Hello, I'm Dr. Elizabeth Manchester here at Dental Care by Design. We get a lot of questions about restorative dentistry. Today I'm going to answer some of the most common questions on this topic to give you a better understanding of restorative dental procedures.
What is restorative dentistry?
Restorative dentistry is a broad term that includes all dental procedures that restore natural teeth or replace missing teeth. For example, procedures like fillings, crowns, veneers, and bridges fall under the category of restorative dentistry. We can include implants and dentures in restorative dentistry because they restore the ability to chew.
What is the difference between restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is part of restorative dentistry. In cosmetic dentistry, we use tooth-colored materials and materials that simulate natural tooth structure in color, translucency, and shape. One of the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures is veneers for the front teeth. They make teeth look very natural and beautiful at the same time. On the other hand, restorative dentistry focuses more on restoring teeth functions such as chewing and biting, along with removing decay.
What conditions would require restorative dentistry?
Certain conditions such as cavities, chips or broken teeth, missing teeth, and infected teeth require the following treatments: fillings, crowns, inlays or onlays, root canals, bridges, dental implants, and dentures. I'll explain a little more about each of these procedures.
- Fillings. Fillings are used to fill decay in natural teeth. They can be different sizes depending on how much tooth needs to be restored.
- Crowns. Crowns or dental caps are used when a large amount of tooth structure is missing and fillings will not work, or to replace existing failed crowns.
- Inlays and Onlays. Inlays are more like fillings in their shape and size, and onlays are more like crowns. The use of inlays and onlays depends on how much tooth is missing. Inlays and onlays are longer-lasting alternatives to fillings and they prevent teeth fractures.
- Root Canals. Root canals are not part of restorative dentistry but they facilitate saving natural teeth. Usually, after having a root canal, a tooth needs a build-up and a crown. It is a procedure that helps to restore lost tooth structure.
- Bridges. A bridge is a row of prosthetic teeth to replace missing teeth. It's cemented onto the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth area.
- Dental Implants. Dental implants are part of a different dental specialty called implant prosthodontics. However, they do help to restore form, function, and the ability to chew food when teeth are missing.
- Dentures. Dentures are prosthetic plastic teeth set on an acrylic base. The base sits on top of the gums.
Is anesthesia oxidation used during restorative dental procedures?
During restorative dental procedures, we always use local anesthesia with the most commonly used anesthetic called lidocaine. In some cases, when someone is anxious, we use laughing gas in addition to local anesthetic. More anxious patients might need oral sedation, which means we prescribe sedative medications to take in tablet form. In all mild sedation cases, a person will be awake but relaxed and not anxious.
What are the benefits of restorative dentistry?
The main and most important benefit of restorative dentistry is keeping the natural teeth. That is why early detection of the problem is very important. When we catch a small cavity, we can treat it with a small filling. If you wait too long, the cavity gets much bigger and nerve infection happens. In this case, a root canal and crown might be needed. If you wait even longer, the tooth will be lost and implants or dentures might be needed. As you can see, early diagnosis and early treatment have the best outcome.
Are there risks associated with restorative dental procedures?
Usually, the risks are very minimal, if any, when doing dental fillings while treating tooth decay. The longer we wait to treat the decay, fractures, or broken teeth, the more complicated procedures, such as the need for crowns, onlays, and root canals, arise. More complicated procedures lead to more risks and more potential of losing teeth. I advocate for early intervention at an early stage of dental disease to prevent the risk of losing natural teeth and the ability to chew.
How long does it take to recover from restorative dental procedures?
Recovery time from restorative dental procedures depends on what procedure was done. Dental fillings take very little time to recover, mostly from the local anesthesia. It often goes without any downtime or post-operative discomfort. After procedures like crowns, onlays, root canals, or implants, recovery time might take a few hours to a few days, with some post-operative discomfort, but usually it heals well.
What is the success rate with restorative dental procedures?
The success rate of dental procedures like fillings, crowns, inlays, and onlays is very high. It always depends on the initial condition of the tooth prior to any procedure. Usually, when we do the fillings, crowns, onlays, and inlays, the teeth are not infected and are not in pain. When procedures like root canals, implants, or bridges are required, it's an indication of underlying more serious conditions. That is why these procedures might have a lower success rate. The success rate depends on many factors, some of which are the initial health of the tooth, how early intervention happened, who did the procedure, and the overall personal health of the patient. Many factors must be considered to determine the success rate of any dental restorative procedure.
How can I schedule a dental appointment to restore my teeth and oral health?
The initial appointment requires a proper diagnosis with X-rays and a dental exam. You can schedule it by calling our office and asking for a dental exam or checkup appointment. At that appointment, your dental health will be assessed, and necessary dental cleaning and restorative procedures will be offered.
I hope I was able to answer some of your questions on restorative dental procedures. If you have additional questions or are ready to take action, please give us a call at (360) 800-2372. We are here to help.