If you were to Google “dentist near me,” you’d probably find that a lot of dental practices like to add specialties to their name. Sometimes these names have meaning, and in other cases they may not. For example, the “family” in MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry lets customers know we work with patients of all ages, not just adults.
One label you don’t see advertised very often is restorative dentistry. If you’ve ever had damaged teeth, you have restorative dentistry to thank for your fixed smile. From filling a cavity to correcting tooth loss, restorative dentistry is the practice responsible for keeping your smile healthy and intact.
Do you have damaged teeth or tooth pain as a result of oral trauma? Come in to see the team at MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Malcolm Murray, DDS, and Ranya Ghumrawi, DMD, work with you to determine if your mouth could use a little TLC and restorative work.
Our office is proud to offer high-quality professional dental services to every age group and every member of your family. We use the latest technology and innovative equipment to obtain optimal results for your oral health.
What is restorative dentistry?
Restorative dentistry refers to procedures a dentist uses to ensure your teeth are both healthy and functional. This includes replacing missing teeth and repairing teeth that have been damaged through decay, deterioration, previous dental care, or trauma.
Restorative dentistry isn’t really a specialty but more of a part of a dentist’s overall repertoire of services. In some cases, you may also see it referred to as prosthodontic dentistry. Common restorative procedures include:
- Crowns and bridges
- Dentures
- Implants
- Fillings
- Root canals
- Extractions
Tooth whitening, veneers, straightening, and other services used to improve the aesthetics of your smile are generally seen as a part of cosmetic dentistry. However, the two practices often work together to help you have a great smile.
Fillings
Fillings are the most common type of tooth restoration. As you probably know, fillings are used to fix cavities and prevent further damage to the tooth containing the cavity.
During the procedure, one of our dentists removes the decayed part of the tooth before refilling and sealing it. We use tooth-colored composite resins in our fillings to make them more aesthetically pleasing and reliable.
Crowns and Bridges
Dental crowns and bridges are designed to restore shape, structure, and aesthetic appearance to teeth that need support. Crowns fit over individual teeth that are suffering from decay or injury. They may also be used as a cap after a root canal or implant procedure.
Bridges, true to their name, are one or more prosthetic teeth that fill the gap left by missing teeth. Crowns and bridges are often placed together, the crowns as supporting ends of the bridge, to ensure structural integrity and full function.
Dentures and implants
For patients with extensive tooth loss, dentures or implants may be the answer. Partial dentures are used when some of your natural teeth remain, as they clasp on to these teeth to stay in place. Full dentures replace a full arch and are held in place by suction or a denture adhesive.
Dental implants replace the root of your tooth and are capped with a crown to provide a permanent solution to missing teeth. They’re more structurally sound than dentures but also more expensive up-front.
Root canals
Root canals are used to save a natural tooth that has decay inside the tooth — in the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. While root canals have a reputation for being painful, medical advances have made root canal treatments no more painful than an average filling.
Extractions
With some oral traumas, we have no option other than to extract a tooth. Wisdom teeth may also need to be extracted before they become impacted and cause pain or other oral health issues.
Are you ready to take advantage of expert restorative dentistry to put a smile on your face? MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry can help. Call or request an appointment at our Fairfax, Virginia, office today.
