Restorative Dentistry
A broken or chipped tooth can cause excruciating pain. A missing tooth can shift your bite and create jaw problems down the road. These issues need to be fixed quickly to protect your mouth.
If you have missing or broken teeth, Inspired Dental wants to restore both the look and function of those teeth. Our restorative dentistry services do just that. If your teeth need attention, we are the dentist in Windermere, FL, you want to help.
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry that works to replace or repair teeth. While restoring teeth may improve your smile, the main goal is not aesthetics. Instead, the goal is to improve your chewing and overall oral health with functioning teeth. As an experienced dentist in Windermere, FL, Inspired Dental offers a number of restorative dentistry procedures for our patients.
What Types of Problems Does Restorative Dentistry Fix?
There are several types of problems that restorative dentistry can fix.
These include:
- Severe cavities or tooth decay
- Broken teeth
- Missing teeth
The type of problem you have will determine the best treatment option, and we have several for you to consider.
What Treatments Are Available with Restorative Dentistry?
At Inspired Dental, we have several treatment options that fall under the restorative dentistry category. Whether you have a small problem that requires a filling or have lost a tooth and need an implant, our team will help you fix the problem and restore the function of your teeth.
These options include:
Fillings
Filings are the most common and least invasive type of restorative dentistry. If you need a filling, it’s because you have a small hole in your teeth due to bacteria. This hole, called a cavity, must be filled to prevent the decay from spreading.
Under local anesthetic, we will remove the decayed portion of the tooth. We will then fill the hole with a composite material that will stop the decay from spreading while protecting your teeth.
Bonding
Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure that sometimes has a place in the restorative dentistry world. This procedure, which can repair cracked or chipped teeth, involves applying a tooth-colored resin material to the affected teeth to cover these issues. The bonding material is the same material used in fillings, but dental bonding doesn’t require there to be any decay. You can have this procedure to fix cracks and chips even if the tooth tissue is healthy.
Crowns
Fillings work for small cavities, but if the decay starts to spread, you will need a crown. Crowns restore large areas of decay and broken teeth. They sit on top of the tooth, providing a strong, stable surface for chewing.
For a crown, your dentist will first clean up the tooth, removing the decay and some of the tooth enamel. The crown is then placed on top of the prepared tooth. A strong adhesive keeps the crown in place. This provides permanent restoration of the damaged tooth.
Root Canals
If a cavity reaches the pulp, you’ll experience intense pain as the pulp gets infected. Fillings aren’t sufficient in this case. You’ll need a root canal.
Root canals involve removing the infected pulp and some of the nerves in the tooth’s root. After the diseased tissue is gone, your dentist will clean and disinfect the tooth from the inside, then fill it with a dental material that will prevent further decay. Finally, the top of the tooth gets sealed to ensure no new bacteria can enter it and cause further damage.
Root canals are fairly invasive, but they’re the best option when an infection spreads to the root. Often, the treated tooth will also get a crown to ensure it’s strong and adequately protected.
Dental Bridges
A bridge is a treatment for a few missing teeth that are in a row, or it can be the option for one missing tooth. Bridges are artificial teeth that float between two dental crowns to hold the space where the missing tooth or teeth once were.
If you need a bridge, your dentist at Inspired Dental will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap to hold a crown. The bridge appliance, which includes two crowns, will be bonded to these natural teeth to fill in the gap. This helps prevent your natural teeth from shifting to fill the space and restores your ability to chew.
Dental Implants
While bridges can restore a missing tooth, a dental implant is a stronger, more effective option. It’s also a more invasive procedure.
Dental implants involve the surgical placement of a post into the jawbone. That post bonds to the jawbone, providing stability. Once the implant is fully bonded, we will place an artificial tooth on top of it. That tooth will function just like your natural tooth because it’s rooted to the jaw. Implants don’t require any alteration to your natural teeth, making them the preferred choice for many patients who have missing teeth.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Restorative Dentistry
Like all dental procedures, restorative dental procedures have benefits and drawbacks. For most patients, the benefits far outweigh any risks.
These include:
- Restore your oral health
- Make it easier to chew your food
- Relieve pain
- Limit the risk of future dental issues
- Improvement in the appearance of your smile
All of these procedures carry their own unique risks. Most increase the risk of pain or sensitivity in the teeth, but this risk is low. Some, like crowns, require changing the natural teeth. Some also have the potential of failing, falling out, or chipping. However, the risk of teeth shifting or decay spreading far outweighs these risks, which means restorative dentistry is necessary when you have a severe problem.
Which Procedure Is Right for Me?
If you need restorative dentistry, the best procedure for your needs will depend on the type of problem you have. The best way to choose is by consulting with a dentist in Windermere, FL, who can examine your teeth, gums, and jaw to determine the most suitable course of treatment. Inspired Dental wants to help you find the right treatment to restore your teeth and give you back full function of your mouth.
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Restorative Dentistry with Inspired Dental
If you’re dealing with broken, missing, or painful teeth, restorative dentistry may be the right solution. Inspired Dental, your dentist in Windermere, FL, will help you determine which treatment is best for you.
Our dental team is here to help you protect your teeth and restore their function. Reach out to schedule your appointment with Inspired Dental today.
Restorative Dentistry FAQs
Do I need restorative dentistry?
You need restorative dentistry if you have severely damaged or missing teeth. These procedures restore both the look and function of the teeth.
What type of dentist performs restorative dentistry?
In most cases, general practice dentists are the ones who perform restorative dentistry procedures.
Can restorative dentistry fix a broken tooth?
Yes, a broken tooth can be fixed using restorative dentistry procedures, such as crowns, fillings, or dental bonding procedures. The extent of the damage will determine which of these is the right course of treatment.
Can restorative dentistry fix a chipped tooth?
Yes, restorative dentistry can fix chipped teeth. However, if the chip is not causing pain, you may find that veneers, a common cosmetic procedure, are a better fit.
Are teeth ever too severely damaged to be saved?
Whenever possible, we will try to save your natural tooth. However, if you have severe damage, it may be necessary to pull the tooth and perform an implant or bridge procedure, rather than saving the tooth. This question is best answered under the care of your dentist.
What is the best restorative dentistry procedure?
The best restorative dentistry procedure is the one your dentist feels will fix your problem the most effectively. There’s no particular procedure that outshines the others. The goal is to restore the function of your teeth, and the procedure chosen will depend largely on the type of damage you have.
