Restorative Dentistry in Charlotte, NC
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Proper oral hygiene is critical to maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist for regular checkups will keep your teeth looking their best for years to come. But, what can you do if your teeth have already been affected by decay, disease, or injury?
The answer is restorative dentistry. Dr. Carli Warden, DDS, and the professionals at Luminous Dental offer the advanced treatments necessary to restore the form and function of your teeth.
What is Restorative Dentistry?
When adult teeth are lost or damaged, they don’t grow back or repair themselves. Restorative dentistry uses various tools and techniques to repair or replace a patient’s natural teeth.
There are various restorative dental services, and all of them are intended to tackle different oral health problems that can adversely affect the appearance and structure of your teeth. Restorative dentistry can be used to help with issues such as:
- Tooth decay
- Broken teeth
- Missing teeth
- Periodontal disease
- Cavities
Restorative Dentistry Procedures
At Luminous Dental, we use the most advanced techniques and technology, such as laser dentistry, to make restoring your smile easy and comfortable. Here are the most common tooth restoration treatments we provide:
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Sugar, bacteria, and acid from food and drink can slowly dissolve your tooth’s enamel. Eventually, this corrosive process will bore a hole through your tooth, leading to a cavity. Cavities are a serious concern because they can lead down into the pulp and nerves of your teeth, allowing bacteria and food particles to cause irreparable damage.
Dental fillings are the most commonly performed restorative procedure. Dr. Carli uses a drill and/or laser to remove all of the damaged inner tooth. The tooth is then cleaned, and the bond is applied before the tooth-colored composite filling material is packed into the cavity, where it hardens to help protect the nerves and inner layer of your tooth.
In severe cases, the pulp/nerve of your tooth may become involved or infected and would need to be removed in a procedure known as a root canal therapy. However, the tooth will still be cleaned and filled to preserve its structural integrity after completing this treatment.
Dental Crowns
If a deep or extensive cavity or fracture damages the tooth enough to where it compromises its structure, a filling only will not be strong enough to repair it. Instead, Dr. Carli will use tools to shave down the damaged part of the exterior tooth. A customized, tooth-shaped cap made of porcelain will then be bonded with dental adhesive and cement over the top of the remaining tooth. This cap, called a dental crown, looks and acts like your natural tooth and protects it from further damage.
Dental Implant Restorations
Sometimes, a tooth must be removed entirely due to infection in the root or extensive decay that cannot be repaired. In these cases, your tooth can be replaced with a dental implant. This solution consists of a titanium post which is surgically implanted into the gums and bone and acts as the support for an artificial tooth.
Through a process called osseointegration, the dental implant post bonds and fuses with the jawbone, providing a highly stable and solid foundation that allows the new tooth to function precisely as a natural tooth would. A dental implant is a permanent tooth replacement solution that can last decades with proper care.
Dental Bridges
Another option for single or multiple-tooth replacement is something called a dental bridge. This consists of one or more artificial porcelain teeth connected to dental crowns, which are cemented on and attached to the surrounding teeth. Neighboring teeth on either side of the space are required for this type of treatment and are prepared for dental crowns, so the artificial tooth, called a pontic, has something to connect and hold on to.
What Are the Benefits of Restorative Dentistry?
A beautiful smile can help boost your confidence in social situations. Damaged or missing teeth on the other hand, can have the opposite effect, inducing anxiety about your appearance.
As you know, your teeth are for more than just smiling. A missing tooth or teeth can adversely affect your eating, drinking, and speaking abilities. Damaged or missing teeth can even throw off the alignment of your jaw, leading to joint pain and grinding/clenching issues.
Lost, cracked, and broken teeth can eventually lead to more severe problems, especially if bacteria travels into the soft tissue of your gums. Restorative dentistry can fix minor issues before they become more significant and require more aggressive forms of treatment.
How to Care for Teeth After Dental Restorations
Though dental restorations include artificial teeth and filling material to revitalize your smile, you must still treat them like natural teeth, which means brushing, flossing, and regularly visiting the dentist for checkups.
Tooth Restoration Cost
Restorative dentistry costs vary based on how many teeth are treated, what procedure is used, the severity of your condition, and insurance. Because dental restorations are designed to fix fundamental oral health problems, most insurance policies will cover at least a portion of the cost.
Restorative Dental Treatment at Luminous Dental
When you need restorative dental treatment in Charlotte, NC, it’s vital to turn to a dental team that is compassionate and understanding. Dr. Carli Warden at Luminous Dental offers a patient-first approach to dentistry, emphasizing care and education. We do everything possible to personalize every visit and make our patients feel welcome in our offices.
Contact us if you have any questions or want to make an appointment.