Your Pembroke Invisalign® Provider
Are you unsure about what restorative dental care is, and why it is so important for your oral health? In this post, our Pembroke dentists explain the different types of restorative dental services and how they can help restore your smile.
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Restorative Dental Treatment
Restorative dental care refers to treatments that restore the structure, integrity, and/or function of a damaged tooth or teeth. This damage can range from decay to injury (chipping and other external trauma, for example). The goal of restorative dental treatment is to bring the tooth or teeth back to their normal function.
The timeline for restorative dental treatment can drastically vary depending on the needs of the patient. This is because many factors play a role in how a procedure will play out, such as the extent of damage to the tooth, how difficult the procedure will be, and how comfortable the patient feels throughout treatment.
The Importance of Restorative Dental Care
To put it simply, badly decaying teeth can adversely affect your appearance, self-esteem, and even your overall health (not just your oral health). Replacing and/or fixing decaying teeth can help maintain good oral health by preventing plaque build-up. Further, filling open or damaged spots in vacant areas of the mouth is important for keeping teeth well-aligned. And, believe it or not, replacing missing teeth can put far less pressure on remaining teeth when eating. The more teeth there are, the easier it will be to chew and the less plaque build-up there will be on the natural teeth.
Treatment Process
Prior to treatment, your dentist will likely diagnose your condition using a variety of means, including X-rays and a thorough examination of your mouth.
Treatment will vary among individuals. Sometimes the treatment, if there isn't too much damage and the treatment is minimally-invasive, will only require a single dental appointment. Other times, you may require multiple appointments if the issue is too extensive. Depending on the patient, specialists, such as a prosthodontist, endodontist, or maxillofacial surgeon, may be required.
During the procedure, your dentist may use different types of anesthesia to help reduce/eliminate pain. They might also use anesthesia to calm any anxiety you may have.
Most dental restoration procedures are classified as either direct or indirect. Direct procedures usually involve repairs done inside the mouth. Indirect procedures are done outside the mouth and then attached to the tooth or the tooth structure.
Direct Restoration
Another word for this common procedure is 'fillings.' With direct restorations, your dentist usually places a mouldable substance inside of a tooth cavity after thoroughly cleaning it. This material will harden and restore the tooth's structure. Common materials used for fillings include silver amalgam, composite fillings, and glass ionomer fillings.
Indirect Restoration
With indirect restorations, construction happens outside of the mouth. There is usually much more work involved with indirect restorations, but the results are usually more stable and long-lasting. It can also help restore the overall appearance of your teeth. Some common examples of indirect restorations include veneers, crowns & bridges, implants, inlays, and onlays.