What Is Restorative Dentistry, and How Can It Improve My Smile?

Do you want to improve your smile? If your teeth are missing, damaged, or decayed, there are restorative dentistry services that can make them healthier and happier than ever before.

Restorative dentistry covers a range of services designed to restore the form and function of your teeth. Today, we’re taking a look at the different options available, and what each one is designed to treat. 

What is restorative dentistry?

Tooth damage or tooth loss can do more than affect your appearance. It can also detract from your quality of life, making it difficult to eat or speak. Left untreated, these conditions can lead to long-term oral health issues. They can also affect your overall physical and mental health.

With restorative dentistry services, you can address and reverse this damage. This branch of dental care provides solutions that can help repair the damage caused by tooth decay, tooth loss, periodontal disease, or a traumatic oral injury. Not only do these treatments prevent such issues from worsening, but they also help you reclaim and restore your physical and mental well-being. 

At Valley Dental Clinic, we’re proud to offer many different restorative dentistry services. Let’s take a closer look at how each one works. 

Orthodontics

If your teeth are crooked, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy oral health routine. If you cannot properly floss or brush between your teeth, it’s easier for oral bacteria to become trapped, turning into sticky plaque over time. 

Orthodontics offers you a permanent solution to this issue. In addition to metal braces, there are newer treatments, such as Invisalign, that are designed to be virtually unnoticeable. These solutions are custom-designed to fit your mouth, helping to straighten and adjust your teeth, bite, and alignment. 

Dental Implants

Are you missing one or more teeth? Over time, that space could cause your adjacent teeth to shift, which can lead to jaw bone deterioration and loss. Dental implants offer you a way to naturally and beautifully fill the gap.

Implants comprise durable, titanium posts that your dentist will surgically implant into your jaw bone. The post is biocompatible with human tissue and will fuse seamlessly to your bone, replacing and mimicking your natural tooth root. Once that process is complete and the implant is fully healed, you’re ready to add a dental implant restoration on top. 

We offer a few different types of implant restorations, including:

• Crowns.
• Implant-supported bridges.
• Implant-supported dentures.

Let’s check each one of these out in greater detail. 

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is used for a single-tooth implant restoration. This is a strong, lifelike prosthetic tooth that can be made from several materials, including:

• Porcelain.
• Gold.
• Metal.
• Alloys.
• Zirconia.

Zirconia crowns are a relatively new addition to this lineup. As strong as metal but more natural-looking, they can be custom designed to match the exact sheen and shade of your other teeth.

Implant-supported Bridges

While a crown is ideal for a single missing tooth, an implant-supported bridge is more appropriate to replace two or more missing teeth. A bridge is a series of dental crowns, custom-designed to bridge the gap in your smile. 

As with a single crown, a bridge will closely match the shape, shade, and sheen of your natural teeth. Depending on the extent of your damage, the bridge may be anchored onto one or two dental implants. 

Implant-supported Dentures

If you’re missing an entire upper or lower arch of teeth, your dentist may recommend implant-supported dentures. These are a set of prosthetic teeth that can be either fixed or removable, depending on your needs. 

The base of your dentures will be made of an acrylic material that matches the color and texture of your gum tissue. Likewise, the prosthetic teeth will be designed to be as lifelike as possible, using an acrylic or porcelain material. Your implant-supported dentures may be anchored on up to eight dental implants. 

Dental Inlays or Onlays

While a filling is the simplest dental restoration, there may be times when your teeth are damaged beyond what a filling can cover. In this case, an inlay or onlay can help.

A dental inlay may be used when your cavity is too big to accommodate a simple filling. It will be made of porcelain or composite resin material, designed to blend in with the appearance of your tooth. The inlay will bond securely to the inner portion of your tooth, filling the size and shape of the cavity. It will be cemented in place between the cusps, preventing further damage.

A dental onlay, on the other hand, is more closely associated with a crown. Like an inlay, it fits inside your tooth, but also extends to cover a cusp of your tooth. It is best suited for teeth with extensive damage that goes beyond the point of a filling or inlay. If your tooth requires replacement versus repair, your dentist may recommend a crown instead.

Full Dentures

While implant-supported dentures can help address an arch of missing teeth, you may need a solution that covers your entire set of teeth. In this case, full dentures can fit the bill. 

These are a set of removable prosthetic teeth consisting of an upper and lower set. Both sets fit securely over your alveolar ridge, or the portion of your jawbone covered in gum tissue. Your dentist will assess your needs and determine if your dentures should be secured by suction or a special dental adhesive.

Full Mouth Restoration

While the above services can help address the cosmetic and physical effects of missing teeth, our office also offers a more comprehensive, full-mouth restoration service. This treatment includes services designed to restore your mouth from the inside out. The result is a beautiful, natural-looking smile that addresses a range of issues, including:

• Worn-out dental work.
• Gum and jaw bone damage.
• Faulty bites.
• Damaged teeth.
• Missing teeth.

Your dentist will perform a thorough evaluation to determine which restorative dentistry treatment is best for you.

Restore Your Smile and Confidence

If you’ve been living with damaged, decayed, or missing teeth, it’s time to reclaim the smile you deserve. What is restorative dentistry? It can help strengthen your teeth, renew your confidence, and improve your quality of life.Whether you need a dental crown, inlay, dentures, or any other service, our team is here to help. We’re on hand to answer any questions and explain why our team is the best Alaska family dentistry Wasilla has to offer! Schedule an appointment today to learn more.