When you have a tooth that is cracked or chipped, or decayed or infected, or even lost, then you need restorative dentistry to avoid complications and painful symptoms. To offer a lifelike appearance and proper bite function, we could provide restorative treatment. In today’s blog, your Virginia Beach, VA, dentist talks about restorative dentistry.
When to Seek Treatment
Our team employs restorative dentistry to improve the function, health, and appearance of your tooth, sparing your smile from serious complications. We could use treatments to address teeth with decay or infection, or to repair damage. We could even replace missing teeth too! When you sustain an injury, or if you have prolonged pain in one or more teeth, then you should let us know right away!
Diagnosing Your Smile
To decide which restorative treatment your smile needs, we will need to offer a diagnosis with accuracy and precision. To do so, our team will employ digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to take clear and detailed images of your smile from multiple angles. We then create a personalized treatment plan to restore your smile and offer relief.
Dental Fillings
When you have a cavity, we can place a filling in one visit to bring relief and protect teeth from infection and worsening pain. Instead of metal, our team uses a composite resin, a blend of glass-like and acrylic-like particles that can be shaded to offer a natural appearance. We numb your tooth before we remove decay and then clean the surfaces. We then apply the composite resin filling material and shade the tooth as this material cures underneath as epical light. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance.
Custom Crowns
What if your decay is too severe for a filling, or what if you have damage beyond treatment with dental bonding? Dental crowns cover the entire visible portion of the tooth, which means we can address an array of cosmetic and restorative concerns. For example, we can repair damaged teeth, treat advanced decay, and reshape malformed teeth. Placement could improve overall bite balance and chewing function, and could even aid in the replacement of missing teeth. When possible, we use lifelike materials like ceramic, which are durable and able to be shaded to blend with your smile.
Root Canal Therapy
When a tooth is infected, this means treatment is crucial for avoiding tooth loss and severe discomfort. Warning signs include toothaches, pain in the face and jaw, headaches, swelling near the tooth, pain when eating or chewing, and a discharge from the tooth. Treatment with a root canal means we numb the tooth to keep you comfortable as we remove the infected tissues from within. Our team then cleans the interior of the tooth and adds a special restorative material known as gutta percha. We then cap the tooth with a lifelike crown.
Bridges
When you’re missing a tooth, or up to three in a row, then our team could offer a dental bridge. The prosthetic contains new teeth with crowns on one or both ends. We start by gently removing structure from the teeth on each side of the gap, known as abutment teeth. Detailed digital images are taken and used to design and craft the prosthetic. We then custom-make it from durable ceramic, which we shade to match the rest of your smile. The crowns are placed on the abutment teeth and secure the new ones in place.
Dentures
Our approach to restorative dentistry also includes dentures, which address near total or total tooth loss. These are custom-made and could be held in place with suction, adhesives, or even dental implants. The denture replaces every tooth on one or both arches.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are small biocompatible posts made from titanium, which we insert into the jawbone. They bond with the ja through a process known as osseointegration, so they act as new roots. This means they can last in place for decades to come, providing individual tooth replacement or securing bridges and dentures that last longer than traditional options. These essentially look and function like natural teeth, and help you smile with confidence for much longer.
If you have any questions about our approach to restorative dentistry, or about tooth replacement options, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule Your Restorative Treatment In Virginia Beach, VA
We want to help repair your smile and offer a lifelike appearance, so you can enjoy your best possible smile. Call Absolute Dental Care in Virginia Beach, VA at 757-428-7440 to schedule an appointment for your restorative treatment options.
