Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry repairs broken, decaying, or otherwise damaged teeth. It uses dental prosthetics, like crowns and bridges, to restore your smile and encourage optimal oral health. At Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces, with five offices in San Antonio and Helotes, Texas, the team of general and family dentists provides restorative dentistry to people of all ages. Call the nearest Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces office to schedule a restorative dentistry consultation, or request your appointment online today.

Are restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry the same thing?

Restorative and cosmetic dentistry have similarities, but they aren’t the same:

Restorative dentistry

Restorative dentistry replaces missing, damaged, or decaying teeth. It uses custom prosthetics to repair or replace your teeth and reduce the risk of complications like cavities and gum disease. Specifically, it works to restore oral health and biting and chewing function. But, some restorative dental procedures are used in cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry makes your teeth, gums, and smile more aesthetically pleasing. It’s focused on the appearance of your smile, rather than its function, although some options, like crowns and dental implants, improve health and function. 

What services does restorative dentistry include?

The Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces team provides various restorative dentistry services, including:

Crowns

Crowns repair damaged or severely decaying teeth. They’re caps made of porcelain, ceramic, or metal amalgam. Your dentist bonds the crown on top of your tooth, restoring its size and function.

Fillings

Fillings repair tooth enamel damaged by decay (cavities). They come in various materials, including metal amalgam, gold, and composite resin. The most common is composite resin (aka white filling) because it matches the color of your natural tooth.

Bridges

A dental bridge replaces a permanent tooth. 

There are several types of bridges, but they all have a false tooth (pontic) and dental crowns or a supportive framework. The false tooth fills the hole in your smile, and the crowns or framework prevent it from changing position.

Dental implants

Dental implants are metal posts that replace your natural tooth roots. Your dentist inserts them into your empty tooth sockets, and they fuse with your jaw or alveolar (the bone that anchors your upper teeth) after placement. You attach a crown, bridge, or denture to implants.

All-on-4® dental implants

All-on-4 dental implants replace an entire row of permanent teeth.

During treatment, your dentist places four dental implants in your upper or lower jaw. The implants support a full arch of false teeth, known as an implant-retained denture.

Dental bonding

Dental bonding uses composite resin to repair minor enamel damage, like chips, cracks, and pitting. The bonding material mimics the color of your natural tooth enamel, so it blends in with your smile. 

Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances that replace some (or all) of the teeth in your upper or lower dental arch. They reduce the risk of potentially severe oral health problems caused by missing teeth, including gum recession and bone loss. 

How long do dental restorations last?

The time that dental restorations last depends on various factors, including your lifestyle and commitment to good oral hygiene. Crowns and bridges typically last 12-15 years, but with proper care, dental implants last a lifetime.

Call the nearest Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces office to schedule restorative dentistry, or request your appointment online today.

*Results may vary.