Restorative Dentistry: Types of Dental Restorations
Dentistry is a field that covers many areas of dental care. There is more to teeth than brushing then at least twice every day and flossing them often. Part of good oral health is ensuring that dental problems are resolved before they advance to the next level. This is especially so where accidents and traumatic injuries are involved. Given that permanent teeth do not grow back, taking care of the teeth you have is paramount.
All About Restorative Dentistry
It is an arm of dentistry that focuses on restoring the health of the mouth by correcting the underlying g oral problems. It focuses on restoring the functionality of the mouth more than in improving the appearance thereof. However, in the course of rectifying dental problems and restoring functions of the mouth, the cosmetic appearance is improved.
Many restorative procedures are anchored on improving strength, stability, function and overall health. This specialty of dentistry incorporates more than one dental procedure, depending on what the patient’s situation is. The good news about restorative dentistry is that it caters to more than just your teeth. The dental works will address the gum and bone issues as much as teeth problems.
Who Needs Restorative Dentistry?
Unlike cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry does not lean too much on the preference of the patient. Often a dentist will observe the state of your teeth and recommend different measures and procedures to correct the problems there are. While you are still in a position to decide whether or not you will go forth with the treatment, restorative dentistry comes with need basis more than want basis. For example, if you have missing teeth or gaps in teeth, you need a dental procedure to fix the problem so you can go back to eating and even speaking properly.
What Problems Are Fixed in Restorative Dentistry?
As is the emphasis of this text, multiple treatment options are available for restorative dentistry. A patient may have two or more procedures performed in the same mouth to achieve the desired goals. Of the many dental problems that restorative dentistry addresses, the following are the most common types:
- Missing teeth – whether you have a single missing tooth or several of them, restorative dentistry can fix it. Gaps caused by missing teeth create other dental problems like gum shrinkage, shifting of teeth, difficulty eating and even talking. In that case, you need restorative dentistry to help restore your teeth. Different treatment options can be used for this kind of restoration, including Dentures, dental implants, and dental bridges.
- Decayed teeth – this is one of the most popular dental problems addressed in dental facilities. While it is common among kids, many adults too have to deal with decayed teeth. A tooth that succumbs to tooth decay is vulnerable and puts the whole mouth in compromise. For one, eating becomes problematic because of the heightened tooth sensitivity, not to mention, the toothache. Further, other oral problems result from that infection, including bad breath and gum disease. To treat decayed teeth, your dentist will come up with different treatment alternatives you can choose from, depending on how severe the decay is, as well as your preference. Some treatment options include root canal therapy, dental fillings, dental crowns or tooth extraction.
- Chipped or cracked teeth – chipped or cracked teeth are not only a cosmetic problem. Sometimes the chips and breakages can cause severe damage to teeth. For example, a tooth can be too tiny to perform any chewing tasks. In other cases, the crack can cause damage to the internal parts of the tooth, leading to increased sensitivity of teeth as well as pain and discomfort. For this, a root canal therapy would restore the tooth, followed by use do dental crowns to cap the tooth, among other alternatives.
- Teeth damaged through trauma or injury – like with cracks and breakages, you cannot take tooth injuries for granted. For one, your dentist must account for the damage caused to the gum and bone tissue following the injury. Besides, the damage on the tooth is analyzed based on the sensitivity triggered by the nerve endings inside the tooth. Various treatments can be involved in treating these problems, including, root canal therapy, gum grafting, bone regeneration procedures, to mention a few.