When it comes to dental care, restorative options are an important part of keeping your smile healthy.
If you’ve had a tooth knocked out or have gone through significant dental decay, you’re definitely a candidate for restorative dental care. This type of care uses different techniques to rebuild or restore teeth to their former glory.
Types of restorative dental care include:
- Dental Implants: A titanium or ceramic post is surgically inserted into the jawbone, and a replacement tooth is attached to the post.
- Crowns: A cap made of porcelain or other material is placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape and appearance.
- Bridges: A bridge is a row of two or more artificial teeth that are anchored to adjacent natural teeth on either side of the space left by a missing tooth.
- Dentures: A denture is an appliance that replaces all or most of the natural tooth structure. Dentures can be customized to fit snugly and comfortably in the mouth.
- Tooth Fillings: Dental fillings are tooth-colored resin fillings that are used to repair minor tooth damage like cavities.
Restorative Dentistry Procedures
Dental Implants
The dental implant procedure requires more than one appointment. Before dental implants are installed, your dentist will take a series of dental x-rays to determine the location and size of the implant sites.
Once the dental implant sites have been determined, your dentist will surgically place the implants into your jawbone.
After the implants are placed, you will need to wait several months for them to heal and integrate with your jawbone.
Once the implants have healed, your dentist will attach abutments (metal or ceramic posts) to the top of the implants.
The abutments will then be used to attach your denture or bridge.
Crowns
Dental crowns are a great way of fixing and replacing damaged and missing teeth.
Placing a dental crown involves two appointments.
At the first appointment, your dentist will remove any decay and shape the tooth. He or she will then place a temporary crown.
An impression of the tooth will then be taken and sent to a dental lab.
The permanent crown will be made at the dental lab and sent to your dentist.
Your dentist will then attach the crown to the implant abutment.
Bridges
Dental bridge placement involves two appointments as well.
At the first appointment, your dentist will take an impression of the teeth on either side of the gap.
He or she will also remove any decay and shape the tooth.
A temporary bridge will then be placed.
An impression of the bridge will be taken and sent to a dental lab.
The permanent bridge will be made at the dental lab and sent to your dentist.
Your dentist will then attach the bridge to the dental abutments.
Dentures
Getting customized dentures is a more involved process than the above procedures.
Custom-made dentures, which are made from high-grade materials and are based on your teeth’s denture impressions, need to provide a pleasant and precise fit.
Dentures can be made to be full or partial. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth still remain in the mouth. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth have been removed.
Your dentist will take impressions of your upper and lower jaws. These impressions will be sent to a dental lab, which will make the dentures according to your specific needs.
The process can take around 8 weeks.
Once the dentures are ready, you will need to schedule an appointment for a follow-up visit with your dentist.
During this appointment, your dentist will check the fit of the dentures and make any necessary adjustments.
Tooth Fillings
Dental fillings are routine dental procedures that are used to fill in cavities and repair one or more teeth.
There are many different types of dental fillings, including:
- Gold
- Silver
- Composite
- Porcelain
- Ceramic
- Resin
You can talk with your dentist if you want a specific type of filling, as well as their different biological implications.
The process of getting a dental filling usually takes around 30 minutes.
People need dental fillings if they have cavities, as there is no natural way to fix that problem.
Benefits of Restorative Dental Care
A restorative procedure in dental care can make all the difference, including:
- Restoration of your smile,
- Prevention of tooth decay and other oral health problems,
- Improved function and comfort of your teeth,
- Improved overall health.
If you are looking for a way to improve your oral health, consider restorative dental treatment. Talk to your dentist to find out more about the options available to you. Different dentists offer different restorative dentistry services, so it is important to find one that meets your needs.