Restorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry focused on restoring the function and appearance of damaged or missing teeth.
Schedule an AppointmentRestorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry focused on restoring the function and appearance of damaged or missing teeth. It involves various procedures aimed at repairing or replacing teeth that have been affected by decay, trauma, or other dental issues. These procedures can include dental fillings, dental crowns, bridges, dental implants, and dentures. The primary goal of restorative dentistry is to improve oral health, enhance the ability to chew and speak properly, and restore a natural-looking smile. Restorative dentistry combines both functional and aesthetic aspects to provide patients with long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing dental solutions.
Crowns are a cosmetic restoration used to strengthen a tooth or improve its shape. The dental crowns procedure is most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or partially destroyed by tooth decay.
Crowns are “cemented” onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong.
Crowns or onlays (partial crowns) are needed when there is insufficient tooth strength remaining to hold a filling. Unlike fillings which apply the restorative material directly into your mouth, a crown is fabricated away from your mouth. Your crown is created in a lab from your unique tooth impression which allows a dental laboratory technician to examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements. Your crown is then sculpted just for you so that your bite and jaw movements function normally once the crown is placed.
Bridge treatment is used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress on your bite.
A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials, and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.
A teeth bonding procedure is a conservative way to repair slightly chipped, discolored, or crooked teeth. During dental bonding, a white filling is placed onto your tooth to improve its appearance. The filling “bonds” with your teeth, and because it comes in a variety of tooth-colored shades, it closely matches the appearance of your natural teeth.
The teeth bonding procedure can also be used for teeth fillings instead of amalgam fillings. Many patients prefer bonded fillings because the white color is much less noticeable than the silver amalgam fillings. Bonding fillings can be used on front and back teeth depending on the location and extent of tooth decay.
Our teeth bonding procedure is less expensive than other cosmetic treatments and usually can be completed in one visit to our office. However, bonding can stain and is easier to break than other cosmetic treatments such as porcelain veneers. If it does break or chip, tell your doctor. The bonding generally can be easily patched or repaired in one visit.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.
Our implant services include:
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.
A porcelain filling may also be referred to as an inlay or an onlay. The only difference between the two lies in how much of a tooth is being repaired. With specific reference to rear teeth, an inlay is used to describe a filling that stays within the upper rim of the tooth. An onlay describes a filling that extends over this upper rim. In short, an onlay is used to treat more extensive decay. If the decay is too severe, a dental crown may be a more appropriate option.
Individuals with severe tooth decay, excessively worn teeth, or missing teeth are most likely candidates for a full mouth reconstruction. This is a medically necessary process to restore good general oral health, including your ability to eat properly. Dental problems work in a domino effect. If you have severely damaged or missing teeth, this will eventually lead to more serious dental issues. A full mouth reconstruction can stop this domino effect before more serious damage and decay sets in.
Many of the same procedures are used for mouth reconstructions that are done during smile makeovers. However, a typical mouth reconstruction tends to require much more extensive dental work, often requiring dental implants and in severe cases, maxillofacial surgery.
Typical mouth reconstruction candidates include:
Treatments will vary from individual to individual. Due to the extent of work that usually needs to be performed, expect your mouth reconstruction to take several months.
We believe in not only beautiful dentistry, but in helping educate our patients to have healthy mouths. Our office caters to families and individuals looking for outstanding dental care.
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