If you have damaged or missing teeth, restorative dental treatments can help you enjoy your best smile yet. From fillings to crowns to implants, restorative dentistry addresses both the health and appearance of your smile. While it’s common to think of cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers or whitening when thinking of restorative dentistry, these are for improving appearance rather than fixing functional issues. Restorative treatments include fillings, root canal therapy, dental bridges and implants, and dentures.
The benefits of restorative dentistry go beyond a beautiful smile. It can also improve oral health, relieve dental pain, prevent future problems and boost your confidence. When you have restored, healthy and functioning teeth, you can eat, speak, and chew with ease and without fear of damage to the surrounding teeth or jawbone.
One of the simplest types of restorative dentistry is a dental filling. During this treatment, your dentist removes the decaying tissue and fills the hole with tooth-colored composite resin. This prevents cavities from destroying the entire tooth, and it also halts the spread of tooth decay.
In more serious cases, your dentist may recommend a root canal procedure to treat a painful or infected tooth. This involves drilling into the center of a tooth and cleaning out infected pulp, disinfecting the area, then filling it with a temporary filling before sealing the space. Millions of teeth are treated and saved this way each year, relieving pain and making the tooth healthy again.
Dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures are more complex forms of restorative dentistry. Your dentist will create a treatment plan based on the extent of the damage to your teeth and what you want to achieve in terms of function and aesthetics. Dental implant placement requires a surgical procedure, and it takes time for the implant to heal before replacement teeth can be attached.
Once you’ve undergone any restorative treatment, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene to protect the restorations and ensure they last. This means regular brushing and flossing, and visits to your dentist for professional cleanings. Your dentist can also provide specific care instructions based on the type of restorative dentistry treatment you’ve received.
The team of Torrance dentist from Madison Park Family Dentistry is dedicated to providing top-tier restorative dentistry services that improve your oral health and overall wellbeing. We offer a wide range of solutions, including dental implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures to address your particular needs.