Restorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on improving the function and form of damaged teeth and replacing the missing teeth. To put it simply, restorative dentistry aims to repair, replace and save those teeth which have been affected by decay, trauma, or other damage. Right from durable, realistic-looking crowns, bridges, to dentures, there are a variety of restorative dentistry treatments to restore the look, shape and feel of natural teeth. As they help replace the missing or damaged teeth, they make your smile look as good as new.
Restorative Dentistry and its types
Restorative dentistry is a broad term that covers all aspects of Periodontics, Endodontics and Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics. All the mentioned specialities focus on the rehabilitation and treatment of damaged teeth and hence fall under the field of conservative or restorative dentistry.
As restorative dentistry seeks to avoid tooth extraction by offering conservative care, it is minimally invasive in nature. The most commonly used restorative dental materials which are used to fabricate cavity fillings, crowns, implants, dentures, and other restorations are metals, porcelains, and composite resins.
When you’re missing one or more teeth, your chewing ability gets impacted making it difficult to eat all the foods you love. Besides this, having one or more missing teeth makes you vulnerable to oral infections, including gum disease. This is why filling empty spaces in the mouth is extremely important to help keep teeth properly aligned and chew and speak properly. That’s where restorative dentistry helps. Missing teeth not only affect your health but also impact your appearance and lead to low esteem. Restorative dentistry procedures can provide the aesthetic appeal, smile and confidence you desire.
Types of procedures & treatments
There are various types of restorative dental services to restore function and appearance. Below are the common types of restorative procedures and treatments that dentists use to repair broken and damaged teeth
Dental crowns are custom made tooth-colored or metal restorations. Designed as a hollow, tooth shaped cap, they help replace missing tooth structure caused by root canals, dental decay, or fractures. Dental crowns are one of the most commonly used dental restorations. When cemented into place, they restore the shape and size and function of a tooth.
There are various situations in which dental crowns may be needed. Most often, they are widely used to protect a tooth that has become decayed or cracked. As they help hold it together and prevent it from breaking, they provide both restorative and cosmetic benefits to the wearer. They also play a substantial role in restoring a tooth that has already broken.
Commonly known as false teeth, dentures are sets of prosthetic teeth that are commonly used to replace multiple missing teeth. Designed to replace a few missing or all of your natural teeth, dentures are quite durable and strong. Popular types of dentures that are used to improve tooth appearance are complete dentures, fixed partial dentures, removable partial dentures, implant-retained dentures, and immediate dentures. Depending on how many teeth are missing, your dentist can design custom dentures to help restore your facial profile. As they replace lost or removed natural teeth, they improve the appearance of your smile and make it easier to eat, chew and speak regularly.
Dental implants are widely used for the prosthetic replacement of missing teeth after an extraction or tooth loss. Depending on the unique needs of the patient, they are custom designed using highly precise 3D digital imaging and implant planning software. During the procedure, a dentist surgically places an implant (artificial tooth root) into the patient’s upper or lower jawbone. It is then allowed to fuse with the bone over the span of a few months. Once this is achieved, a replacement tooth is then mounted to the implant, which acts as the base for the replacement tooth. Dental implants resemble a natural tooth and can last for decades when properly cared for. Always opt for a high quality dental implant and highly professional and experienced dentists who know how to properly place and fuse an implant.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are indirect and partial restorations. They fit in the specific size and shape of the cavity in your teeth and are typically used when a cavity is too large for traditional filling. Based on the tooth structure, inlays and onlays are produced in a dental lab using esthetic and long lasting materials such as ceramics, gold and composite. As the color matches the surrounding teeth, inlays and onlays look and feel like natural teeth.
Dental bridges are full-coverage restorations that are cemented onto existing teeth to replace missing teeth. They are an ideal option to use only when the adjacent teeth are strong enough to support the missing tooth. As dental bridges bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth, they help improve both function and aesthetics. Made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap, they are either supported by natural teeth or implants. Proper care needs to be taken for dental bridges as they are also more prone to fracture and decay than implants. However, their recovery time in dental bridges is faster than implants.
Dental bonding is the practice of using soft composite resin to fix chips or cracks on teeth. The dental procedure is widely used to fill cavities, repair decayed teeth, and cover the surfaces of discolored teeth. One of the best advantages of dental bonding procedures is that the composite resin can be molded into any shape and polished to any shade to match the color of the rest of the tooth surface. As the resin material flawlessly bonds to the patient’s tooth, dental bonding helps improve a person’s smile. Depending on needs, there are three different dental bonding procedures available, including indirect dental bonding, composite veneer bonding, and composite bonding.
If your tooth has become cracked, chipped or the enamel has worn away, there are multiple ways to restore damaged teeth. Based on your goals and concerns, your dentist can determine the ideal restorative treatment procedure to restore the health of your teeth.