Everything You Need to Know About Restorative Dentistry
A statistic from FDI says nearly 60-90% of the school children and 100% of adults suffer from tooth decay and related oral health issues worldwide.
Dentists suggest an oral health check-up every six months followed by routine cleaning. But not everyone does that due to misplaced fear.
Restorative dentistry plays an integral part in your oral health. Hence it is crucial that you learn about it to help make an informed decision.
Our article takes you through everything you need to know about restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, treatment, procedures, and more.
What Does Restorative Mean in Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry aims at repairing and restoring your mouth to help the patients eat, speak and smile comfortably again. Rather than the cosmetic appeal, it is all about treatments aimed to improve their oral health.
What are Basic Restorative Dental Services?
Restorative Dentistry goes beyond a simple mouth cleaning or gum disease treatment. Here are the basic dentistry procedures your dentist would perform on you:
- Treating decay and infection
- Replace missing teeth
- Filling
What is Considered Major Restorative Dental Work?
A major restorative dental work includes oral problems that you need multiple treatments to or phases to correct like:
- Dental bridges
- Inlays and Onlays
- Crowns
- Dentures
Apart from these, any basic treatments like tooth decay that has been ignored for a while would also be categorized as major.
How Much Does Restorative Dentistry Cost?
The cost for restorative dentistry treatment starts from the consultation period. The breakdown is as follows:
- Consultation
- Anesthesia fees
- Procedure
- Medication
- Follow-up services
Depending on the above, the cost of dentistry procedures is as below:
- Dental implants – $5,000 per tooth
- Dental crowns – $500–$1,500 (metal), $800–$2,000 (ceramic)
- Dental bridge- $500–$1,500 ( traditional)
- Dentures – $3,000–$8,000 (traditional), $6,000–$30,000 (implant-supported)
- Dental filling – $50–$150 (amalgam), $90–$250 (composite), $250–$4,500 (gold)
- Root canal – $700–$1,000
Is Teeth Whitening Considered Restorative?
No! Teeth whitening focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth. Hence they are a cosmetic treatment.
What Is the Most Complex Dental Procedure?
A root canal is the most complex dental procedure. It is a long process (2 hours) and involves cleaning the damaged tissue inside out.
How Long Do Dental Restorations Last?
Your dental restorations can last for an extended period of time, provided that you pay proper attention to your teeth.
- Dental crowns – 10-15 years
- Dental bonding- 4-8 years
- Porcelain veneers – 15-20 years
- Composite resin fillings – 5- 7 years
- Amalgam – 10-15 years
- Dentures – 10 years
What Are the Common Dental Restorative Materials?
Dental restorative materials are those that are used for treating dental caries and filling tooth cavities. The materials used in traditional treatments include:
- Amalgam
- Alumina
- Acrylic resins
- Gold
- Zirconia
- Silicate cement
What Is the Best Material for Dental Implants?
A dental implant might be beneficial when replacing a missing tooth. The missing teeth might cause a shift in other teeth, causing severe bite issues.
The common materials are:
- Titanium
- Zirconia
Your dentist would be able to provide you with more information and help you choose the appropriate material.
What Is Included in Restorative Dental Care?
The goal of restorative care is to prevent oral health issues and bring back your natural smile. Fillings, crowns, implants, and bridges are the common restorative treatment options.
What Are the Types of Restoration?
Restorations include any complications arising due to broken, injured natural teeth. And as such, it can be of six types:
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Bonding
- Bridges
- Implants
- Veneers
What Is Considered a Dental Restoration?
A dental restoration is any procedure that restores the function, integrity, and morphology of your missing teeth. They handle any issues arising from decay, trauma, etc. as well.
Can Dentists Rebuild Teeth?
Yes! Your dentist can rebuild your teeth. The treatments may include one or more options depending on your situation:
- Ceramic filling
- Bonding
- Root canal
- Crowns
- Dental Implants
What Is the Difference Between Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry specializes in enhancing and improving a patient’s smile, while restorative dentistry aims to restore the teeth to optimum working conditions.
What is Considered Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry refers to any work that improves the appearance of the patient’s smile and aesthetics. Typically, cosmetic dentistry includes the following procedures:
- Adding dental material to the teeth
- Removing any tooth structure or gum structure
- Improving the appearance of teeth or gums
- Straightening of teeth
What is the Best Cosmetic Dental Procedure?
Some of the most commonly used and preferred cosmetic dentistry procedures are:
- Teeth whitening
- Enamel Bonding
- Veneers
- Invisalign braces
- Enamel abrasion
How Much Does Cosmetic Dental Work Cost?
Cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of your smile through a variety of treatments. Here’s more information on the cost:
- Teeth Whitening: $500
- Veneers – $500-$1,300 per tooth
- Bonding – $100 to $400 per tooth
- Crown – $500 to $900 each
- Inlays and Onlays – $650 to $1,200 per tooth
- Implants – $1,250 to $3,000
Are Dentures Considered Cosmetic Dentistry?
No! Dentures are not considered cosmetic dentistry rather restorative dentistry.
Are Braces Restorative Dentistry?
No! Braces come under cosmetic dentistry. They play a dual role in improving the bite while also creating a beautiful smile.
Can a General Dentist do Cosmetic Dentistry?
A general dentist does a limited portion of the most common cosmetic procedures, including teeth whitening and bonding as a part of other treatments.
Is Cosmetic Dentistry a Specialty?
Cosmetic dentistry is not mainly considered a specialty. But it requires extensive study and years of extensive practice to become a cosmetic dentist.
American Dental Association doesn’t recognize cosmetic dentistry as a specialty. It instead falls under prosthodontics.
Is There Any Financial Help for Dental Work?
You can claim financial help via the top federally-funded programs:
Medicare: Health insurance for senior citizens 65 years or older or people with special disabilities. With Medicare, dental coverage is quite limited and does not cover even routine care.
Medicaid: Health insurance run by a state institution that provides medical benefits and a few dental benefits too. Most states offer only emergency dentistry services for people over 21 years while a few offer comprehensive services.
CHIP: CHIP offers health insurance for children under 19 years of age. They provide medical coverage and in some cases dental coverage too. But the services covered vary from state to state.
Conclusion
Restorative dentistry employs various procedures to keep your mouth healthy and at an optimum level of function. They not only do teeth restoration but also ensure that you have a beautiful smile.
If you do not think that makes a difference, you can always choose cosmetic dentistry. They can help you by employing braces if need be. Remember, your care doesn’t stop with your visit to the dentist. Make sure you follow his advice and watch for any issues that may arise.
It’s very important to schedule a meeting with your dentist every six months. Whatever type of dentistry you choose to go with, schedule your appointment with Dr. Dalesandro today. He has many years of experience in the field of restorative dentistry (as well as cosmetic and preventive).
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