Restorations Specialist

What are dental restorations?

Dental restorations are procedures that can help repair teeth that have been damaged, lost or worn down over time. These include: crowns, inlays and onlays, bridges, dental implants, dentures, composite fillings, veneers, bonding and root canals. In addition to improving the appearance of your teeth, dental restorations' primary purpose is to help restore function to your teeth while resolving pain and other symptoms. Restorations can also help prevent further damage including decay, gum disease, and broken or lost teeth.

Should I have restorative work even if I don't have pain or other symptoms?

Yes. Dental restorations help protect teeth from future damage and decay. Appearance is only part of the reason patients opt to restore damaged, missing or diseased teeth. More important, restoring teeth is crucial to maintaining oral health. When not replaced, the gap left by missing teeth can set off a chain reaction of problems. The underlying jaw bone deteriorates. In addition, neighboring teeth move to fill in the gap, causing your bite to become misaligned. When this occurs, opposing teeth may start to extrude out of their sockets. These shifts create spaces where plaque accumulates, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Are dental implants better than bridges or dentures?

Dental implants are very popular with patients because they're a much more convenient option than either bridges or dentures. First of all, there's no risk of embarrassing slippage and no need for gunky adhesives. And second, dental implants are cared for just like your normal teeth – no special care is required. If you've ever had a fixed bridge, you know how difficult it can be to clean around it to ensure the gum beneath it stays healthy. Bridges also place stress on the neighboring teeth, which can cause them to weaken over time. And because implants look, feel, and perform like natural teeth, patients say implants help them feel more confident about the way they look.