7 Types of Restorative Dentistry and What They Can Do for Your Teeth

Types of Restorative Dentistry

1. Fillings 

Tooth decay and dental caries are among the most common complaints patients have about teeth. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), around half of the world’s population has cavities. It is, after all, one of the most prevalent dental problems that can impact anyone’s teeth, regardless of age.

For this reason, it tops this list of restorative dentistry our Chestnut Hill dentist offers. After decayed portions of a tooth are drilled off, fillings are inserted in the cleaned tooth to fill in cavities.

Fillings are integral in tooth restoration because leaving decaying teeth untreated will merely widen the decay’s reach. Cavities will multiply, widen, and transfer to adjacent teeth. A dental filling procedure is an approach geared towards immediately extracting tooth decay and resealing affected teeth.

2. Veneers 

Also referred to as “laminates,” veneers are used for small dental imperfections. Our dentist in Chestnut Hill, MA, will bond a very thin shell onto the front surface of your teeth. Minor teeth shaving may be required for this shell to fully adhere to the enamel.

Discoloration, small cracks, and chips can be repaired through a dental veneer application.

Tooth impression-making, consultation, and veneer molding may take roughly 2 to 3 weeks in total. Once you are called back in for veneer placement, the process will take no more than a few minutes to an hour.

Even better, since the operation is non-invasive, you will not feel discomfort or pain during the procedure nor after.

3. Crowns 

Dental Crowns are tooth caps that completely replace the visible portion of the teeth. When cavities are too large or deep within a tooth, a dental crown is a good alternative for restoring it. They are ideal for teeth that are damaged by decay, medication, or injury.

Dental crown materials are high in durability. Crowns are typically utilized on premolars and back molars, as these are parts of the oral cavity responsible for chewing and grinding food.

Tooth-colored crowns are the preferred choice because they are almost indistinguishable from real teeth.

4. Bridges 

A dental bridge is ideal for patients who have one missing tooth in between two that are intact and healthy. This prosthetic device is a tray propped with three false teeth. The tooth in the middle is for filling the tooth gap, and the two others next to it will be bonded down on existing teeth as abutments.

If the tooth gap is positioned beside only one healthy tooth, dental bridges have a separate variety that can accommodate such a case. The single natural tooth will stand as the abutment. And just as mentioned, the other prosthetic tooth will replace the tooth gap.

5. Dentures 

Dentures may be a traditional (if not the oldest) restorative dentistry option, but they remain highly useful today. With innovations in dental technology and materials, dentures can be fashioned to resemble real teeth in an amazingly close-to-natural manner.

These false teeth are an excellent restorative device for replacing several missing teeth at the same time. They are also recommended for those who have gums that are unable to support implants. False teeth are available as partials or full dentures.

6. Implants 

Dental implants are a surgical branch of restorative dental care that deals with tooth replacement. This is accomplished by embedding the dental prosthesis into the bone. Metal screws or “implant posts” are anchored within the jawbone and act as the base or foundation. Then, metal abutments are affixed atop these posts.

Aside from resilience and permanence, dental implants prompt bone growth. This is a definite advantage if you have a deteriorating or weakening jawline.

7. Root Canals 

Many carry the misconception that root canals are excruciating procedures for cleaning out decay from teeth filled with dental caries. But modern technology has provided the dental industry with tools and medications that have made root canal operations pain-free.

Decay will be removed from the root up until the root itself becomes empty. The canals will be placed with filling materials, followed by inlays or on-lays to strengthen it further. Finally, a crown will be affixed as a finishing touch to the procedure.

To learn more about the different services we offer within restorative dentistry, schedule an appointment at Hammond Pond Dental Group.