What Is Restorative Dentistry & How Does It Work?
Restorative dentistry is a type of dentistry that focuses on repairing teeth that have been damaged or are missing. These dentists are primarily responsible for the removal and repair of cavities as well as the treatment of other oral problems. They also treat individuals who require dental repairs as a result of trauma or injury.
Treatments from other dental specialties, including as endodontics, prosthodontics, and periodontics, are included in this section of dentistry. This is due to the fact that many patients require complex care, which may necessitate therapy from many specialists.
Patients of all ages, including children, teenagers, adults, and elders, are treated by restorative dentists. Adults and the elderly, on the other hand, are the most likely to seek restorative treatment.
The objective of restorative dentistry is to save teeth while also restoring their natural appearance, shape, and feel.
Dental fillings or bonding therapy are used to repair damaged teeth. Indirect or direct restorations, including as inlays, onlays, crowns, or fillings, are used to replace lost tooth structure. Artificial restorations, like as implants, bridges, or dentures, are used to completely replace lost teeth.
Dental Restorative Materials
The cornerstone of tooth structure replacement is restorative dental materials. They make cavity fillings, crowns, implants, dentures, and other restorations, among other things. Common materials include, for example:
- Amalgam alloys of metals
- Polymers
- Ceramics and composites
- Denture base resins with glass ionomers
- Metals, both noble and common
Cosmetic vs. Restorative Dentistry
Some materials and technique codes are shared by cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Treatment is considered restorative when it is required due to an illness. Even if the final result is a more attractive appearance, the treatment is still considered restorative.
Cosmetic (esthetic) dental operations also enhance a patient's smile and self-esteem. Veneers and tooth whitening are two examples of esthetic treatments. Because these procedures are optional and not medically essential, they are classified as cosmetic. Instead, they are solely employed to enhance one's look.
There Are A Variety Of Procedures & Treatments Available
Bridges, dentures, fillings, crowns, inlays, onlays, implants, and bonding are some of the restorative options:
Dental Crowns Are A Type Of Dental Restoration
Dental crowns can be tooth-colored or made of metal. In a nutshell, they replace significant tooth structure that has been lost due to root canals, dental disease, or fractures. Crowns also act as full-coverage "caps," restoring a tooth's normal size, shape, and function.
Before deciding whether or not a patient is a good candidate for a dental crown, a dentist will look at a number of variables. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, the tooth's function and placement, the position of the gum tissue, and the color of the teeth around it.
Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays are tooth-colored or gold partial restorations that replace missing or damaged tooth structure in smaller places. They use indirect restorative materials and are slightly less intrusive than crowns. In other words, the repairs are made outside of the mouth by dental lab professionals.
Dental Bonding
Composite resins are used in bonding techniques (tooth-colored fillings made of glass and plastic). Dental bonds can be used to fill cavities, repair fractured or chipped teeth, and conceal discolored tooth's surfaces. They can help close minor gaps between teeth, which is beneficial for those who have diastema.
Indirect dental bonding, composite veneer bonding, and composite bonding are three distinct dental bonding methods that can be used according on your needs.
Dentures
Dentures are artificial teeth that are either detachable or fixed and are used to replace several missing teeth. Custom dentures are a common treatment for those who have lost all of their teeth due to extensive tooth decay or gum disease.
There are five distinct types of dentures to select from, depending on the patient. Complete dentures, permanent partial dentures, detachable partial dentures, implant-retained dentures, and instant dentures are all common forms of artificial teeth.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is typically used to replace a permanent tooth after an extraction or tooth loss. A dental professional surgically puts an implant (artificial tooth root) into the patient's jawbone during the process. The implant also has a screw-like form and binds to the native bone. Implant treatments are performed by oral surgeons and periodontists.
Dental Bridges
Full-coverage restorations that cover three or more teeth are known as dental bridges. However, they only replace one or more teeth, whereas two natural teeth on both sides of the missing tooth "bridge the gap." Bridges are used to replace teeth that have been lost due to severe decay, missing teeth, or extractions.
Dental bridges are less expensive than implants and have a quicker recovery period, although they do not appear as natural. They're also more likely to break or degrade than implants.