Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry involves changing the appearance and functionality of teeth by using dental restorative materials. It comes into picture when the teeth are damaged, discolored, decayed or need to be reshaped. Some of the common restorative procedures are dental implants, porcelain veneers, ceramic and composite fillings, crowns and bridges, bonding and full mouth reconstruction.

Implants are commonly used to replace lost teeth. They are very strong and durable and can be made to look exactly like one's natural teeth. Getting dental implants would increase the overall oral health as compared to having missing teeth. They would prevent shifting of teeth, change in the shape of the jawbone and loosening of the roots of the teeth from the bone socket. Biting and chewing food or any hard substances wouldn't cause any damage to them.

Veneers are thin wafer-like structures which are bonded to the surface of teeth. They can make discolored teeth look whiter. Minor cracks and chipping can also be repaired using them. One of the major advantages of veneers is that they can bring about a change in the shape and size of a tooth. When teeth have large gaps between them, veneers can be used to eliminate that gap. Also, short teeth can be made longer and misalignment issues can be resolved using them.

Fillings are used to cover cavities in teeth. They help restore the natural tooth structure and also prevent the decaying of the tooth. Two types of white fillings are used by dentists, namely composite and porcelain filling. They are known to be very durable and they do not wear easily due to the grinding of teeth (bruxism) or chewing of hard substances. Moreover, they are hard to notice as they are made to match the exact shade of the tooth.

Crowns are cap-like structures which are used to cover teeth. They have both aesthetic and functional properties as they help whiten discolored teeth and also repair cracks, chipping and dental fractures. Bridges are used to replace lost teeth. They can be made to look exactly like natural teeth and are bonded in the gap where a tooth has gone missing. They are accompanied by two crowns on either side which help support the dental bridge.

Full mouth reconstruction is applicable to a patient who has a combination of many dental issues such as missing teeth, cavities, malocclusion, discolored teeth, infection to the gums, repairing worn out restorations, etc. It is a restorative treatment which restores total oral health. The major aspect of full mouth reconstruction is aligning misaligned teeth. For this purpose, either braces or Invisalign is used.

Bonding is a method of applying a composite resin on the surface of a tooth in order to change its shape, repair cracks and chipping or to reduce the excessive gap between teeth. They are also used to cover the exposed roots of teeth due to the receding of gums. They are pretty durable and can be completed with just one visit to the dentist.