Improving Your Oral Health With Dental Restorations

27 November 2019
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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As people age, their teeth may not look as good as they did years before. Poor oral hygiene, broken or missing teeth, and even wear and tear can take a toll on your smile. Restorative dentistry treatments can correct a malocclusion, replace missing teeth, and improve the way you chew. Restorative dentistry treatments can help people of all ages, and the name refers to both simple treatments and more complex therapies. Even a filling to treat a cavity is considered a dental restoration. Here are some restorative treatments to talk to your dentist about. 

Dentures

Dentures are one of the most common types of dental restorations. They are used to replace missing teeth to improve your appearance and help you chew better. Dentures are made of resin and can replace all of your natural teeth or just some of them.

Your dentist will recommend partial dentures instead of full dentures when you still have some of your natural teeth in place. The partial denture is attached to your natural teeth with metal fasteners and can be removed for easy cleaning and oral hygiene care. While dentures are strong and durable, they can break, so being cautious when eating hard foods will help them last longer. If you lose or gain weight, your dentures may no longer fit properly, and because of this, they may need to be relined or replaced.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a more permanent alternative to dentures. The implants are small rods or posts, usually made of titanium, that are implanted into your jawbone in the socket where your original teeth were. After the implant has grafted to the bone, your dentist will cover the rod with a crown, or replacement tooth.

Dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth, and you care for them as you would your own teeth. Dental implants not only enhance your appearance, but they can also restore your bite if you have a malocclusion.

Getting dental implants is a multi-step process and will take more than one dental appointment. If you are getting an entire set of implants, all of your natural teeth will need to be extracted. It can take months before your mouth and jawbone are fully healed; however, the results will be stunning, and you will be pleased that you chose these dental restorations.

Crowns

Unlike a porcelain veneer that only covers the surfaces of your front teeth, a dental crown is a restoration that is placed over your entire tooth. It can change the size and shape of your tooth, fill in spaces in between the teeth, and secure a dental bridge in place. Crowns also cover dental implants and are made by the dental lab. Before you can get your permanent crown, your dentist needs to reduce your natural teeth so that the crown fits properly.

While the dental lab is making your permanent restoration, your dentist will give you a temporary crown. Although most dentists have to send the impression of the tooth to the lab, other dentists can take a digital impression with a special scanner and use a machine to make the permanent crown right in the office. While you still have your temporary crown, your dentist will recommend that you avoid chewing gum and eating hard food on the affected side so that your crown doesn't break or come off. 

To learn more about how restorative dentistry can improve your smile and help improve your bite, make an appointment with a  dentist at a clinic like AQ Denture and Dental Implant Center. He or she will discuss your treatment options and let you know if your dental insurance will cover a portion or all of your restorative treatment costs.