Restorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry that solely focuses on the repair and replacement of damaged and missing teeth. As opposed to cosmetic dentistry which places a heavy emphasis on the aesthetics and appearance of your teeth, restorative dentistry focuses solely on replacing and repairing damaged teeth, which ultimately does contribute to oral aesthetics too. The main aim of these procedures is to improve oral functionalities, and some of the most common restorative functions include crowns, implants, and bridges.
Importance & Need For Restorative Dentistry
For individuals suffering from poor oral health and hygiene, restorative dentistry is their best bet to saving their natural teeth and to long-lasting oral health. Without the advancements in restorative dentistry, tooth damage, loss or decay would be permanent with no room for improvement or repair. Restorative dentistry gives individuals multiple chances to save their oral hygiene, gum health, and chewing functions.
Restorative dentistry is necessary for individuals who either suffer from broken or damaged teeth, have missing teeth, or suffer from tooth decay or cavities. All of these oral problems either feature a loss of teeth, broken teeth, or damaged teeth, and that is exactly what restorative dentistry hopes to fix.
Procedures In Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry has several procedures and treatments, and the most popular ones are as follows:
1. Filings
When bacteria cause a hole in a tooth by eating away the tooth enamel, the resultant hole is known as a cavity. A cavity occurs due to poor oral hygiene, and while bigger cavities require complex treatments, smaller cavities can be treated by dental filings. During this process, a dental practitioner removes the dead and decaying part of the affected tooth and fills the cavity with composite material. This composite is matched with the natural color of the tooth, and it subsequently halts the bacteria from progressing any further.
2. Dental Implants
A dental implant is yet another solution for missing teeth that uses artificial teeth fixed as implants. In the said procedure, screwlike posts made out of metal are used to replace tooth roots in one’s jaw and are topped with artificial teeth that look very similar to one’s natural teeth. When dentures or bridges are not suitable for a patient for any due reason, implants work like magic in improving their dental hygiene. For individuals with severe dental damage or tooth loss, Full Arch Rehabilitation is a viable option that can be done using dental implants.
3. Dentures & Bridges
Both dentures and bridges replace missing teeth, and the procedure can be used to replace a single tooth or an entire row of missing teeth. While a bridge is permanent, dentures are temporary and can b taken off multiple times during the day, especially at night before sleeping. For the application of bridges, the natural teeth are shaved down to attach artificial crowns on top of them. Whereas, dentures rest on the top of one’s gums with the jawbone providing support. Dentures come in two varieties and can be made of either plastic or metal alloys, with the former being cheaper and the latter being more durable.
