Summary:
Did you know that approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from dental problems and oral diseases?
Tooth loss, though common, is a serious condition. Individuals with cavities, chips, cracks, and dental injuries are highly susceptible to tooth loss.
However, tooth loss cases have seen a decline in recent years. Thanks to restorative dentistry by Dentists Prairies Village, KS, you can now preserve your natural teeth.
But what exactly is restorative dentistry, and how can it improve smiles? To answer all your queries and doubts, we shall delve into topics like:
- What Is Restorative Dentistry About?
- Explore Basic Restorative Dentistry – Procedures Explained!
- Major Restorative Dentistry – What Procedures Are Entailed?
- Surprising Benefits Of Restorative Dentistry
- Risks Of Restorative Dentistry – Who Should Avoid Getting Restorative Treatments?
Continue reading to explore the procedures of restorative dentistry in the following sections.
What Is Restorative Dentistry About?
Restorative dentistry aims to repair damaged teeth and restore oral structures to their natural functions and appearance. Restorative dentists perform various treatments to prevent teeth from falling while preserving their structural integrity.
Basics of Restorative Dentistry – Procedures Explained
Based on your oral condition, restorative dentistry can be classified into two categories: Basic and major.
Basic restorative dentistry encompasses a variety of treatments aimed at repairing and restoring the health and function of teeth and gums. These procedures include fillings, root canals, tooth extractions, periodontal scaling, and root planing.
Let’s learn more about these procedures in this section:
Fillings – What Does It Do?
Fillings restore structure and function when a tooth suffers from decay or cavities. This involves removing the decayed portion of the tooth and filling the space with materials like composite porcelain, resin, gold, or amalgam. Fillings prevent further decay and help restore the tooth’s natural appearance and strength.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy becomes necessary when a tooth’s pulp becomes infected or inflamed due to deep decay, cracks, or trauma. Restorative dentists in Prairie remove infected pulp during a root canal procedure, and the tooth’s interior is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed. This helps alleviate pain, save the tooth from extraction, and restore its function.
Tooth Extractions
Dentists perform tooth extractions when a tooth is severely damaged, decayed, or infected beyond repair. Additionally, impacted wisdom teeth or overcrowded teeth may also require extraction. Dentists employ techniques to safely remove the affected tooth while minimizing discomfort and preserving the surrounding tissues.
Periodontal Scaling and Root Planning
Periodontal disease, characterized by gum inflammation and bacterial infection, can lead to serious oral health issues if left untreated. Scaling and root planing are non-surgical procedures to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the tooth surfaces and below the gumline. This helps eliminate infection, reduce inflammation, and promote gum healing and attachment to the teeth.
Primary Restorative Dentistry – What Procedures Are Entailed?
Major restorative dentistry involves various procedures to repair and replace missing or damaged teeth. This field addresses significant dental issues impacting oral health and overall well-being.
Three common treatments within major restorative dentistry include dentures, bridges, and implants.
Dentures For Replacing Missing Teeth
Dentures are custom prosthetic appliances that replace your missing teeth and surrounding tissues. They come in two types: partial dentures, which replace some missing teeth, and complete dentures, which replace all teeth. Dentures help restore the ability to chew, speak, and maintain facial structure, enhancing overall oral function and appearance.
Bridges To Replace One or More Teeth In Between
Dental bridges are fixed prosthetic devices that replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth. Bridges restore chewing ability and speech and prevent the neighboring teeth from shifting out of position, maintaining proper dental alignment and bite.
Implants To Replace Tooth Root
Dental implants are biocompatible titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone to function as prosthetic tooth roots. They offer a strong basis for various restorations, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures. Implants also provide a durable and natural-looking solution for missing teeth, preserving bone structure and facial contours while restoring oral function and aesthetics.
Surprising Benefits Of Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is crucial for maintaining oral health and overall well-being. Its advantages extend beyond mere aesthetics, encompassing functional restoration and preventive measures. Here are several notable benefits:
It Can Correct Your Oral Imperfections
Restorative procedures like fillings, crowns, and implants are instrumental in restoring impaired teeth functionality. By correcting issues such as decay or damage, our dentists can regain your ability to chew and bite effectively.
It Improves Your Smile
Restorative dentistry encompasses treatments like veneers and whitening procedures, which significantly enhance teeth’s visual appeal. These interventions can effectively address discoloration or misalignment, resulting in a more confident smile.
It Prevents Dental Problems From Escalating
Timely restoration of dental issues prevents their escalation into more severe complications. By promptly addressing problems like cavities or gum disease, restorative dentistry helps avoid the need for more invasive and costly treatments.
It Preserves Your Natural Teeth
Restorative techniques prioritize the preservation of natural dental structures whenever feasible. Procedures like fillings or root canal therapy aim to salvage and strengthen existing teeth rather than resort to extraction, which helps maintain oral integrity.
It Can Improve Oral Health
Restorative dentistry improves oral health by resolving dental ailments. These treatments mitigate the risk of further complications by eliminating sources of infection or decay, ultimately resulting in long-term oral well-being.
Risks Of Restorative Dentistry – Who Should Avoid Getting Restorative Treatments?
Restorative dentistry offers significant benefits in enhancing dental health and aesthetics but also comes with certain risks, which are as follows:
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If you have a specific medical condition
Individuals with conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding disorders, or compromised immune systems may face higher risks of complications from restorative treatments due to impaired healing or increased susceptibility to infections.
Some materials used in restorative dentistry, such as metals or resin compounds, can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. It’s crucial to inform your dentist about known allergies before treatment.
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If you have existing dental issues
Patients with severe gum disease, extensive decay, or insufficient bone support may not be suitable candidates for specific therapeutic procedures. Dentists may recommend addressing underlying oral health issues before proceeding with restorative treatments to ensure better outcomes.
Takeaway
- Restorative dentistry aims to repair damaged teeth and restore their natural function and appearance.
- Basic procedures include fillings, root canals, extractions, and scaling/root planing.
- Major procedures involve dentures, bridges, and implants to replace missing or damaged teeth.
- Restorative dentistry offers benefits like improved oral function and prevention of dental problems.
- Risks include complications for individuals with certain medical conditions or allergies.
- Don’t risk your smile; connect with our experts at Cope Dentistry to learn more about these smile improvement procedures. Call us today!
