What happens when you chip a tooth or develop serious tooth decay? To avoid discomfort or other complications you may need a restorative treatment. Restorative dentistry involves procedures designed to return the function and appearance of a tooth. There are a number of ways to restore your smile, including lifelike crowns and dental fillings.
3 Restorative Dentistry Treatments
- Crowns: If you have a chipped, broken, or severely decayed tooth then the doctor may recommend a crown. We make them from a variety of different materials. For the rear teeth, which must undergo more serious bite forces, we may use gold, platinum, silver, or other metals. However, for the teeth near the front of the mouth we can use all-porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal, as these look natural and blend with the rest of the smile.
- Fillings: A dental filling is often used to restore a tooth that suffers from cavities. We use metal-free composite to fill the tooth. This material can be shaded to match the remaining tooth structure and the filling can be placed in a single visit. The procedure involves cleaning the tooth and removing decay before applying the material. We then cure the filling with a special light.
- Extractions: Believe it or not, sometimes the best way to improve your oral health may mean removing a tooth. An extraction involves administering a local anesthetic and using oral surgery to remove a tooth. We may remove a tooth if it becomes infected and threatens the health of surrounding teeth. Likewise, if you have wisdom teeth that could become impacted and only partially erupt, causing damaged teeth, misalignment, and infection we may remove them. If you have any questions about extractions or our other restorative treatment options then contact our office today.
