Q: What is restorative dentistry?
A: Everyday use and abuse can leave your smile worn out or your teeth damaged. Other factors, like decay, injury, or aging can also cause our teeth to become weak, affecting both oral health and overall health. Restorative dentistry describes the services we provide to repair the damage done to your teeth. Treatments like fillings, crowns, and root canal treatments, the decay of cavities and other damages to the structure of the tooth structure. Even if you have multiple restorative needs, we will assist you in creating a personal treatment plan that will restore your oral health.
Q: What if I have a cavity?
A: A cavity is a dangerous infection that can cause more complicated and painful problems if it is not treated quickly. When you notice toothache or sensitivity, it is important to have the tooth checked immediately for decay. Regular preventive dental appointments and good daily oral hygiene are good ways to protect against a cavity. During your dental exam, we will detect any cavities in their earliest stages; however, once decay has started, a cavity is not reversible and must be treated, often with a tooth-colored filling, or in more severe cases, root canal treatment.
Q: How can a broken tooth be repaired?
A: Sometimes decay, injury, disease, or other factors can cause a tooth to break, leaving you with a fractured smile, issues with talking or chewing, or oral health problems if the breakage is severe. Our comprehensive restorative dentistry services make it possible for you to have quality repairs to your broken teeth. A dental crown covers the entire exposed portion of the tooth with a porcelain material which is specifically molded to restore and protect a broken tooth. The porcelain is colored to match the surrounding teeth so that the crown is almost identical from a natural tooth.
Q: What if I have several chipped, broken, or decayed teeth?
A: If you are experiencing several issues with your overall oral health, let us help you restore your smile. Full-mouth rehabilitation can help you get started on the right track to good oral health. Also known as a complete dental restoration or rejuvenation, full-mouth rehabilitation is a phased treatment plan that helps you set a goal for oral health and target problem areas to repair over time.
Q: What should I do about a missing tooth?
A: If you have ever had a missing tooth, you have experienced the inconvenience of eating and speaking without the proper tools, and the embarrassment of an incomplete smile. Aside from these everyday dilemmas, missing teeth also contribute to jawbone deterioration and cause surrounding teeth to drift out of place. This deterioration occurs because the jawbone is missing the chewing stimulation it receives from a tooth. Dental implants replace the missing teeth by fusing directly to the jawbone and recreating a chewing sensation that keeps jawbone shrinkage at bay. Dental implants also create a spacer which keeps surrounding teeth from drifting to accommodate for the hole that is left from a missing tooth.
Learn more about restorative dental treatment
If you have more questions about how restorative dentistry can improve your smile and quality of life, schedule an appointment by calling Luff Dental today at 816-875-3391. We proudly serve the residents of Lee’s Summit, MO and the surrounding communities.