If you are experiencing tooth pain, have damaged teeth, or are missing teeth, restorative dentistry can help make your smile healthy again. Having a healthy smile does not only mean having straight teeth — it means having teeth that function properly and make your life easier. No one should struggle to talk, drink, or chew because of damaged or missing teeth. You also should not have to make it through the workday (or any day) with tooth pain. A restorative dentist can treat various oral health issues to restore the mouth to a pain-free state.
Restorative dentistry aims to “restore” the teeth, so they function as intended. This includes making eating, speaking, and drinking cold and hot beverages easier. Along with that, restorative dentistry can help patients achieve lasting relief from toothaches. The goal is to fix current oral health problems and put long-lasting health within reach.
Specifically, restorative dentistry covers all aspects of periodontics, endodontics, and fixed and removable prosthodontics, including maxillofacial prosthodontics and implant dentistry. Any area of dentistry that deals with rebuilding damaged teeth or replacing missing ones typically falls under this category.
A patient may need to have restorations done to their mouth for many reasons. Here are some of the most common restorative dental treatments and the problems they fix:
Fillings are a form of preemptive restorative dentistry because they are one way to slow down tooth decay. If tooth decay is minimal, the dentist will most likely remove all the decay and fix it with a filling. The earlier it is caught, the less painful and invasive the treatment. Do not wait to see a dentist about a potential cavity. If a cavity is allowed to progress, a root canal rather than a filling may be necessary.
When the root of a tooth becomes infected, a dentist will conduct a root canal to save it. Root canals are no longer unbearably painful; modern restorative dentistry has made root canals about as painless as getting a filling. The dentist will remove the abscess, clean the affected tooth, then fill and seal it. Feeling a bit sore for a few days after a root canal is common.
Dental crowns help repair the size, shape, and functionality of teeth, preventing further damage. After removing the damaged area, a crown will go over the top of the remaining tooth. The result is a fully functional tooth. However, if there is a great deal of wear and tear on the teeth, consider talking to the dentist about crowns.
Crowns may be metal, resin, porcelain, or ceramic. Metal crowns are the only ones that stick out (the others blend into natural teeth easily) but are the sturdiest. For this reason, dentists typically use metal dental crowns to repair damaged molars.
If the damaged area is too large for a filling but too small to warrant a dental crown, restorative dentists may utilize dental inlays or onlays instead. Both inlays and onlays are constructed of tooth-like material to help them blend into the rest of the teeth seamlessly. An inlay is used on the chewing surface of the tooth; an overlay extends to cover the cusp of a tooth.
Dentures are a common and well-known tooth replacement. Patients can opt for complete or partial dentures depending on the number of missing teeth. There is a bit of an adjustment period to speaking and eating with dentures, but most people get used to it with practice.
Dental bridges are false teeth that fill the gap where one or more teeth are missing. This can provide varying levels of comfort for the patient and benefit the smile's cosmetic appearance. The false teeth, or "pontics," are held in place by the teeth on each side of the gap. The dentist will place dental crowns on top of these supporting teeth, or "abutment teeth," to secure the bridge.
Dental implants mimic natural teeth in both look and feel, making them a great choice for patients who do not want to bother with dentures. Implants are surgically inserted posts that attach to the jaw. After the surgical site heals, the final step is to place a dental crown on top of the implant.
Do not let oral health concerns get in the way of living life. Our dental team has our patients’ best interests in mind. Contact us today for a happier, more comfortable smile.
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