Restorative dentistry refers to a dental procedure that repairs or restores a tooth to form and function. There are often two goals in restorative dentistry: to restore the function and esthetics of the teeth.
If a tooth has decay, the treatment depends on the severity and depth of the decay.
- Filling
- This is generally the most common restorative dental procedure. Your teeth have 3 layers: Enamel (the protective outer layer), Dentin (the second, softer layer), and Pulp tissue (soft tissue including the nerve and blood vessels). When bacteria burrow into the dentin of the tooth, your dentist will remove the decayed or damaged part of the tooth and fill the hole with a tooth-colored composite material. This filling will prevent the bacteria from traveling deeper into the tooth toward the nerve.
- Crown
- When a tooth becomes damaged from severe decay, a crack in the tooth or following root canal treatment, it can be reinforced with a crown (cap). A crown procedure requires the top part of the tooth, called the crown, to be shaved down. and the crown is placed over the top. The crown looks and functions just like your natural tooth and the natural root remains in place.
- Silver Diamine Fluoride
- Silver Diamine Fluoride has many benefits. It is a non-invasive and quick way to halt decay from traveling deeper into the tooth. However, it will permanently change the decayed portion of the tooth to a black color. It is also necessary to have repeat treatments every 6 months to prevent the decay from deepening.
Benefits of Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dental procedures have many benefits, which is why they are very common procedures performed by dentists.
- Eliminate pain. If you have a deep cavity or an infected tooth, you have probably experienced severe pain related to these issues. Restorative procedures eliminate pain by correcting the problem or removing the infection.
- Restore function. A main benefit of restorative procedures is that your teeth are restored to function. You can chew again and often speaking improves because your teeth are repaired and healthy.
- Improve esthetics. Many times, patients come to us with a concern regarding the appearance of their teeth. Restorative procedures can boost your confidence by making your teeth look better.
- Prevent further dental issues.
Early treatment of dental issues can prevent them from worsening. A cavity that is ignored can result in pain or infection, requiring a root canal or extraction and replacement.
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