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Today our dentists in Burlington explain what restorative dental services are and the reason why they are important to your dental health.
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Restorative Dental Care
In simple terms, restorative dental care consists of dental treatments that help to restore the integrity, structure, and/or function of a tooth or teeth that have been damaged. This damage could include many conditions such as decay or an injury (chipping and other external trauma, for example). The main goal of restorative dental services is to restore the tooth or teeth back to their usual function.
It's generally hard to guess the timeline for restorative dental treatment because there are many factors that contribute to how a procedure will play out, such as the extent of a tooth's damage, how complex the procedure is, and how comfortable the patient is throughout the process.
What makes restorative dental care important?
To put it simply, badly decaying teeth can adversely affect your appearance, self-esteem, and even your overall health (not just your oral health). Replacing and/or fixing decaying teeth can help maintain good oral health by preventing plaque build-up. Further, filling open or damaged spots in vacant areas of the mouth is important for keeping teeth well-aligned. And, believe it or not, replacing missing teeth can put far less pressure on remaining teeth when eating. The more teeth there are, the easier it will be to chew and the less plaque build-up there will be on the natural teeth.
What will happen during my treatment?
Before your treatment starts, your dentist will probably diagnose your condition utilizing a variety of means, such as X-rays and a comprehensive examination of your mouth.
However, treatment can be different for everyone. In certain situations, if there isn't a lot of damage and the treatment is minimally-invasive, the treatment can be done in one dental appointment. In other cases, when the damage is much more extensive and requires a more complex procedure, the treatment will probably require multiple visits. Again, depending on the patient, specialists, such as a prosthodontist, endodontist, or maxillofacial surgeon, might have to be called in.
During the procedure, your dentist might use different types of anesthesia so that you don't feel any pain. They might also use anesthesia to calm your anxiety or fears.
Most dental restoration procedures are classified as either direct or indirect. Direct procedures usually involve repairs done inside the mouth. Indirect procedures are done outside the mouth and then attached to the tooth or the tooth structure. Your dentist will determine what procedure is best for you.
Direct Restoration
Another word for this common procedure is 'fillings.' With direct restoration, your dentist usually places a mouldable substance inside of a cleaned tooth cavity. This material will harden and restore the tooth's structure. Common materials used for fillings include silver amalgam, composite fillings, and glass ionomer fillings.
Indirect Restoration
With indirect restorations, construction happens outside the mouth. There is usually much more work involved with indirect restorations, but the results are usually more stable and long-lasting. It can also restore the overall look of your teeth. Some common examples of indirect restorations include veneers, crowns & bridges, implants, and inlays & onlays.