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What is restorative dental care?
Put simply, restorative dental care refers to treatments that restore the structure, integrity, and/or function of a damaged tooth or teeth. This damage can range from decay to injury (chipping and other external trauma, for example). The goal of restorative dental treatment is to bring the tooth or teeth back to their normal function.
The timeline for restorative dental treatment is usually difficult to predict. This is because many factors influence how a procedure will proceed, such as the extent of tooth damage, the difficulty of the procedure, and how comfortable the patient feels during the procedure.
Why is restorative dental care important?
Simply put, poorly decayed teeth can have a negative impact on your appearance, self-esteem, and even your overall health (not just your oral health). Plaque buildup can be reduced by replacing and/or repairing decayed teeth. Furthermore, filling open or damaged spots in vacant areas of the mouth is critical for maintaining proper tooth alignment. And, believe it or not, replacing missing teeth can relieve a lot of pressure on the remaining teeth when you eat. The more teeth there are, the easier it is to chew and the less plaque buildup on natural teeth.
What happens during treatment?
Before treatment even begins, it's likely your dentist will diagnose your condition using a variety of means, including x-rays and a thorough examination of your mouth.
However, each person will receive care differently. If there isn't too much damage and the procedure is minimally invasive, the treatment may occasionally only need one dental visit. Other times, treatment will probably need more visits if the damage is much more severe and necessitates a more involved procedure. Again, depending on the patient, it might be necessary to consult with a prosthodontist, endodontist, or maxillofacial surgeon.
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.
The majority of dental restoration procedures fall into one of two categories: direct or indirect. Indirect procedures typically involve dental repairs. Procedures that are applied to the tooth or the tooth structure indirectly are completed outside of the mouth. The procedure that is best for you will be decided by your dentist.
Direct Restoration
This common procedure is also known as "fillings." In a cleaned tooth cavity with direct restoration, your dentist typically inserts a moldable material. This substance will solidify and rebuild the tooth's structure. Silver amalgam, composite fillings, and glass ionomer fillings are common filling materials.
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.