When you have an aching tooth due to a cavity or infection, or if a tooth is damaged, then to avoid complications and keep your smile whole, you need restorative dentistry. From fillings to root canals, we can help you enjoy good oral health and a smile free of discomfort. In today’s blog, your Shrewsbury, MA, dentist talks about restorative dentistry.
When to Seek Restorative Dentistry
When do you need restorative dentistry? This refers to treatments that repair a tooth, so you can avoid major complications that could cause pain and tooth loss. For example, if you injure a tooth or one begins to ache, you should let us know. Even if the injury appears minor or the ache could be ignored, don’t let the issue grow in severity and threaten the stability of your smile. Our team will take a close look at your smile with advanced and digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, so we can make a diagnosis and assess the cause and severity of your concerns. We then create a treatment plan to return your smile to full function, health, and beauty again, sometimes in only one visit!
Dental Fillings
When you have a cavity, this means you need treatment to avoid infection or tooth loss. Treatment will also stop pain. With restorative dentistry, we can offer a metal-free composite resin filling, one that only takes one visit to place and one that is safe for all ages. We will simply numb the tooth, remove decay, and then prepare the filling material, shading it to blend with your smile. We apply this in several layers and as we cure it under a light, we will sculpt and mold the tooth. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance. We can use the same material in a bonding procedure to address damaged teeth and mask minor cosmetic imperfections in only one sitting.
Same-Day Crowns
What if you have an issue too severe for a bonding or filling procedure? With restorative dentistry, our team can offer crowns in only one visit. These restorations will be made from ceramic and shaded to blend with your smile. Using the CEREC system, we can design, craft, and place them in only one visit, so you leave with a restored smile that looks great! Crowns can address advanced decay, complete a root canal for an infected tooth, and repair chips and cracks. Placement can fill gaps between teeth, correct misshapen structures, and offer better bite balance and chewing function. If you have missing teeth, one or two could be used to keep a bridge in place, and one could restore a single tooth dental implant.
Root Canal Therapy
What if a tooth has decay too severe for a filling or crown, or an infection? With root canal therapy, our team will provide treatment to address the infected tooth and bring relief, while keeping your smile whole. We will numb the tooth and then open it to remove the tissues from within. We clean the inside of your tooth and then add a special filling to the interior, before cap your tooth with a custom dental crown. In one visit, this can halt infection and offer relief.
Tooth Extraction
While in many cases we use restorative dentistry to save a tooth, sometimes to protect your smile we actually need to remove one. For example, we could recommend a tooth extraction for a tooth beyond saving with a crown or root canal, as this could allow infection to reach other parts of the smile. The procedure makes room for orthodontic treatment, paves the way for dentures, or prevents wisdom tooth eruption, so your smile remains intact. In some cases, they will not need replacement, but if we must remove one due to severe infection or decay, we could offer bridges and even dental implants to fill the gaps and ensure you enjoy a full smile again.
If you have any questions about our approach to restorative dentistry, or if you have a tooth that needs attention, then contact our team today. We look forward to helping you enjoy your best smile, one free of discomfort.
Enjoy Restorative Dentistry with Our Shrewsbury Team!
We want to help our patients enjoy results that improve the health, function, and even the appearance of their smiles with restorative dentistry and lifelike materials! To learn more about our restorative dental treatment options, or to schedule your next appointment, give us a call at Modern Dentistry Of Shrewsbury at (508)842-8838 today!
