When something important to you breaks or becomes damaged, what do you do? In most cases, you do what you can to fix it so that you can continue to use and enjoy it, right? This is what you would do with your car, your home, your pet, and we hope it is what you do with your teeth.
Teeth are very, very strong. They are made to last a lifetime, but that doesn’t mean they won’t need a little help along the way. When your tooth becomes damaged, it is important that you do what you can to restore your tooth back to its normal function so that you can continue to use your tooth just as you always have!
Unfortunately, not everyone takes these measures for their teeth. We see patients in our Plano, TX dentist office who have neglected the restorations their teeth needed only to find out that it led to more trouble down the road! We hope the information you receive today will help you make better choices for your smile.
What is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry refers to anything that repairs damage done to your tooth. Restorative dentistry takes many forms, as you will soon see, but no matter the form, the underlying result is the same. Your tooth should go back to its normal and natural function. Take a look below at a few of the most common dental restorations.
Fillings – By the time they graduate from high school, 75 percent of students will have at least one filling. Fillings are used to repair the damage left behind after a cavity is removed.
Veneers – Veneers are thin porcelain coverings that go over the fronts of your teeth to repair damage done by chips or cracks. Veneers are often considered cosmetic, but they can be used to restore teeth, as well.
Crowns – When a tooth is no longer able to stand on its own due to a weakened structure or extensive damage, we cover it with a dental crown. The crown will strengthen your tooth from all sides to restore function and repair damage.
Dental Implants – When a tooth comes completely out of your mouth, your best option is to replace it with a dental implant, which will restore the root of your tooth in order to support a replacement crown.
Choosing the Best Restoration
Now that you have a better idea of what restorations are used for and why restorative dentistry is so important, you should know that not all restorations are created as equals. Some restorations are definitely better than what you might be used to, so we want to take a moment to explain the difference between what we use in our office and what you might encounter in other offices.
Composite Fillings – If you’ve had fillings before, you may be used to the amalgam fillings used by dentists for the past several decades. However, most dentists no longer use this method for restoring your teeth after cavities. Instead, we use composite fillings. Composite is a resin based material that fills the cavity while maintaining the unique color of your natural teeth.
Lumineers – Traditional porcelain veneers require the removal of a significant layer of tooth enamel. Removing healthy tooth enamel is never our preference. Instead, we use Lumineers which require little to no removal of enamel before being placed securely over your teeth.
Natural Dental Implants – A missing tooth can be replaced in different ways. You might lean toward a dental bridge to restore your missing tooth, but a dental implant will be more comfortable, more sturdy, and more natural-looking than any other restoration on the market.
Learn More When you Call!
Every smile is going to experience restorations. Even if the only restoration you ever need is a filling for a cavity, we will be here to correct your tooth and give you back your functional smile. Contact our office today to schedule a routine appointment. These appointments are a great way to prevent the need for restorations, so call today!
