Restorative dentistry encompasses a number of different dental specialities with the main objective being the maintenance of long-term dental health and the prevention of further oral issues.
In layman’s terms, restorative dentistry consists of the replacement/repair of missing or damaged teeth. Common restorative dental procedures include fillings, bridges, crowns and implants. Upon examination your dentist will recommend the most suitable course of treatment or treatments based on your specific needs.
The Importance Of Restorative Dentistry Procedures
Restorative Dentistry Procedures are important for a number of reasons – from replacing teeth to correcting bite issues to relatively complex dental implants treatment for more serious issues. All procedures are carried out on a patient by patient basis, there is no ‘one size fits all’ option in restorative dentistry.
Please see below for a few examples of where restorative dentistry is used in the day to day work of an experienced restorative dentist:
- Filling the spaces in your mouth and helping keep your teeth aligned properly.
- Replacing the teeth to make it easier for people to maintain their oral health
- Replacing missing teeth to help the patient regain confidence and self-esteem
Depending on your precise diagnosis, your dentist may recommend one or more of the procedures outlined below:
- Fillings – The most common procedure where the dentist will remove any decay and fill the cavity with gold, porcelain, silver amalgam or composite resin.
- Crowns – A tooth-shaped cover that is placed over the existing tooth to strengthen and protect the tooth’s structure. Commonly used with patients who have broken teeth or visible cavities.
- Bridges – A dental bridge consists of an oral plate with artificial teeth. Once in place it acts like natural teeth.
- Dental Implants – Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth and is perhaps the most expensive of all restorative dentistry procedures due to its complexity. A dental implant consists of two parts: a metal ‘anchor’ and a custom designed false tooth that is similar to a crown. This advanced procedure gives the patient a tooth that both looks and feels natural.
There are number of other restorative dental procedures that your dentist may recommend. The above procedures are intended as a sample overview only.
The Importance Of Using An Experienced Dentist
If you are in need of extensive restorative dental treatment, it is important that you use a dentist with the appropriate experience. Although general dentistry encompasses more than a few restorative dental procedures, you may feel more comfortable using a dentist that specialises in this area.
If you are not aware of dentist that specialises in restorative dentistry in your locality, you will probably use the internet to conduct your own research. The practices you are looking at online will probably list the respective dentists, their qualifications and any specialties they excel in. For further confirmation of their skillsets for your particularly needs, it may be worth checking some independent reviews sites and looking for past patients who have had similar restorative procedures as the ones you need to undergo.
