What is Restorative Dentistry?
For most people, it’s very important to keep their natural teeth and maintain their brilliant smile for most, if not all, of their life. If you have lost a tooth or had to have one extracted, you might feel embarrassed or shy about your smile and perhaps you purposely try not to smile as much as possible. There are a number of methods and procedures your dentist can perform to help you regain confidence in your smile. These methods, collectively, are known are restorative dentistry and here’s what you need to know about it.
What does it involve?
For the most part, the name restorative dentistry is a broad term applied by dental professionals to almost any procedure that helps restore your teeth to what they would naturally look like. It can help with teeth that had to be removed due to chips, cracks, decay or infection. Each dentist will have different procedures they are comfortable with performing, but they can help you find another dentist that will do the procedure you want if your dentist isn’t able to.
What procedures are involved?
From very simple procedures like fillings when a patient has a cavity to much more invasive things like bridges or implants. The more common procedures completed under restorative dentistry are fillings and crowns, which can be completed in, possibly, just one visit. If you are missing teeth and opting for a bridge or an implant, then you will require multiple visits to your dentist to complete the treatment. For bridges, your dentist will need to put crowns on the anchoring teeth, and build the bridge so that it matches the shape, size and colour of the teeth surrounding it. When it comes to implants, you will need to have posts surgically implanted that act to secure to tooth-shaped crown that is visible above the gum line. Some procedures will take longer to heal than others, and your dentist can advise how best to approach each one.
Is it covered by extended or private benefits?
The answer to this really depends on the coverage your extended benefits offer. Some procedures like fillings are very common and fall under regular, preventative dentistry while things like implants are considered major dental work and may only be partially covered. The best thing to do is to check in with the provider of your benefits so that you know what you’re covered for before having any work done.
How long does restorative dental work last?
With the latest developments in dentistry, restorative procedures can last for much longer than they did in previous years. Like your natural teeth, any kind of restorative dentistry will need to be taken care of to make sure it doesn’t become infected or subject to decay. You should be brushing twice a day, and flossing at least once to keep the restorative work clean. Additionally you can use antibacterial mouthwash to keep bacteria out of your mouth and away from the work you just had done.
If you are looking to get restorative dentistry on Yonge and Eglinton
contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.