Have you ever been in an unfortunate situation and somehow chipped your tooth? Whether you’ve knocked your teeth clumsily with utensils, knocked them on a glass bottle, or chewed too hard on a gumball, don’t stress. There are easy solutions to preserving teeth that have been chipped or damaged. Let’s unpack restorative dentistry.
What is dental restoration?
What is restorative dental care? Restorative dentistry involves replacing or repairing any missing or damaged teeth, which supports the overall health of your teeth and gums. Aesthetically speaking, teeth are the first thing people notice, so restoring problem areas can boost your confidence.
There’s no need to keep feeling self-conscious about the way your smile looks. Compared to past technology in terms of tooth restoration, dentistry has evolved so you’ll never have to live with a gap in your smile.
What are the benefits of restorative dentistry?
- You’ll have an instant solution to your smile insecurity. No need to keep booking appointments.
- Tooth restoration will help you to save money. Tackling dentistry issues now will prevent them from worsening in the future.
- You’ll feel and see improvements when it comes to eating and speaking.
- You’ll feel less jaw pain as you can even out the force of your bite.
- Your teeth will be aligned better and won’t have any issues with chewing.
- If you have any missing teeth, you’ll be able to protect your teeth from shifting into any of these gaps.
- Tooth restoration will help your teeth become stronger. If your teeth are too damaged to eat or chew, you’ll feel better knowing your daily life will improve.
Types of dental restoration
Dental bonding
Do you have crowded bottom teeth or a smaller jaw from birth? This can be contributing to enamel erosion against your top teeth over time. Bonding can help with such minor damage to teeth and restore your enamel in only one session.
These composite fillings are made from fine glass and plastic participles used to seal up any enamel on the back or front of teeth. Not only is this process fast and affordable, but it can last up to 12 years before needing a replacement. No need to book a follow-up appointment any time soon!
Dental crown
Do you have larger chips, worn-out teeth, stains, or damage from being knocked during P.E class? Dental crowns are a type of tooth restoration that replaces the surface of teeth and are less expensive compared to fillings.
Types of dental crowns include golden crowns, fully porcelain crowns, zirconia crowns, and porcelain fused to metal crowns. This form of tooth restoration can last over 15 years if cared for properly.
Porcelain veneers
Have you always wanted a celebrity smile? Veneers are a type of dental restoration bond to the front side of your teeth and can work well to protect teeth that are weak or broken. These can also enhance the appearance of strangely shaped teeth.
Porcelain veneers can cost from $900 to $2,500 per tooth, however, they can last over 20 years and are well worth the investment. Imagine how confident you would feel knowing the longevity of your smile.
Dental fillings
If you’ve been battling tooth decay, a dental filling may be necessary to remove it. A local anesthetic will be used, along with porcelain or composite resin to fill any holes made to remove the decay. Although this sounds intimidating, your dentist will ensure you’re feeling comfortable.
Bridges
Have you recently been in an accident? Bridges can replace one to four teeth with false teeth and are usually mounted onto existing teeth or implants. These then become a bridge over any gaps and restore your smile, and can cost $1800 per tooth.
Dentures
If your teeth have been damaged due to a third party, you may be seeking alternatives for your smile. Made of acrylic, dentures are false teeth and can be removed from the mouth. Full or partial dentures are available, depending on your oral needs.
Dental implant
If you’ve decided to get a crown put in place of a damaged tooth, an implant acts as an anchor of sorts to keep it in place. Types of dental implants include single-tooth implants, implant-supported bridges, and implant-supported dentures.
This study reflects on the perceptions in restorative dentistry, and how 93.8% of patients have chosen dental implants to replace missing teeth.
Are there any risks to restorative dentistry?
After the excitement of seeing your broken teeth being remade into new ones, you might be wondering if there are any risks with restorative dentistry. The good news is, all dental restorations come with little to no risks.
The most common risk is tooth sensitivity, but in extremely rare cases you can be prone to allergic reactions or infections. Crowns can become loose, and deeper cavities may need to be extracted, but keep in mind that your dentist or oral health professional will always be there to support you. You’ll be guided no matter what concerns you may have.
How long will it take to recover from restorative dentistry procedures?
If you’re wondering about your recovery time, it’s not as bad as you think. Recovery time depends on the procedure and the number of teeth that needed treatment, but in almost all cases there are little to no drastic changes.
In cases of multiple dental implants, however, a couple of days may be needed. If you’re in doubt or worried, always ask your dentist for their professional opinion on what to expect for your own recovery.
What other treatments are included?
Tooth restoration before and after care is very important and will be unique to your dental goals. Although your teeth can be transformed visually, it is important for them to feel great, too.
Your restorative dentistry treatment could also include teeth extractions, bone grafting, cleaning, root canals, and assisting gum disease.
At Kew Dentistry, we value the importance of a great smile and how it can change your life. Whichever your needs are, we can create a tooth restoration plan for you.