Restorative dentistry refers to the crown and bridgework performed by a dentist in the interest of replacing or reconstructing decayed or damaged teeth. Typically, a crown is used when a single tooth has been damaged and needs to be replaced or otherwise repaired, in order to return it to its original form. On the contrary, a bridge is used to repair and restore one or more teeth. With the use of dental resins, these replacement techniques are permanent, as the crown or bridge is cemented in place in the mouth.
Miami dentist, Dr. Stephen Samson offers an array of reconstructive procedures designed to restore the health and function of even the most damaged smiles.
Restorative Dentistry Techniques
While
cosmetic dentistry aims to improve the appearance of damaged smiles, restorative dentistry generally involves the use of procedures whose aim is to restore the function of problematic teeth, which may be lost, decaying, or otherwise damaged. The techniques are varied, and include dentures, crowns, bridges, veneers, bonding and bleaching. Crowns involve a procedure wherein a metal understructure is cast and applied and then contoured to fit the structure of the mouth.
After this, a porcelain powder is mixed with water and used to create a copy of the original tooth. The porcelain impression of the tooth is fused to the metal understructure, shaped and contoured in the appropriate fashion, and then permanently cemented into place. All of this typically takes place over a few visits to the dentist (
sedation dentistry is available for patients with dental anxiety). A fixed bridge, another form of restorative dentistry, is a prosthetic form that covers whatever area in the mouth is missing one or more teeth. Again, new teeth are formed using an impression, shaped in a lab, and then set into place in the mouth, abutting other teeth.