What Does Teeth Restoration Involve?

Living in a society of processed foods and a diet often rich in refined sugars, maintaining good oral hygiene, and regular visits to the dentist are vital to avoid tooth and gum problems. Tooth decay is considered the most common chronic disease in Australia, and it’s estimated that 1 in 3 Australians over the age of 15 are currently living with some form of untreated tooth decay. Although tooth decay is very common, there are plenty of other issues that may also affect your oral health, including periodontal disease or injuries that have caused dental trauma.

Dental clinics, such as Admire Dentistry, perform many different procedures in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. These can range from routine checkups to orthodontic work and everything in between. Restorative dentistry and teeth restoration work on not only the appearance of your smile but also its functionality. Because there is a range of oral health issues that can affect the functionality of teeth, restorative dentistry has a range of different treatments and procedures.

What is Restorative Dentistry?

Procedures that come under the umbrella of restorative dentistry focus on restoring missing or damaged teeth. Damage and tooth loss can be the result of an accident, tooth decay, bad oral hygiene or your diet. Having healthy teeth is not only vital so that you can bite, speak, and eat comfortably, but it can also have an impact on your self-confidence.

Some common teeth restoration treatments include fillings, dental crowns, root canal treatments, and dental bridges. Restorative dentistry can involve saving teeth from having to be extracted as well as the replacement of missing teeth.

The primary goal of restorative dentistry is to improve overall oral health and the functionality of the mouth. In addition to this, restorative dental procedures will also boost self-esteem with a renewed smile. A person typically requires restorative dentistry if they have a cavity, one or more teeth have been damaged or broken, or teeth are missing altogether.

With restorative dentistry, your dentist can restore your smile, improve your ability to eat, chew and speak, as well as help you maintain long-lasting oral health.

What are Restorative Dental Treatments?

Restorative dental treatments can help to solve a number of issues. Depending on the problem, there is a range of teeth restoration treatments available. Some of the most common restorative dental treatments include the following:

Fillings

One of the most familiar forms of teeth restoration is fillings. When bacteria gathers on teeth, an abrasive acid is formed that eats away at the tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. If the tooth is treated in time, it can be saved with a filling without the need for more invasive treatments or tooth removal. This is why it’s important to see your dentist at the first signs of tooth decay. Some of the first signs of decay are white or brown spots on your teeth, bad breath, tooth sensitivity or pain in your tooth.

The procedure is often quite straightforward, and your dentist can provide you with pain-free options. Firstly, the affected area is numbed before removing any tooth decay. Once all decay has been removed, the cavity is filled with a composite material that closely matches the colour of your tooth. Once the composite has hardened, it will then be shaped and polished to suit your bite and ensure comfort in your mouth.

Crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over the tooth. The role of the crown is to strengthen and protect the tooth, improve its appearance and restore its functionality. Most commonly, you will need a dental crown to restore a broken tooth or to strengthen a weakened tooth.

Once a tooth has been prepared for a crown, your dentist will take an impression of the affected tooth and the surrounding teeth. A temporary dental crown will be placed on the tooth until the permanent dental crown is ready for fitting. Once it is, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and fit the permanent crown into place with a dental adhesive.

Root Canal

If a cavity or crack in a tooth goes deep enough to penetrate the tooth’s pulp, root canal therapy is usually required as part of the tooth restoration process. Deep cavities often result in bacteria entering the pulp and causing a painful infection.

Root canal treatment is a procedure that removes this infected pulp and medicates the tooth in preparation for further restoration. The infection needs to be dealt with first in order to preserve what they can of the tooth and avoid the need for an extraction. If you’ve been enduring a bad toothache, swelling of the gums, lingering tooth sensitivity, or darkened tender gums, then it may be a sign that you need root canal treatment.

When your dentist performs a root canal treatment, the area will first be numbed. The infected pulp will then be removed, and the canal will be cleansed. A composite resin is used to replace the pulp before the canal is sealed. In most cases, your dentist will attach a temporary crown while your permanent crown is prepared to protect the tooth.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are a form of teeth restoration used to replace missing teeth and can be used to fill the gap left by one or more absent teeth. A dental bridge is a simple device that is placed over existing teeth on either side of the missing tooth. This fills in the gap created by the missing tooth, and the dental bridge blends into your existing teeth when you smile.

Following an examination and numbing of the area, your dentist will prepare the surrounding teeth to ensure the dental bridge fits perfectly. An impression will then be taken of your teeth and the region of the missing tooth in order to create a permanent dental bridge. When it’s ready, your dentist will fit the permanent bridge to the surrounding teeth using dental cement or, in some cases, secure the bridge with a dental implant.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are small, metal posts that essentially take the place of a tooth’s root. When a person loses a tooth because of an accident or due to decay, all that’s left is an empty space. In order to securely install a replacement tooth to fill that gap, the artificial tooth (or crown) needs a root to attach to. This is the role of the dental implant.

During a dental implant procedure, your dentist will place the implant into the jawbone under the gum. A few weeks or so later, the new root (implant) will be ready for the next phase; the fitting of the crown. This is a permanent procedure that effectively provides you with a brand-new tooth that matches the rest of your teeth. Dental implants are extremely strong and durable and will restore your ability to chew, bite, speak, and laugh as you once did.

Book a Dental Check-up at Admire Dentistry

Teeth restoration focuses on restoring the functionality of the mouth, and in turn, this can also boost your self-confidence to smile. Because there is a range of oral health issues that can impact the function of the mouth, including damaged or broken teeth as well as missing teeth, restorative dentistry includes a range of treatment options.

Book a dental check-up at Admire Dentistry, and our dentist will be able to detect any signs that you made need teeth restoration treatments.

For the best in teeth restoration services or any other dental requirements, make an appointment with Admire Dentistry. Our clinic provides a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Contact us today for restorative dentistry and all your oral health requirements.