Five Restorative Dental Options to Fix Your Smile

Missing, crooked, and chipped teeth are unsightly. Not only that, but they can damage your dental structure. The gaps cause the alveolar bone to deteriorate, while crooked teeth make it hard to maintain proper dental hygiene. To fix your teeth and restore dental health, you need restorative dental service.

Restorative dentistry refers to the different treatments used to keep your mouth functional and healthy. Restorative and cosmetic dentistry is different, although the terms are used interchangeably.

Cosmetic dentistry is concerned with improving your smile and dental appearance. Some of the procedures under this category include teeth whitening, bonding, and contouring, among others. Restorative dentistry is done to correct and keep the health and function of your mouth.

We offer five different restorative dental procedures to enhance the quality of your dental restoration, and they include:

1. Dental Fillings

Teeth fillings are used to restore the function and strength of your teeth. After the dentist has removed the decayed material and cleaned the area, they use a filling to close the cavity. Plus, the teeth fillings also prevent further decay.

Fillings are available in different options such as composite, ceramic, amalgam, metals, and glass ionomer. The dentist will choose an appropriate dental filling based on the cost and amount needed.

2. Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap used to cover the tooth surface to restore the size, shape, and appearance. These crowns are cemented in place and are available in different options. You can choose stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic, metal, and porcelain-fused-to-metal.

Dental crowns need two dental visits to be fixed. They are non-invasive but will require the reshaping of the teeth to make room for the crowns.

3. Dentures

Dental dentures are removable dental appliances used to replace multiple missing teeth. The dentures can be partial or complete.

Complete dentures are ideal when you have more than half of all teeth missing in either the upper or lower jaw. For the dentures to be fixed, the dentist first removes the remaining teeth to make room.

Partial dentures are used when you have just a few or less than half of the teeth missing. The dentures have a metal framework that is supported by the surrounding teeth to hold them in place.

4. Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are a non-invasive alternative to teeth replacement. The bridges are made of artificial teeth held in place by dental crowns. These dental restorations require two to three dental visits.

On your initial dental visit, the dentist will examine your teeth and prepare them by trimming off the adjacent teeth. A dental impression is taken to the lab for molding the crowns. The permanent crowns are made in the two to three weeks and fixed on the second dental visit.

The dental bridges can last between ten to 15 years with proper care, and thereafter you will need to replace them. Rarely do the bridges crack or chip, but when they do, contact us for an emergency dental appointment.

5. Dental Implants

Dental implants offer a long-term solution for your missing teeth, but they are mildly invasive. Implants are made of titanium screws that are surgically fixed in the jaw bone to support the artificial teeth.

For the implants to be anchored correctly, you need to have enough jaw bone. If you have a significant bone loss, the dentist will recommend a bone graft to rebuild it. Bone grafting is the process of fixing bone granules to the bone to stimulate new growth. Also, you need to have healthy teeth and gums free of decay.

The dental implant procedure can take between nine and 12 months to be complete depending on your dental situation.

Take Away

We offer restorative dentistry in Loveland to help you attain your dental function. All of the dental options mentioned above are effective, but they are used to fix specific dental problems. Our dentist will first assess your dental condition and recommend an appropriate dental solution. Visit Fox Creek Dental by Espire in Loveland for more information on how restorative dentistry will benefit you.