Restorative dentistry is a type of dentistry that helps replace lost teeth and repair teeth that are damaged. Did you know that Americans lose an average of 12 teeth by the time they reach the age of 50? According to Dr. Ted Filandrianos and Boston Magazine, from the age of 65 on, around 26% of people will lose all of their teeth and require dental implants or dentures to maintain their healthy smiles.
People can lose teeth due to many causes, such as addiction, medication side effects, grinding the teeth, and others. These might seem like unrealistic statistics, but the truth is that the loss of your teeth could happen from tooth decay, disease, or injury, leaving you with the need for restorative dentistry.
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry aims to give you back the functionality of your teeth. Furthermore, it aims to give your mouth better aesthetics, so your teeth look white and healthy.
Restorative dental services may also be known as prosthodontic dentistry because these new teeth and repairs are technically prostheses. With restorative dentistry, you’ll regain your smile, eliminate pain, and guarantee the future of your oral health.
Is Restorative Dentistry the Same as Cosmetic Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry is similar to cosmetic dentistry, but the two kinds of dentistry are not the same. There are some key differences.
Restorative dentistry focuses on your mouth’s health and works to produce better functioning of the jaw, teeth, gums, and other parts of the mouth. Conversely, cosmetic dentistry doesn’t focus on fixing the way your mouth works. Instead, it focuses on cosmetic changes, such as bonding, veneers, teeth whitening, and contouring. While cosmetic dentistry may be part of restorative dentistry, restorative dentistry is not necessarily a part of cosmetic dentistry.
Why Is It Important to Repair Your Teeth?
It is essential to repair your teeth and to have teeth replaced when they’re lost whenever possible. If you are missing teeth, other teeth may begin to shift. You may eat on only one side of the mouth, which can throw off the jaw’s function and change your bite pressure.
When there are gaps present because of missing teeth, it’s more likely that the teeth next to the opening will develop cavities because this is a vulnerable space. Gaps also increase the strain on other teeth, which means that they will be more likely to crack or become damaged under the pressure of everyday activities, like eating.
Filling gaps helps keep your natural teeth aligned and encourages more even bite pressure around the mouth. Of course, repairing gaps and broken or damaged teeth will also help you have a more attractive smile.
Are There Different Kinds of Restorative Dentistry?
Yes. There are two kinds, direct and indirect. The term direct restoration means that the dentist will be placing a filling into a cavity. Most people will have a filling installed at least once in their life, if not more regularly than that.
Indirect restorative dentistry is different because it means that there will be a replacement that is customized. This treatment option might include an inlay, crown, or onlay. Usually, indirect dentistry requires more than one visit to complete the process.
Contact Our Team At the Dental Center of Norcross
At the Dental Center of Norcross, we’re here to help you have a comfortable experience while regaining the functionality needed to eat, chew, and speak. With restorative dentistry, we can help improve your oral health and improve the appearance of your teeth. Call us today at 678.504.6422 to learn more about our dental services and how quickly we can change your oral health for the better.
