Restorative dentistry treatments are the place to turn to when you need to replace or repair missing, damaged, or decayed teeth. These services are designed to eliminate any pain felt when chewing by restoring your bite force and, subsequently, improving your smile. Among other things, Madison dental spa restorative dentistry treatments help align your teeth, prevent the progression of tooth decay, replace lost teeth, clean infections, and more. Unlike cosmetic dentistry, which focuses on the appearance of your smile, the main goal of restorative dentistry is to improve your oral function and health. Here is a look at five ways this branch of dentistry accomplishes that.

Crowns

Crowns are dental caps that your dentist places over your teeth to repair a damaged tooth. It is usually placed above the gum line and used when the tooth that needs repair is too damaged to fill. Essentially, the crown seals the tooth in question to prevent further damage and breakage. It can be teeth-colored or made from a metallic material. Either way, a crown is designed to match the shape of your tooth. Crowns can also wear out and loosen over time, which is why they may require replacement.

Fillings

If your tooth is not too far gone, your dentist may fill it. This treatment addresses cavities or holes that form on your teeth when bacteria eat away at your enamel. Fillings are an ideal treatment for small cavities that have not damaged your entire tooth structure. During the treatment, your dentist will clean out the decayed part of your tooth and fill the resulting hole with a composite material. This will prevent the decay from progressing and prevent symptoms like infection, pain, and tooth loss.

Bridges

Bridges, which consist of a replacement tooth bordered by a crown on each side, replace missing teeth. The tooth and crowns are usually cemented together for support, with the crowns designed to fit over the tooth. When receiving crowns, your dentist will shape the teeth on each side of the area with the missing tooth, then fit the crowns over these teeth to support the replacement tooth.

Dentures

Dentures are a semi-permanent teeth replacement option. There are two types of dentures – full dentures, which replace entire arches, and partial dentures, which replace one or several missing teeth in different sections of your mouth. Usually, dentures are placed over your gums to be supported by your jawbone. They can also be added to implants to provide more stability.

Dental Implants

Speaking of which, implants are widely considered the holy grail of teeth replacement. These are titanium rods that are inserted into your jawbone to mimic a natural tooth root and support crowns or dentures. Your gums usually heal around the implant to create a strong connection and tight support for your dentures, preventing slippage, restoring your bite force, and improving your pronunciation of words. You need healthy gums and sufficient jawbone to receive dental implants.

Discuss Your Oral Needs with a Restorative Dentist

Restorative dentistry services are concerned about more than how your smile looks. They solve functional and structural problems that could undermine your oral health, allowing you to retain full function. Usually, this is done by replacing or repairing damaged, missing, or decayed teeth. The overall result is an improved ability to chew, speak, and eat without pain. If you believe you have a problem that restorative dentistry could treat, contact a provider to discuss your symptoms.