RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
Restorative dentistry encompasses different types of treatments, offered individually or in combination, designed to restore the form, function and aesthetics of damaged or missing teeth.
Restorative dentistry encompasses different types of treatments, offered individually or in combination, designed to restore the form, function and aesthetics of damaged or missing teeth.
Fixed prostheses are permanent restorative devices that replace missing or damaged teeth. Fixed prostheses include crowns and bridges.
A dental crown is a cap, usually made of porcelain or zirconia, that completely covers the remaining visible part of a tooth. This treatment may be necessary for severely damaged teeth, extensive decay or trauma.
When little tooth structure remains, composite or amalgam restorations don’t hold up well. In this case, it is better to opt for a crown. Crowns are also recommended for teeth devitalized by a root canal treatment since devitalized teeth are weaker than natural teeth and requires more protection.
If you lose a natural tooth or have had one extracted, your dentist may recommend that you replace it with a dental bridge to restore your teeth to their full function. A bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of two crowns held in place by on natural teeth or dental implants and joined together by an artificial tooth called a pontic.
Dental fillings, traditionally called “fillings”, are a technique used to treat cavities, repair fractures, treat erosion and abrasions, improve aesthetics and reduce tooth sensitivity.
The treatment involves filling and sealing the cavity with a restorative material such as composite or amalgam. This stops the progression of decay and restores the tooth’s form and function.
Untreated decay or fractures can have serious consequences, including irreversible loss of the affected tooth, so it’s important to treat it before symptoms appear.
Complete removable prostheses, also known as dentures, are devices that you can take out and put back in yourself. They are used when all the teeth in a jaw are missing.
Removable partial dentures replace several missing teeth and are attached to the remaining teeth with metal clasps or more discreet fixtures.