Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing or replacing damaged or missing teeth to restore their function and appearance.
It encompasses a range of procedures, including fillings, crowns, root canals, and dental implants, aimed at improving oral health and overall well-being. Dentistry is evolving daily to become more conservative, developing new technologies, materials, and procedures that help achieve better outcomes. There are many tools, such as scanners, computerized tomography, digital designs, microscopes, magnification loops, that are a big help in improving skills and results.
It is crucial to be diligent with check-ups, as the longer we delay addressing a problem, the more damage it causes to the tooth anatomy, thereby increasing the cost of necessary treatments.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are used to repair teeth damaged by decay or fractures. They restore the tooth's structure and function, preventing further damage and pain.
Inlays
A dental inlay is a custom-made filling made extra orally used to repair damage or decay within the cusps (raised, pointed parts) of a tooth, typically on the chewing surface. It's a more conservative option than a crown, preserving more of the natural tooth structure. Inlays are crafted in a dental lab from materials like zirconia or porcelain and then bonded to the tooth.
Onlays
A dental onlay is a indirect dental restoration used to repair a tooth with extensive damage or decay, but not severe enough to require a full crown. Think of it as a "partial crown," covering a larger portion of the tooth's surface compared to an inlay.
Crowns
A dental crown, also known as a "cap", is a tooth-shaped restoration that covers the entire visible part of a tooth. It's used to restore a damaged or decayed tooth, improving its shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns can be made from various materials and are cemented onto the tooth, providing a durable and long-lasting solution.
Veneers
Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells, typically made of porcelain or composite resin, that are bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. Veneers help to correct a variety of imperfections, such as chipped, discolored, or misaligned teeth.
Veneers nowadays are less and less invasive, maintaining most of the tooth structure.
Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) dental prosthesis that replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring onto the adjacent teeth. This treatment involves removing some tooth structure from neighboring teeth, called abutments. A pontic or pontics, or artificial tooth/teeth, is made to fill the gap between the abutment teeth. There are also bridges supported by implants placed in long-span spaces to restore function for the patient.
Partial Dentures
Dental partial dentures are removable dental appliances designed to replace multiple missing teeth on either the upper or lower jaw when some natural teeth remain. They consist of artificial teeth attached to a pink-colored base, often with a metal or plastic framework, that is secured by clasps or other attachments that clip onto your remaining natural teeth. Partial dentures restore chewing and speaking ability, prevent remaining teeth from shifting, and improve the appearance of your smile.
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Complete Dentures
A complete denture is a removable dental prosthesis that replaces all the natural teeth in an entire arch, either in the upper or lower jaw. Also known as a full denture, this appliance is typically made of acrylic resin and designed to resemble and function like natural teeth.