Restorative dentistry involves restoring a tooth or teeth from damage or decay. Your dentist’s
ultimate goal is to protect your natural smile, so restorative dentistry typically involves working
with your existing tooth structure to help support the teeth that have been affected by your
condition.
There are many types of restorative dentistry to get your smile back on track. Regardless of
whether you’ve experienced tooth decay, missing teeth, cracks, or broken teeth, restorative
dentistry is here to return your smile to its absolute best. What are your restorative dentistry
options?
Fillings
Dental fillings are a very common restoration. Using a filling material that’s safe and effective,
your dentist will fill in your cavity to protect the tooth from further decay and keep the rest of
your mouth healthy. Almost everyone has had some type of dental filling in their lifetime.
Dental fillings will need to be maintained and ultimately replaced to ensure continued
protection.
Bridges
A dental bridge may be a good fit for you if you’re missing one or more teeth in a row. Dental
bridges rely on the surrounding teeth to bridge the gap with a dental crown. Bridges are ideal
for missing back teeth and, like most other forms of restorative dentistry, will need to be
maintained and replaced after a certain number of years.
Crowns
A dental crown is a ceramic tooth replacement that looks very much like your natural tooth.
Crowns are used in restorative dentistry when a filling is too large to be restored or the tooth is
so damaged it needs to be capped to protect it. A sturdy crown will fit over your existing tooth
to prevent it from experiencing further decay or harm. A dental crown will be indistinguishable
from the rest of your teeth.
Veneers
Dental veneers, like crowns, consist of ceramic. They are thin and light, yet very durable and
strong. Veneers are placed over your natural teeth and permanently fixed into place. They can
fix a variety of issues with your smile for a complete transformation, from stubborn stains to
extensive chips to worn-down teeth.
Implants
Dental implants consist of a titanium implant that’s inserted into your jaw where your missing
tooth is. Once this is healed, a crown is placed on the end of the implant. Dental implants mimic
your natural teeth and, once healed, will never need to be replaced, although your dental
crown will need to be replaced at some point in the future.
Bonding
Dental bonding involves the use of composite resin—a tooth-colored material sometimes used
for fillings—to fix cracks, chips, broken teeth, and even gaps. Dental bonding is effective for a
variety of uses in restoration dentistry to complete your perfect smile.
Dentures
Dentures are false teeth that are designed to fit comfortably in your mouth. Unlike dental
implants or veneers, dentures are removable and will need to be removed and cleaned daily.
You have the option of a partial denture or a full set depending on how many of your natural
teeth are missing.
For whatever has impacted your smile, restoration dentistry can make it right. Addressing the
root cause of your concern can help you and your dentist make the best choice for your smile.
Make an appointment with your dentist today to talk about your restorative dentistry options
and get your beautiful smile back!
