What is Restorative Dentistry? A Guide from Comprehensive Dentistry
When you visit the dentist every six months, (you do go regularly, right?), you’re probably familiar with the term “preventative visit”. Those twice-a-year appointments are intended to keep your teeth in good shape and prevent pesky problems before they start. But what about those times your dentist mentions a “restorative visit”? What does that mean?
Comprehensive Dentistry is Here to Help
Here at Comprehensive Dentistry in Ypsilanti, we’re here to clear it up! Restorative dentistry isn’t as mysterious as it sounds. It’s all about getting your teeth and gums back to a state of good health and function when things go a bit sideways. In other words, it’s our way of saying, “Let’s fix that up and get your smile back on track!”
Why is Restorative Dentistry Important?
Restorative dentistry serves a pretty straightforward purpose: to fix what’s broken, decayed, or missing in your mouth. From cavities to missing teeth, restorative care focuses on addressing the problems that might cause you discomfort, difficulty chewing, or even a bit of embarrassment when you smile. Restorative dentistry is our way of making sure that everything in your mouth functions well, looks great, and doesn’t cause any pain.
Think of it this way: we’re here to help your gums stay healthy (no more bleeding when you floss or brush!) and make sure it doesn’t hurt when you chew. Pretty simple, right?
Restoring Your Smile with Comprehensive Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is a bit of an umbrella term that includes several different procedures. Here are some of the most common ways we help our patients in the Ypsilanti area restore their smiles:
- Fillings - One of the most basic and frequent restorative treatments, a filling is our go-to solution for a pesky cavity. When we find decay in your tooth, we’ll remove the affected area and replace it with a tooth-colored resin that hardens to become a part of your tooth again. Think of it like a mini tooth repair kit - we clean out the bad stuff and make the tooth whole one more. You’ll be cavity-free and good to go!
- Crowns - When a tooth is too damaged to be restored with a filling alone, a crown steps up to the plate. A crown is a protective cover, custom made to fit over your existing tooth, giving it strength and stability. Crowns are especially helpful for teeth that have suffered from severe decay or have had large fillings in the past. And, yes, crowns are just as royal as they sound - they make your tooth feel like new again, protecting it from further damage.
- Implants - Missing a tooth? Implants are a game-changer! Dental implants are titanium posts that we place in the jawbone, acting as replacements for tooth roots. After the implant is set, we add a crown on the top, creating a natural-looking and fully functional new tooth. They look, feel, and work just like a real tooth. Plus, no more hiding that gap when you smile!
- Root Canals - The root canal might have a scary reputation (who hasn’t heard the saying “as much fun as a root canal?), but we are here to demystify it! A root canal is actually a relief-bringer, designed to save your tooth when the inner pulp (nerve tissue) becomes infected or inflamed. During this procedure, we remove the infected pulp, clean out the area, and seal it up to prevent further damage. With a root canal, we can help save a tooth that might otherwise need to be removed.
Ready to Restore Your Smile?
At Comprehensive Dentistry we believe everyone deserves a healthy, confident smile. So, if you’re noticying any discomfort or thing you might have a cavity or two, down wait! Let’s work together to get you back to smiling, chewing, and chatting with confidence. Give us a call today to schedule your restorative visit - our team in Ypsilanti is ready to help you restore, repair, and renew your smile.