Restorative Dental Treatments

Restorative dental treatments are procedures which are used to repair problems with a person's teeth and gums. Restorative dentistry provides a variety of options to improve a person's dental health and also the aesthetics of their teeth and gums. Common restorative dental treatments include crowns, bridges, implants, dentures, fillings, root canals, sealants, and periodontal surgeries. Crowns are used to repair severely damaged teeth that cannot be fixed with other treatments such as fillings. Crowns are created by cutting away a tooth's structure and replacing it with a dental prosthetic, such as porcelain, metal, or composite material. Crowns can improve a person's ability to speak and chew, and improve the aesthetics of their smile. Bridges are another restorative dental treatment that can be used to replace missing teeth. Bridges consist of false teeth attached to metal or porcelain crowns and are cemented to surrounding teeth. Bridges can help retain the natural shape of a person’s face and smile. Dental implants are a form of restorative dentistry that involve the placement of metal posts into the jawbone, followed by the placement of prosthetic teeth on top. Implants can prevent bone deterioration, restore the natural shape of the face and smile, and provide a permanent and stable replacement for missing teeth. Dentures are another form of restorative dentistry that can replace missing teeth and improve a person's ability to chew and speak. Dentures consist of plastic or metal prosthetic teeth attached to a plastic base that is held in place by suction or with special adhesives. Patients can also choose to have their dentures sporting strings. Root canals are often performed when a person experiences severe pain and swelling associated with a damaged tooth. During this treatment, the dentist removes the dead or dying nerve tissue from the tooth, cleans the area, and then places a filling material in the cavity. This procedure restores the normal function of the tooth and can prevent further infection. Fillings are used to repair and prevent cavities caused by decay. Fillings consist of many different types of material, including amalgam, composite, porcelain, and metal, and can be used to restore both the structure and aesthetics of the tooth. Sealants are a form of preventive dentistry used to protect teeth from decay and cavities.