The question, “What is restorative dentistry?” is an interesting one. As humans, we take our oral care and hygiene very seriously and have done so for centuries. Did you know the human race has practiced restorative dentistry since 11,000 BCE?
That’s a long time, and our technology has advanced significantly since then. The days of using bitumen and flint in our operating theaters are fortunately long behind us. Today, restorative dentistry solves all kinds of dental issues with results so effective they often need to be seen to be believed.
If you’re interested in what restorative dentistry can do, read on to find out more!
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
In general terms, dental restoration is exactly what it sounds like. Our teeth are precious to us, and life is hard on them. Between life as usual and the occasional accident, our teeth will eventually need some form of maintenance.
This is where restorative dentistry comes in. Whatever the issue, there’s a form of technology alongside a proven strategy to fix what ails you. These treatments and procedures cover a variety of solutions involving the teeth, gums, and jaw.
We’ve written this guide to shed some light on the particulars of restorative dentistry, how some common dental procedures are performed, and what’s possible in the hands of a skilled dental practitioner.
Fillings for Minor Decay and Fractures
If you’ve ever spent any time in the waiting room at the dentist’s office, you’ve likely heard the dreaded whine of the dentist’s drill. One of the most common procedures restorative dentistry undertakes is correcting the damage caused by tooth decay. A sugary diet combined with a lack of routine brushing is one way to avoid this, but only the dentist can help once the damage occurs.
Tooth decay leads to toothache when enough enamel and dentin are lost. Eventually, the nerves of the tooth become exposed to the elements, causing extreme discomfort and increasing the possibility of infection. Restorative dentistry repairs the decay through the application of amalgam (silver fillings) or composite resin.
The dentist removes the decayed material to create a space for the chosen filler to adhere to. Once the decay is removed, it will stop progressing as long as good dental hygiene practices continue. The dentist then removes the extra material to ensure the filling doesn’t protrude and the patient can close their mouth comfortably.
Crowns for Strengthening and Aesthetics
Over time, our teeth tend to wear down with use. Many of our favorite foods and drinks contain sugary or acidic ingredients, so it’s only a matter of time. Good dental hygiene goes a long way to minimizing wear on our teeth, but the protection it offers isn’t perfect. We commonly seek repairs to restore the shape, size, and strength of our teeth back to their former glory.
Dentists use a wide array of materials to achieve the desired effect, including ceramic, metal, and porcelain. In certain cases, they use a combination of materials depending on availability, price, application, and aesthetic quality. Some techniques for crown repair are less permanent than others, which will reflect the price and longevity of the repair.
The procedure itself varies depending on the material used and the quality of the tooth that needs work. The most common practice involves taking an impression of the tooth after preparing it to accept the new crown. The dentist removes the material until a good fit is assured before setting the crown in place with a permanent bond.
Bridges for Replacing Lost Teeth
Losing teeth is a traumatic experience, especially as an adult. Once we pass a certain age and all our adult teeth have come in, there are no more second chances. Unless, of course, you’re fortunate enough to know of a nearby professional dentistry practice.
Replacing a lost tooth presents some problems because there’s nothing to anchor a new one to apart from the gum and jawbone. While replacement teeth can be affixed to the jawbone itself, some patients prefer a less invasive route. Bridges provide the perfect solution in this regard because they use the teeth surrounding the gap as support.
Different types of bridges exist depending on where the gap is and how many teeth are missing. Traditional bridges rely on the crowns of the teeth next to them for support, but this isn’t always possible. If the gap only has a single adjacent tooth, a cantilever bridge serves the same purpose.
Career dentists work with enormously varied conditions concerning their patients’ teeth repair needs. No matter the situation, they usually have a solution or two to get the job done, and the cantilever bridge exemplifies the ingenuity of dentistry as a whole.
Dentures for Missing Teeth
For whatever reason, sometimes people prefer not to have permanent tooth implants. The beauty of modern dentistry is that more than one solution often exists for each individual case. Dentures are a fantastic choice due to their noninvasive application and comparatively low price point.
Whether you’re missing all of your teeth or just a couple, dentures offer a quick and effective solution. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying apples and raw carrots without a second thought, and nobody will be able to tell the difference.
Similar to the application of a single crown, but on a larger scale, dentures fit by taking an impression of the entire mouth. This allows for dentures to fit better than ever before, providing a comfortably tailored fit every time.
Implants for a Permanent Solution
Dentures are fantastic, but they come with a few downsides. Dentists advise denture wearers not to sleep in them, for example, which means taking them out now and then. For those of us who are inclined to be somewhat scatterbrained, this means risking losing them altogether.
Implants feel a lot more like real teeth, whereas dentures might feel a little unnatural in comparison. If you’re looking for a hassle-free solution, implants certainly require far less maintenance than dentures do. They do, however, require you to undergo the type of ordeal that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Fortunately, though, it’s not the type of procedure dentists perform without great attention to pain management. In some cases, dentists may even opt for general anesthesia, but conscious sedation alongside local anesthesia is more common.
The surgical procedure to install the foundational implant post for the abutments and crowns is invasive. The dentist drills into the jawbone to create a firm foundation before securely screwing the posts in afterward. While this may sound barbaric, it’s incredibly effective and provides patients with a full set of perfect teeth, all at the price of discomfort that’s more mental than physical.
Root Canal Therapy
Our teeth are very much alive, despite their outwardly stony appearance. Sometimes, the tooth itself remains in perfect health while the root becomes infected or otherwise damaged. It’s possible to save a structurally sound tooth before the infection gets out of hand through a process called a root canal.
A root canal removes the infected tissue and cleans the area to prevent reinfection. The dentist then seals the tooth, and it remains largely the same as before the procedure, except for a new crown, as a significant portion of the original tooth is removed.
Root canal therapy is a lifesaver for many because an infection can quickly get out of hand once it has penetrated the pulp and nerve of the tooth. In extreme cases, decay left untreated for too long can lead to infection in the jaw itself.
Inlays and Onlays
For teeth with minor decay and cosmetic damage, inlays and onlays are just the ticket. These repairs address minor chips and dings and fix the damage left by decay after cleaning. Catching an issue at this stage often prevents the damage from progressing to the point where a root canal becomes a necessity.
Minor damage might not seem like a big deal, but catching it before it progresses into an issue is part of the trouble. It’s all too common for tooth decay to advance to the stage of needing a root canal simply because we failed to catch the start of it or fix it if we did.
Dentists prefer materials such as porcelain, composite resin, and gold for these smaller jobs, as they’re less structural and more aesthetically pleasing than metal-based filler. The process for creating inlays and onlays is similar to that for crowns and dentures, as the dentist makes an impression to ensure perfect repairs.
Pinnacle Dentistry, Colorado Springs
We hope this article has answered the question, “What is restorative dentistry?” and helped you understand what we do every day in our practice. While some of it sounds complicated and perhaps a little daunting, it’s all just another day at the office for our seasoned professionals!
At Pinnacle Dentistry we take patient care and attention very seriously, and doing so has enabled us to keep many of our patients loyal for over a decade. Dr. Jennings and Dr. Perrett are well-loved for a reason, and we hope you’ll come to find out why for yourself.
If you have any questions regarding our services or your dental health in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch today!
