Restorative Dentistry

Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry is the management of diseases or traumatic injuries of your teeth and their supporting structures with the aim of restoring dentition and functionality, including their aesthetic state.

It includes or overlaps with endodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics and refers to multifaceted care to restore the functionality of your teeth.

The goal of restorative dentistry is to bring back your smile and prevent future oral health issues.

Restorative dentistry is important for:

• Missing, chipped or cracked teeth can affect your health, as well as your appearance and self-esteem.
• Replacing missing teeth helps to keep your teeth aligned which is important for proper mastication.
• Ensuring that empty spaces are filled makes it easier to maintain good oral health and to prevent the build-up of plaque, as odd-shapes gaps are vulnerable to plaque buildup.
• Preserving your natural teeth structures is always preferable to partial or full dentures.
• Helping adjust and fix your bite as an effective TMJ treatment.

Thanks to modern advances in dental techniques, materials and treatments, there are many options available for restoring teeth to their natural appearance and functionality. You can always ask your dentist to combine cosmetic dentistry procedures with restorative procedures if that is required and can help to put finishing touches on a smile.

What types of issues can be fixed with restorative dentistry?

 As restorative dentistry is mainly concerned with keeping your teeth and mouth healthy and functional, there are many issues that can be fixed with restorative dentistry, such as:

• Cavities due to decay
• Pulpitis, abscess formation and fistulas
• Chipped, cracked or broken teeth
• Loose or knocked-out teeth
• Missing teeth
• Odd-shaped, underdeveloped or teeth that are too short for proper mastication
• Replacing previous inlays, onlays, or bonding repairs
• Replacing amalgam fillings with tooth-colored bonding resin or other filling materials

What materials are used in restorative dentistry?

Modern dentistry advances have provided several improved materials for restoration of teeth, and the four most common types used are porcelain, composite resin, gold, and dental amalgam. Composite resin may include either ceramic or plastic compounds. Sometimes glass ionomers are used near the roots where there is not so much pressure from mastication.

Restorative Dentistry Treatments include:

• Dental fillings with amalgam, gold, porcelain, plastic, or resin
• Composite bonding
• Root canal therapy
• Inlays, onlays, and veneers
• Porcelain crowns
• Bridges 

Your Mad River Family Dental practitioner can give you the best advice on what treatment would best suit your needs, call us today to schedule your appointment.