RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
WHAT IS RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY?
Restorative dental treatments are a group of procedures that repair and enhance dentition to get patients back to exceptional oral health. From repairing cavities with simple fillings to replacing teeth with dental bridges or dentures, restorative treatment from our dental office can help your smile become healthy once again.
DID YOU KNOW…
The longer you leave a dental issue untreated, the more SEVERE and more costly it becomes.
Ready To Schedule Your Appointment?
What to expect at your initial restorative appointment
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
To begin, Dr. Vineet Awasthy will examine your teeth and assess the extent of your dental issue. X-rays may need to be taken at this time to ensure proper diagnosis.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENT PLAN
Once your issue has been diagnosed, your dentist will provide you with a recommended treatment plan for your approval.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Many dental issues have multiple treatment options. Missing teeth, for example, can be treated with dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants. Your dentist can discuss all options with you and help you choose what’s best for your lifestyle, budget and needs.
SCHEDULING & FOLLOW UP
In some cases, like emergencies, you’ll need to receive care right away, likely the same day. But if your issue is not urgent, your follow-up appointments will be after your initial visit. Before you leave, we’ll schedule your treatment for a day and time that works for you.
RESTORATIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are the best way to treat and fill cavities in decayed teeth. Your dentist will use a drill to remove damage and decay in the enamel of your tooth. Then, they will use a material such as a tooth-colored dental resin or metal amalgam to restore the shape and structure of your tooth. Timely intervention with a filling from a dentist is essential if you have a cavity. If left untreated for too long, your tooth could decay further and potentially require a dental crown and/or root canal therapy.
Lab-Made Crowns
Lab-made crowns are made with the help of a dental technician at an outside dental lab. Dental crowns restore damaged teeth by covering the entire tooth down to the gumline. Your dentist will trim your tooth to remove damaged material, then shape it into a strong, sturdy platform to which the crown will eventually be attached.
Impressions are taken of the tooth using dental trays and putty or a digital intraoral scanner. These impressions are then sent to the dental lab where your crown will be made out of a high-quality material, such as ceramic or porcelain.
You will receive a temporary crown during your first appointment, after your tooth has been prepared and impressions have been taken. At your second appointment, after your dental crown is complete, your dentist will permanently attach your new crown to your tooth.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge uses two dental crowns to suspend a pontic, or false tooth, in the gap where a natural tooth has been lost. The crowns are attached to healthy abutment teeth — the teeth adjacent to your missing tooth. A metal framework is often used to attach the false tooth to the crowns. A dental bridge can last for years and prevent your other teeth from shifting over time.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is the best way to treat an infected tooth. Teeth become infected when the vulnerable pulp inside the tooth and root canals is exposed to oral bacteria. This can happen if you crack your tooth during an accident or injury, or if you experience severe tooth decay.
Your dentist will start the procedure by cleaning your teeth and numbing your mouth. Dr. Vineet Awasthy will drill a hole in the enamel in order to access and remove any decayed material from the interior of your tooth all the way down to the roots. Your roots will be thoroughly cleaned and then filled with an inert material to maintain the structure and integrity of the tooth. To complete the procedure, you’ll be given either a dental filling or dental crown that will protect and restore your tooth.
Full & Partial Dentures
Partial dentures use false teeth and a metal and plastic framework to replace one or multiple missing teeth. They clip directly onto your remaining healthy teeth, restoring your smile, your bite, and your self-confidence. They are a convenient and affordable way to get your smile back, and typically don’t take too long to create.
Full dentures are used to replace the upper arch, lower arch, or both arches of your teeth. They are only used if you have more serious dental health issues or have lost most or all of your natural teeth. This is because you must have all remaining teeth extracted in order to have a full set of dentures fitted.