Have you ever felt self-conscious about your smile? You’re not alone. Many patients seek out restorative dentistry services to improve the appearance and function of their smile. Like the name suggests, restorative dentistryhas the goal of restoring your teeth to their natural beauty and optimal health.
In this blog post, we will go over the seven that can help save your smile. Each dental restoration is explained in detail so you can feel more informed and confident when seeking treatment.
1. Fillings
Fillings repair tooth damage caused by cavities. Many of our patients appreciate being able to use composite resin fillings for permanent teeth. Composite resin fillings are different from traditional metal fillings because they match the natural color of your teeth.
If you have multiple cavities that need to be filled at once, we highly recommend tooth-colored fillings to retain the natural look of your smile. People generally don’t like the feeling of metal in their mouth, and resin fillings help your teeth feel like, well, teeth.
2. Bridges
If you have missing teeth, you may want to consider the benefits of . Bridges are a more affordable alternative to dental implants and can help you fill the gaps in your smile caused by tooth loss. Our ultimate goal is to help you be more confident in your smile.
A prosthetic tooth is placed in the empty space between two healthy teeth, which are capped with crowns. The replacement tooth is then cemented into optimal position and held in place by the two healthy teeth on either side.
3. Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain Veneers (also known as cosmetic or dental veneers) are thin porcelain coverings bonded to the front of a tooth. This process takes two appointments. First, the dentist takes impressions and gives you a temporary covering until the second appointment where they adhere your customized veneers to your teeth.
Veneers can fix a wide variety of problems including chipped, cracked, short, discolored teeth. They’re also great for closing up gaps between teeth. They also leave more of the natural tooth than other procedures.
4. Crowns
Like the name suggests, crowns are used to cap the tops of your teeth. If you notice cracks or chipping in your dental crown you will need to schedule an appointment with your tooth restoration dentist.
During your tooth restoration, your dentist will remove the damaged crown and replace it with a new one. The new crown will improve your smile by fitting snugly over your dental implant or natural tooth.
5. Dentures
Dentures or partial denturesare a common solution for patients who have had multiple teeth pulled. After significant tooth loss, dentures allow you to continue eating and talking properly and with confidence. Dentures can help you maintain your quality of life by serving their purpose as removable teeth.
6. Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is the process by which tooth-colored restorations are applied to the tooth’s surface. This process generally only takes one appointment, and fixes a lot of the same problems as porcelain veneers.Ask our dentist about the differences between dental bonding and porcelain veneers.
Another popular use for dental bonding is enamel shaping which improves the tooth’s appearance by modifying by removing or contouring enamel to give you a better smile and a confidence boost.
7. Dental Implants
Missing teeth have an effect on your smile and on your overall oral health. Did you know that missing teeth can cause jawbone deterioration? To prevent further damage to your smile, we recommend filling in the spaces in your smile with artificial teeth. not only improve the function of your smile, but also look and feel natural.
Your dentist will implant a titanium post meant to mimic your tooth’s natural roots. After the implant has been given time to heal, an abutment and crown will be placed on top to create the look of a tooth.
When your teeth need professional intervention, it’s important that you reach out to an experienced restorative dentist as soon as possible. The more time that passes between severe tooth damage and getting restorative dental procedures done, the less effective the methods may be to help your smile look healthy and natural.
If you are interested in our dental restoration services, please feel free to give our Troy dentist a call at (248) 528-2270. Dr. Kelly M. Giera DDS has dedicated her career to providing patients with the highest level of dental care.
This blog post has been updated.
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