What Is Restorative Treatment?

Restorative treatment comprises any dental processes that repair and restore damaged parts of the oral cavity. The treatments are limited only to necessary procedures for repairing and restoring teeth’ structures to improve their functionality. It means that cosmetic approaches like dental veneers cannot be considered restorative treatments even though they can restore teeth.

With many dental appliances in dentistry to choose from, our dental team at Steve B. Horne, DDS – Encinitas, CA, has adequate alternatives to meet varying patients’ needs. Some restorations require ample preparation that can take about two weeks, while others are same-day restorations near you.

When Do You Need Restorative Treatment?

Dentists can use restorative treatments to treat different dental problems. In many cases, restorative treatments focus on repairing the structural elements of teeth. It means that different types of restorations can treat:

1. Dental cavities and tooth decay
2. Fractured teeth – chips, cracks, and breaks on teeth
3. Damaged previous dental restorations – loosening or weakening of the restoration

Some of the indicators that you need dental restorations are:

1. Heightened teeth sensitivity
2. Toothaches
3. Broken, chipped, or cracked enamel
4. Missing tooth
5. Loose dental filling

What Are the Different Types of Restorations?

Restorative treatments are unique for each patient. When you decide to visit your dentist in Encinitas, CA, for tooth restoration, enquire about the different types of restorations available that can adequately treat you. The common ones include the following:

1. Dental fillings – are the most common dental restorations in dentistry. They feature different dental materials that repair oral cavities and tooth decay. Dental fillings preserve the tooth structure by replacing the damaged portion with new material, like gold, silver alloy, or composite.
2. Dental crowns – are porcelain tooth-shaped materials that restore teeth structures with significant impairment. Ideally, a dentist will employ a dental crown when a tooth is severely damaged to befit dental fillings. A crown completely covers a tooth, replacing its enamel.
3. Inlays and onlays – are indirect restorations that serve a similar purpose to dental fillings and dental crowns. Ideally, dentists use inlays and onlays when the damage on a tooth’s structure is too big for a standard tooth filling but not large enough to merit a dental crown.
4. Dental bridges – are tooth replacement dental restorations perfect for replacing up to three missing teeth in a row. They feature a combination of artificial replacement teeth called abutments and dental crowns.
5. Dentures – are a set of artificial teeth that replace multiple missing teeth in a row. The artificial teeth are bound to a gum-like base mimicking a natural smile. In this way, dentures replace teeth as well as surrounding tissues.
6. Dental implants – are small screw-like metal posts that restore lost teeth. Oral surgeons place implants in the jawbone to replace the roots of teeth, then cover them will dental crowns to complete the treatment. Dental implants are great for replacing a single tooth at a time. However, dentists can strategically use the implants to replace multiple missing teeth when used alongside dentures.

What Are the Risks or Complications of Dental Restorations?

Although dental restorations have transformed many smiles in dentistry, there are a few complications you may encounter during your treatments. Depending on the treatment protocols involved during your restorative procedure, dental restorations present different risks. They include the following:

1. Infection – is particular for dental implants. If you do not care properly for your wound after implantation surgery, it can catch an infection. This will slow down or deteriorate the healing process.
2. Allergic reactions – any metallic material used in dental restorative treatments can cause allergic reactions. For instance, patients who receive silver fillings can have adverse allergic reactions to the mercury present in the metal alloy.
3. Sore gums – you may even develop mouth sores with time. This complication is common for immediate dentures that may be ill-fitting, placing unnecessary tension on your gums.
4. Tooth cavities – just because your tooth is repaired does not mean it cannot get a cavity. Dental decay is a process that happens gradually, primarily due to poor oral hygiene. If you are not intentional about your oral hygiene after a restorative treatment, you can still get dental cavities.