Dental Restoration: The Answer to Missing or Damaged Teeth
Restorative dentistry is the most common type of dental care in the US. Millions of patients around the country will undergo various dental restoration procedures to tackle a plethora of problems. With the right treatment, patients can prevent issues from getting worse and find answers for missing or damaged teeth.
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
As the term suggests, this field of dentistry focuses on restoring teeth. A tooth can be damaged in many different ways—some of which are accidental, while others are down to poor oral hygiene. Regardless of the cause, your teeth may be chipped, cracked, or completely missing. Dental restorations work to restore your mouth to as close to its former self as possible. This can help boost confidence in patients as they continue to have a full set of natural-looking teeth.
Who Will Benefit from Dental Restorations?
Typically, anyone with damaged or missing teeth will benefit from dental restoration treatment. As mentioned above, multiple factors can cause damage to your teeth. Here are some of the most common reasons patients need restorative dentistry:
- Holes in teeth caused by decay and cavities
- Chipped teeth from physical trauma
- A severely damaged tooth from physical trauma
- Teeth knocked clean out of the mouth
- Problems with the teeth from a root canal
Naturally, all of the issues relating to physical trauma can include so many different possibilities. Two of the most frequent complaints include patients falling over and hitting their teeth, or being hit in the face by an object while playing sports. Still, the underlying message is that this brand of dentistry is aimed at patients with damaged or missing teeth – regardless of how they came about.
What Are the Benefits of Restorative Dentistry?
The aim of restorative dentistry is to give patients a mouth that looks aesthetically pleasing. Many patients are self-conscious about missing or damaged teeth, so our treatments help to correct these problems.
Moreover, dental restorations are designed to retain the functionality of the mouth. It’s not just about looks; these treatments will help patients continue to use their mouths properly. This includes being able to eat with no complaints, speaking correctly, and so on.
What Restorative Treatments Are Available?
A plethora of dental restoration treatments is available for all patients. The precise method of restorative dentistry will depend on individual concerns. Patients will undergo a full consultation with a qualified dentist, whereby all of the afflicted teeth are analyzed. This lets the dentist figure out the best course of action to restore your teeth and bring back functionality.
Dr. Rinaldi currently offers four different restorative treatments for all patients:
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a common treatment option for patients suffering from tooth decay. They’re usually necessary when the decay is bad enough to warrant something more severe than a filling. As the name alludes to, crowns will be placed on the top of the restored tooth. For this reason, they are also used alongside other dental treatments – such as implants.
A typical procedure begins with the removal of all decay from the site. Your dentist will use special tools to scrape and file away at the decay, leaving your tooth clean. From here, Dr. Rinaldi will prepare the tooth into a little stump. Dr. Rinaldi uses world-class technology to take impressions and make them into a crown on the same day. This step is essential to ensure a crown is created that fits your mouth and looks normal. From here, Dr. Rinaldi will secure the crown over the prepared tooth and cure it. The result is a natural-looking tooth that retains all functionality.
Crowns are semi-permanent in that they are not removable, but they may need to be replaced after a few years.
Dental Fillings
As touched upon previously, dental fillings are an alternative treatment to crowns. They are traditionally used to treat patients with minor to severe tooth decay. The depth of decay depends on whether or not a filling or crown will be performed.
The dental fillings process is similar to that of a dental crown. It begins by cleaning the tooth and removing all signs of dental decay. The difference is that your dentist will use composite resin to build up the shape of your tooth. In essence, this material fills in the holes and gaps left by the decay. An expert dentist can sculpt fillings that accurately replicate your tooth, making it impossible for anyone to spot the difference.
Composite resin is a white material, meaning nobody can see it in your mouth. This differs from amalgam fillings that provide a glaringly obvious silver finish to your teeth. Composite fillings can be mixed to provide a shade that accurately reflects your teeth.
Dental Implants
Implants are an extensive dental restoration procedure that tackles missing teeth. It involves two main stages: the implant and the crown. There are two different ways of creating dental implants, but the premise behind both is that you insert a metal rod into the gums. It will then fuse to the bone, creating a solid structure for a crown.
In essence, the implant acts as a false root for your crown, securing it in place. This has many benefits over other tooth replacement options in that the implant stops bone resorption and can prevent the surrounding teeth from falling out. Overall, it produces incredibly realistic and long-lasting results.
Dental Bridges
Lastly, dental bridges replace one or more missing teeth in a row. The idea behind this treatment is that it bridges the gap between your existing teeth. Again, crowns are part of this restorative treatment, placed on at least one natural tooth on either side of the gap.
The crowns act as an anchor for artificial teeth to connect to, filling the spaces left by your missing tooth/teeth. A dental bridge is permanently bonded to your teeth offering more comfort and functionality. There are different types of bridges, and your dentist will discuss which one is best for the treatment.
Contact Dr. Rinaldi for Dental Restorations
If you have missing or damaged teeth, Dr. Rinaldi can provide expert treatments for any problems. He offers all of the treatments listed above, in a professional and caring dental clinic. Patients are always in safe hands with Dr. Rinaldi. Contact Rinaldi Dental Arts today to schedule a consultation.
