Restorative Dentistry

Sometimes, despite their best efforts to maintain strong healthy teeth, patients may find that their teeth are damaged by decay or injury. In such cases, restorative dentistry can help to make the smile whole again.

The ideal outcome of restorative dentistry is to save your biological tooth. Even the most technologically advanced tooth replacement options cannot fully perform the functions of a natural tooth. However, if it’s not possible to save your tooth, we can still place a prosthetic to restore a complete smile.

We recognize that the appearance of the restoration is just as important as its structural integrity, and we will work diligently to provide a beautiful restoration or prosthetic with a lifelike aesthetic and a seamless fit with the rest of your smile.

If you need to restore a damaged tooth or replace missing teeth, schedule a consultation at our office to learn how restorative dentistry can help.

Restorations Can Make It Possible to Save Your Biological Teeth

Our preference is to preserve your biological teeth whenever possible. By acting quickly at the first signs of decay or in the immediate aftermath of tooth-damaging trauma, you give yourself the best opportunity to do so. Depending on the degree of damage, we can use the following tools for its repair:

Tooth-colored fillings

Restorations used to replace relatively small areas of decayed tooth material.

Inlays/Onlays

Larger than fillings, but smaller than crowns; Often used to address damage on the large chewing surfaces of teeth.

Dental Crowns

Tooth-shaped caps used for sizable areas of decay or to protect a tooth affected by a significant injury; Also placed as protection for a tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy.

Porcelain Veneers

Thin tooth-shaped shells that are bonded atop the biological teeth to conceal defects such as chips, cracks, and stains; May also be placed to make an undersized tooth look proportional to its neighbors or to fill in a gap between teeth.

Restoring A Complete Smile After Tooth Loss

When it is not possible to save a damaged tooth, it’s important to have that tooth replaced after it is extracted. Patients who fail to replace a missing tooth or teeth may experience altered chewing function, or their teeth may shift out of the proper positions or exert unusual forces on each other.

Patients who have experienced tooth loss can restore their smiles with the following prosthetics. The specific appliance used will be determined by various factors, including the number of teeth that need to be replaced.

Bridges

Fixed appliance to replace one or more missing teeth that create a gap in the smile; Crowns placed on abutment teeth hold a pontic (artificial tooth or teeth) in place.

Partial Dentures

Removable appliances that replace a number of missing teeth less than an entire arch.

Digital Dentures

Replace a full upper or lower arch; Impressions are taken digitally (no mess!) and interpreted by computer software that designs the specifications of the appliance.

Regardless of the number of teeth you need to have replaced, there is a restorative dentistry treatment option for you. Rest assured that we also prioritize creating a beautiful prosthetic for tooth replacement, just as we consider the appearance of restorations.

Aesthetic Considerations of Restorative Dentistry

When a tooth is damaged or missing, patients aren’t just looking to restore the functionality of that tooth. Understandably, they also have concerns about how the restoration or replacement looks. We work to deliver optimal outcomes in both the appearance and function of restorations.

For example, our office provides tooth-colored fillings so that the restoration doesn’t stand out from the rest of the tooth material, as a dark-colored amalgam (metal) filling does. We also use state-of-the-art materials that closely replicate the aesthetics of biological tooth enamel.

Furthermore, each restoration or prosthetic is customized to match the unique specifications of each patient’s smile. Not only do the materials used in restorations generally look similar to tooth enamel, but they are also tailored to match your specific tooth enamel.

Common Restorative Dentistry Questions:

What are the restorative dental services?

Restorative dental services either repair damaged teeth or replace missing ones. They help to make your smile fully functional and attractive again after issues such as oral diseases, facial trauma, or tooth loss.

What are restorative dental procedures?

The procedures used in restorative dentistry include tooth-colored fillings, dental veneers, dental crowns, bridges, and partial or full dentures. The specific restoration or tooth replacement recommended will be determined by the scope of the damage to the tooth or teeth.

What is considered minor restorative dental work?

Minor restorative dental work encompasses smaller, more conservative restorations, such as fillings or dental bonding to address a minor defect in the tooth. These treatments are typically completed in shorter appointments, sometimes as little as an hour.

Will insurance cover restorative dentistry?

Dental insurance may cover a portion of the costs associated with restorative dentistry, depending on your plan’s benefits. Our experienced billing staff will make every effort to maximize your insurance coverage to minimize your out-of-pocket responsibility. Our office also accepts a variety of forms of payment to allow you to fit your costs into your household budget.