What is Restorative care? What does it involve?
If you’ve ever had the unfortunate experience of dealing with painful gums or bad teeth, then you know how disruptive dental problems can be to your everyday life. Poor oral hygiene can negatively impact both your personal and professional relationships, and may lead to other issues that threaten the overall health of your entire body.
Many dental and oral problems can occur without any symptoms. These issues are more common than you think, but the good news is that a dentist can help you resolve the issues caused by bad oral health. Restorative dentistry procedures can help address tooth decay and gum disease concerns so that you can get back to enjoying your life and your smile.
Restorative dentistry is becoming an increasingly popular option amongst people facing dental issues. This is because restorative care procedures have a natural look that is perfectly tailored to meet the needs of the individual patient. Treatments replicate the natural beauty of your smile and keep your mouth in good health and functioning properly. It is a long-lasting solution that helps to protect your natural teeth and keep your mouth as healthy as possible. Customizable options–including fillings, crowns, and more–will allow you to once again speak with confidence and enjoy food without the fear of pain.
Why is it important?
If poor oral health has led to tooth decay, infection of the gums, misalignment of the teeth, or other issues, seeking restorative care to address the damage can help preserve the overall integrity of the affected teeth. Here are a few other reasons that it is important to receive proper treatment for damaged or missing teeth:
- There are a number of reasons that teeth can become chipped or cracked, or damaged. In some cases, this may require the tooth to be extracted. If the tooth is not replaced, this can cause the adjacent teeth to shift and cause problems with your alignment and bite.
- Missing teeth cannot only be embarrassing for some people, but they can also affect the overall function of your mouth. Missing molars can make it difficult to chew certain foods and can even make pronouncing certain words more challenging.
- Missing teeth cause bone and muscle found in that area to deteriorate. Not only can this eventually cause problems with your adjacent teeth, but this can create plaque buildup that contributes to further tooth decay.
- Believe it or not, a missing tooth can lead to other oral health issues that have even greater consequences on your overall health. Tooth decay that is left untreated can lead to the following health problems:
- Cardiovascular disease: Poor oral health puts you at higher risk for heart disease. The bacteria that causes inflammation of your gums can enter your bloodstream and lead to clogged arteries and strokes. This increases the likelihood that a person might experience a heart attack, hypertension and other fatal conditions.
- Pregnancy Complications: It is imperative for pregnant women to maintain good oral health. The hormonal changes experienced by expectant mothers leave them more susceptible to developing oral infections. This can lead to health issues for the mother and infant, including premature birth and low birth weight.
- Cancer: Kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer and several blood cancers have been linked to people with poor oral health.
- Diabetes: Diabetic individuals are more prone to experience oral infections that lead to periodontal disease. However, periodontal disease can make it even more challenging to control diabetes overall. This is because gum disease can create abnormal blood sugar levels. This also means that a person with poor oral health is at a greater risk of developing diabetes.
- How we feel about our teeth can impact our confidence. If you’re unhappy with your smile, this can lead to low-self esteem, anxiety, and depression.
What types of issues can restorative dentistry procedures fix?
Chipped or cracked teeth
Chipped or cracked teeth should be examined by a dentist as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could be looking at a more painful and expensive problem down the road. Dental bonding can offer a quick fix to address the issue. It’s less expensive than a dental crown and can help preserve the damaged tooth.
Missing Teeth
If you’re missing a few molars, a dentist can fill the gaps for you by installing a restorative bridge, implant, or dentures. These methods have been proven to be extremely effective in allowing you to chew better and protect against future dental problems.
Broken Teeth
A broken tooth can make eating more difficult. The most common solution to address this issue is to repair the damage using a crown or cap. Crowns are an affordable option that are also great for fixing discolored teeth.
Cavities
Cavities that are not addressed early on can grow larger. Fillings can be used to help restore both appearance and function.
What types of services does Inverness Family Dentistry offer that are considered restorative dentistry?
If you’re in the market for restorative dentistry in Englewood, Inverness Family Dentistry offers a wide range of restorative and preventative dental services to help you maintain excellent oral health, including:
- Dental Implants: Dental implants can replace a single tooth or several teeth. They provide a permanent foundation for both fixed and replacement teeth. This is a great option for people seeking a long-term solution to address missing or damaged teeth.
- Dentures: Dentures are a removable option for replacing missing teeth. If a person has had all of their teeth removed, complete dentures can be used as a full replacement for the natural teeth that were once there. If only some molars have been removed, then partial dentures can help fill in the space and bridge the areas where teeth are missing.
- Fillings: Fillings are used to repair portions of your teeth by filling in areas where decay has occured from cavities. Cracked, worn, or broken teeth can also be fixed using fillings.
- Veneers: Dental veneers or porcelain veneers are attached to the front part of the tooth. They replicate the natural appearance of our enamel and can be customized to give the client their desired smile.
- Crowns: A crown is used to cover a damaged tooth. It restores the tooth to its normal appearance and provides extra reinforcement.
- Inlays and Onlays: Inlays can be used to replace small areas of a tooth structure that may be damaged from decay. Onlays, on the other hand, are applied to the chewing surface of your back teeth.
What are the benefits of restorative dentistry?
Restorative dentistry provides several benefits to patients who have experienced severe dental problems as a result of decay, damage, or tooth loss. These benefits include relief from pain, improved appearance and self-esteem, preservation of bone structure, improved chewing function, and so much more.
Inverness Family Dentistry offers top quality restorative care in Englewood. With a flexible appointment schedule, we’re able to accept both scheduled appointments and same-day appointments, when available, for emergencies or for that last-minute visit.
If you think you’re a good candidate for restorative dental procedures, call 303-792-9904 to book a consultation.