Why is Restorative Dental Care So Important?

Are you hoping to alter your smile? Do you have certain areas that you feel could use a little change? In this post, our Oakville dentists talk about the different types of restorative dental treatments and why they are so important for your dental health.

Restorative Dental Care

Put simply, restorative dental care refers to treatments that restore the structure, integrity, and/or function of a damaged tooth or teeth. This damage can range from decay to injury (chipping and other external trauma, for example). When you undergo restorative dental care you are looking to restore your smile to its former glory. There are a number of factors for how a procedure will play out, such as the extent of damage to the tooth, how difficult the procedure will be, and how comfortable the patient feels during the process.

What is the importance of restorative care?

When you suffer from certain dental concerns it can not cause issues with your own appearance but also with your confidence and overall health. Replacing and/or fixing decaying teeth can help maintain good oral health by preventing plaque build-up. Further, filling open or damaged spots in vacant areas of the mouth is important for keeping teeth well-aligned. And, believe it or not, replacing missing teeth can put far less pressure on remaining teeth when eating. The more teeth there are, the easier it will be to chew and the less plaque build-up there will be on the natural teeth.

What can you expect during restorative treatment?

Your dentist will have determined an overall cause for your dental issues when they have completed your treatment.

But treatment will vary among individuals. Sometimes the treatment, if there isn't too much damage and the treatment is minimally-invasive, will only require a single dental appointment. Other times, when the damage is much more extensive and thus requires a more complex procedure, treatment will likely require more visits. Again, depending on the patient, specialists, such as a prosthodontist, endodontist or maxillofacial surgeon, might need to be called in.

During the procedure, your dentist might use different types of anesthesia so that you don't feel any pain. They might also use anesthesia to calm your anxiety or fears.

Most dental restoration procedures are classified as either direct or indirect. Direct procedures usually involve repairs done inside the mouth. Indirect procedures are done outside the mouth and then attached to the tooth or the tooth structure. Your dentist will determine what procedure is best for you.

Direct Dental Restoration

You may know this type of dental restoration buy another name - Dylan. With direct restoration, your dentist usually places a mouldable substance inside of a cleaned tooth cavity. This material will harden and restore the tooth's structure. Common materials used for fillings include silver amalgam, composite fillings, and glass ionomer fillings.

Indirect Dental Restoration

With indirect restorations, construction happens outside the mouth. There is usually much more work involved with indirect restorations, but the results are usually more stable and long-lasting. It can also restore the overall look of your teeth. Some common examples of indirect restorations include veneers, crowns & bridges, inlays & onlays and dental implants.

If you would like to learn more about our restorative dental health care services, contact our Oakville dentists today!