How a Restorative Dentist Can Save Your Teeth

A restorative dentist can help to repair and rebuild structures in your mouth that oral problems have damaged. These dentists focus on restoring the function of damaged or lost teeth, improving your ability to chew and speak properly. Many restorative dental treatments also provide you with cosmetic benefits, so you get an improved smile in the process.

Ways a restorative dentist repairs and rebuilds teeth

Here are some of the treatments commonly used by restorative dentists to repair and rebuild damaged teeth:

1. Dental bonding

Composite bonding is one of the most affordable treatments provided by dentists, and it also happens to be one of the more versatile treatments. It is a non-invasive treatment that is typically completed during a single visit, so the patient leaves the clinic with their smile restored.

The procedure involves applying a composite resin that has been color-matched with the patient’s teeth. This allows restorations made to blend in with the person’s remaining teeth. The composite is applied in layers, molded as desired, and hardened with a curing light. The dentist polishes the patient’s tooth to complete the treatment.

2. Fillings

This procedure involves filling up cavities on teeth with a putty-like filling material that hardens when exposed to air or saliva. Silver amalgam fillings have historically been the most popular type, but other materials like composite resin or porcelain can also be used. Fillings are primarily used to treat tooth decay, but they can also be used to rebuild damaged teeth.

3. Crowns

These are durable restorations that can last up to 25 years with good oral hygiene. Also known as caps, the crown goes over the tooth's visible part and protects it against further damage. The crown holds what is left of the tooth together, protects it against acids in the mouth, and restores the tooth’s ability to withstand bite forces.

Crowns are designed to look like natural teeth, so they also improve the appearance of teeth they are placed over. Getting a crown typically requires at least two trips to the dentist and as long as two weeks. The first visit is used to prepare the patient’s teeth and take an impression. The impression is sent to a lab where crowns are made, and it should be ready in two weeks. The patient’s custom crown is placed during their second appointment.

4. Dental implants

Implants are an excellent way to replace missing teeth. They serve as artificial roots, replacing the roots that came out when a tooth was lost. The implant is fitted with a restoration like a crown or dentures that serve as artificial teeth. When the wearer bites down on something, bite forces are transferred down the implant into the patient’s jawbone tissues, giving them the stimulation they need to remain healthy.