the above may result in discharge from the program.
In the event of dismissal, you will not be eligible for readmission. You may file a formal appeal in writing to have your case reviewed. Reacceptance as a patient in our clinic will be determined by the program director and clinic manager.
Parking and Directions
Location
Tarrson Hall
120 Dental Circle
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Patient Parking
UNC Dogwood Deck Visitor Parking
123 East Drive, Chapel Hill, NC
Accessible via East Dr. or Mason Farm Rd.
Disability Parking
UNC Ambulatory Care (ACC) Parking
102 Mason Farm Rd,
First Floor,
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Patients with mobility challenges should park in the Ambulatory Care (ACC) lot and take the free shuttles to the school. Riders will need to inform the shuttle their destination is the dental school. The patient or clinic will need to call the shuttle for pick-up at (984) 974-0465 to return them to ACC parking.