Restorative dentistry includes all procedures that repair or restore teeth to bring back the health, function, and aesthetics of your smile. Restorative dentistry treatments fix teeth that have been damaged, worn down, or decayed and restore their health and stability.

What Is Restorative Dentistry For?

Restorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry that is focused on taking care of the dental needs of a patient. Restorative dentistry can help patients that suffer from common dental problems like cavities and gum disease, as well as more complicated dental problems. Restorative dentistry can also help patients that suffer from tooth loss.

A dental restoration is needed when there is tooth decay, a cavity, or a broken tooth. A dental restoration restores the appearance, function, and health of a tooth, helping it last for many years.

Benefits of Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry provides restorative treatments that help rebuild tooth structure, improve oral health, and rejuvenate the appearance of your smile. Many restorative treatments can be used to restore teeth damaged by decay, as well as teeth that are chipped, broken, discolored, misshapen, or crooked.

In addition to helping patients achieve a smile that looks and feels natural and healthy, restorative dentistry can also help to prevent future dental problems from occurring. The other benefits offered by restorative dentistry are as follows:

• Restore oral functionality 
• Eliminate pain due to deep decay or infection
• Improve appearance 
• Prevent further dental issues
• Preserve jaw bone density

How Is a Dental Restoration Performed?

At your dental appointment, the dentist in Portland OR will first numb the area around the tooth that needs to be restored. The tooth will then be prepared. This means the dentist will remove any decay and reshape the tooth to ensure a snug fit. Then,  a custom restoration will be created. While you wait for your restoration, you'll be fitted with a temporary restoration.

Once the restoration is ready, you'll come back to the dentist's office. Your tooth will be cleaned again, and the dentist will place the chosen restoration.

Common dental restoration procedures

Dental crowns and bridges are the most common dental restoration techniques and are used to restore severely damaged teeth and replace sections of missing teeth. Crowns are made of porcelain and look like your natural teeth. Bridges use crowns as anchors and fill in the empty spaces with false teeth.

• Dental Crowns

A crown is a covering or dental cap that encases the entire tooth surface, restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens the tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations. If a tooth is cracked, a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks, so the damage doesn't get worse.

• Dental Bridges

A bridge is a dental appliance that is used to span a gap in a tooth or missing teeth. A bridge consists of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap — these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth — and an artificial tooth/teeth in between. These artificial teeth can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

When a tooth is missing, the teeth next to the space can drift out of position. A bridge will prevent this drifting by filling the space with a prosthetic tooth that is attached to crowns on either side of the gap.

Advantages of Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and bridges can:

• Restore and enhance your smile
• Help prevent future dental problems
• Make eating and speaking easier
• Improve your confidence

The other common restorative dental procedures include the following:

• Dental Implants:Implants are replacements for the roots of your lost teeth. They function like natural teeth, supporting a crown, bridge, or denture and giving you the look and function of a natural smile.
• Partial and Full Dentures:Partial and full dentures can be used to replace missing teeth. They restore the look of your smile, restore your ability to eat normally, and prevent your teeth from shifting.
• Root Canals:When decay or damage spreads to the nerve of your tooth, a root canal is necessary to preserve your health. Root canals relieve the pain caused by an infected tooth.
• Dental Inlay:An inlay is a custom-made filling made of porcelain or composite resin bonded to your tooth to improve function, shape, and appearance. An inlay procedure is used when you have a cavity or crack that is too severe for a filling. It is placed on top of the tooth between the cusps.
• Dental onlay: Dental onlays are used when a tooth is badly damaged and the cusps of the tooth’s top need to be covered. An onlay can also replace metal fillings (amalgam fillings) with a more natural-looking restoration. 
• Dental Filling:Dental fillings are used to restore function to a tooth that has been affected by decay. The decayed portion of the tooth is removed and replaced with a filling material. The tooth’s structure and  normal function are restored.
• Dental Veneer: A veneer is a shell of porcelain that is bonded directly onto the front of a tooth to restore its appearance. 
• Tooth Bonding:Tooth bonding is a procedure that uses a tooth-colored resin material to repair small areas of damage. 

To learn more about the dental services at Pacific Woods Dental, call 503-292-5483 and schedule an appointment now!