Discover expert restorative services to repair and restore damaged teeth, effectively enhancing your smile's health and aesthetics.

You chipped a tooth playing basketball at the gym. You lost a tooth that was going through the final stages of decay. Whatever the circumstance, you know it's time to seek restorative services from your dentist. 

How does restorative dentistry differ from other dental procedures? Restorative dentistry refers to any procedures that fix or replace damaged teeth. In fact, the ADA reports that over 10% of all dental appointments are restorative, as opposed to preventative or cosmetic. 

Whether you're not sure what type of restorative dentistry you need or you're on the fence about calling your dentist, you're in the right place. Read on for our complete guide to tooth repair and restoration and why it matters.

Why Tooth Restoration Matters

Some patients wait to receive restorative care until they're in serious discomfort or have developed secondary issues. First, let's talk about the importance of tooth restoration and why you should talk to your dentist as soon as you notice an issue. 

Improved Oral Function

One of the first things you'll notice when dealing with tooth pain or a missing tooth is the impact on your oral function. For example, you may have difficulty:

• Speaking clearly
• Chewing food
• Consuming warm or cold beverages without sensitivity

As the name suggests, restorative dentistry restores your teeth by repairing or replacing teeth. In turn, you'll maintain your normal oral function. 

Prevention of Misalignment

Maybe you've had orthodontic treatment in the past. Maybe you never needed orthodontia because you had proper alignment already. Either way, your alignment will change if you don't replace missing teeth. 

Once you lose a tooth, the surrounding teeth will start shifting into that open space. Replacing a missing tooth quickly can prevent your natural teeth from crowding, turning, and changing your bite.

Preservation of Oral Health

Alignment isn't the only thing you need to worry about with damaged or missing teeth. According to the Cleveland Clinic, untreated dental damage can also lead to:

• Jawbone density loss
• Infection in the gums or tooth roots
• Spreading decay

Restorative dentistry preserves both the quality of your smile and the quality of your oral health by stopping the spread of additional damage and making at-home oral care easier. 

Types of Restorative Services

What kinds of restorative services can your dentist offer? Here are some of the different types of restorative procedures and what to expect from each one.

Dental Implants

If you're missing teeth, your dentist may recommend dental implants. A Dental implant is a titanium post that serves as an artificial tooth root.

To qualify, you'll need to have a strong jawbone. Once the implant fuses to the jawbone (a process called osseointegration), your dentist will attach a realistic permanent crown to take the place of your tooth. 

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are also used to take the place of missing or damaged teeth. In the case of missing teeth, you'll first need to get a dental implant, as detailed above.

However, dental crowns can also cap a natural tooth root if enough of the natural tooth remains. This is a great way to protect the root when if you have a chip, crack, or mild decay.

Dental Bridges

You can also replace missing teeth using dental bridges. Dental bridges consist of one or more artificial teeth that your dentist will anchor to surrounding natural teeth.

Dental bridges are a great choice for patients who don't qualify for dental implants or need to replace multiple missing teeth. Dental bridges are far less invasive, but they can't slow bone density loss in the jaw.

Dentures

If you need to replace a large number of missing or damaged teeth, your dentist may recommend dentures. This may include:

• Full removable dentures
• Partial removable dentures
• Permanent dentures (held in place with dental implants)

Traditional dentures are one of the most cost-effective options for patients in need of significant tooth restoration. 

Signs You Need Restorative Dentistry

We mentioned that getting restorative care as soon as possible is important. Here are some of the early signs that you could benefit from restorative dentistry. 

Visible Damage

It's never too late to restore missing teeth. However, you'll have more options, like dental implants and dental crowns, the sooner you seek dental care. In fact, we recommend seeking dental care even if you notice that a permanent tooth is loose. 

Additionally, we often work with patients who don't realize how crucial it is to address broken teeth. When you have a chip or crack in your tooth, fast action can prevent that damage from spreading. Otherwise, you run the risk of developing severe tooth sensitivity, root exposure, or tooth loss.

Oral Pain

In some cases, you may not notice visible damage. Instead, you may start to feel:

• Tooth sensitivity in response to heat and cold
• Pain and swelling in the gums
• Aching or sharp pain in the jaw

While these symptoms may not always lead to restorative dentistry, they almost always indicate some kind of oral health problem. Visiting your dentist is the only way to diagnose the problem and schedule appropriate services.

Tooth Decay

When a tooth is in the early stages of decay, your dentist can often use cleanings, dental fillings, and other treatments to stop the spread. More advanced stages of decay may require restoration. Symptoms of tooth decay include:

• Tooth pain
• Significant discoloration
• Persistent bad breath
• Swelling gums in one isolated area

Don't live with the pain and risk infection. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it's time to talk to your dentist.

Schedule Your Restorative Services at Atlantis Dental

Modern restorative services mean that dental patients don't have to live with aesthetic imperfections or dental discomfort. At Atlantis Dental, we can restore your smile while protecting (and even improving) your oral health. 

Dr. Sumbul Naqvi is an award-winning dentist and graduate of Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Jacobson, a root canal specialist with 20 years of experience, also graduated from Boston University. Learn more about our Framingham dental practice, where we provide comprehensive dental services for the whole family.