What is Dental Restoration?
Restorative dentistry or dental restoration focuses on repairing or replacing teeth that are decayed, damaged or missing.
The most common types of dental restoration include:
- Fillings: During the procedure, your dentist removes the decayed portion of your tooth and fills the hole with a tooth-coloured composite material.
- Crowns: Dental crowns are used to repair large cavities or restore broken teeth. A crown fits over your entire tooth, and your dentist must remove some of your natural tooth enamel.
- Root canal: If a cavity or crack goes deep enough into your tooth that it reaches the pulp, it can cause an infection, and a root canal is needed as a form of dental restoration. During the procedure, your dentist removes the diseased pulp and fills the tooth with a dental material called gutta-percha. In most cases, people who undergo root canal therapy as a form of dental restoration also need a crown to provide additional support.
- Bridge: A dental bridge can replace a missing tooth or row of missing teeth. A bridge is a form of dental restoration that consists of artificial teeth with crowns on either side. Your dentist will shave down your natural teeth on both sides of the gap and bond the bridge to them.
- Dental implants: They are one of the most popular forms of dental restoration as they replace missing teeth. An implant is inserted into your jawbone, and a crown is placed on top to replicate a natural tooth.
- Dentures: If you have multiple missing teeth and don’t want to get dental implants, dentures are an alternative. Full dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth, and partial dentures replace several missing teeth in different areas. Unlike surgically implanted implants into your jawbone, dentures rest on top of your gums and can be easily removed.