How a Restorative Dentist Can Help Improve Your Oral Health

Restorative dentists do not only repair damaged teeth. They also enhance overall oral health. From addressing cavities to replacing missing teeth, these dental professionals provide a variety of treatments that restore the function of damaged teeth and protect your oral health.

Benefits of seeing a restorative dentist

Restorative dentistry is the dental specialty that restores damaged and decayed teeth. These professionals also replace missing teeth after an extraction. A restorative dentist can help improve the appearance of a patient's smile and restore their oral health.

Restorative dentists approach each patient with a compassionate and personalized approach. They understand that restorative dental procedures can be intimidating for many individuals and strive to create a comfortable and supportive environment. These dental professionals build trust and confidence in their patients, ensuring a positive dental experience for each patient.

Types of services by a restorative dentist

Composite bonding

This restorative treatment uses composite resin to rebuild and repair damaged teeth. Composite resin can be color-matched with the rest of the patient's teeth to repair chipped, cracked, or decayed teeth. Composite bonding can restore the tooth's appearance and structural integrity.

Additionally, composite bonding can help close gaps between teeth, correct minor misalignments, and strengthen weakened enamel. The restorative dentist can prevent further damage and promote long-term oral health using this method. This minimally invasive treatment preserves the tooth's natural tooth structure, making it an ideal option for patients who want a comprehensive and cost-effective way to restore their smile.

Cavity treatment

Fillings and dental crowns are two common restoration methods that can treat cavities and other types of tooth decay. Cavities occur from the buildup of plaque, which contains harmful bacteria that erode tooth enamel over time. When left untreated, cavities can cause more extensive damage, such as infections and tooth loss.

Restorative dentists utilize various treatment methods, including dental fillings and crowns, to repair and strengthen damaged teeth. The most common type of dental filling consists of composite resin. Composite resin fillings are strong and durable, blending in with the color of the patient's natural teeth.

If the damage is too extensive or deep for a filling, the restorative dentist can use a dental crown. Crowns can restore severely cracked or broken teeth and protect them from further damage. They can contain materials such as ceramic, porcelain, metal, or composite resin.

Tooth replacement

Restorative dentists can also address tooth loss, whether due to decay, trauma, or an extraction. Missing teeth can affect the appearance of the patient's teeth and impact their chewing ability, speech, and jawbone health. Restorative dentists offer treatments such as dental implants, bridges, and dentures that replace missing teeth and restore oral function. By filling empty gaps and supporting the adjacent teeth, these treatments prevent shifting and misalignment and maintain the stability of one's dental structure.

Root canals

A root canal is another restorative treatment that can save severely damaged or infected teeth. A severely damaged tooth is more vulnerable to infection as its nerves and blood vessels are exposed to oral irritants. These soft tissues are protected in the pulp, which is the inner chamber of a tooth, but severe damage can leave them vulnerable to further damage. During a root canal, the restorative dentist removes the damaged pulp, cleans the area, and seals the tooth, improving one's oral health.