Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry includes various dental procedures that restore or replace a tooth. The goals of restorative dentistry are to restore regular functioning and the appearance of the teeth and prevent future oral health concerns. It also includes treatments from other dental fields, like endodontics, prosthodontics, and periodontics, meeting the requirements of patients that need multifaceted care from more than one specialist.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed in the jawbone to function like tooth roots. Post implantation, a dental crown is attached to its top to ensure the appearance of a natural tooth. Not only does it look and feel like a natural tooth, but it also functions like one, and you can entirely rely on it while eating and speaking.
Types of Dental Implants
- Endosteal
The endosteal implant is the most commonly used alternate option for bridges or removable dentures. Endosteal implants involve the surgical insertion of titanium implants into the jawbone at the place of missing teeth through surgery.
- Subperiosteal
Subperiosteal implants are best suited for patients with minimal bone height who are not suitable for using conventional dentures. These implants rest on the jawbone, under the gum tissue, and are fastened to the jawbone through osseointegration.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Dental implants help to overcome many oral concerns, including:
- Tooth decay and gum disease
- Improper bite
- Difficulty in chewing
- Sunken cheeks and sagging muscles because of missing teeth
- Speech problems because of the gap between the teeth
- Pain in the facial muscles of the jaw because of missing teeth
Benefits of Dental implants
- Dental implants restore missing teeth
- They maintain the shape and aesthetics of your face as they prevent jawbone deterioration.
- Dental implants don’t harm the adjacent teeth or gum tissues and reduce the risk of cavities in the nearby teeth.
- They ensure no speech issues.
- A dental implant is a long-lasting solution for missing teeth and boosts the self-esteem of the patient.
- With dental implants, patients have the freedom to consume any food they want.
Dental Implant Procedure
The dental Implant procedure has various stages.
- Placing The Implant
The dental implant procedure kicks off with jawbone preparation. A dental surgeon makes a cut to expose the bone underneath, after which the implant is inserted in it after making a tiny hole in place of the missing tooth. Next, a temporary crown is fitted to fill the gap.
- Healing
The healing stage involves the growth and uniting of the jawbone with the implant’s surface, referred to as osseointegration. It provides a strong foundation for the new artificial tooth. It takes about 3 to 6 months, depending on the health and structure of the jawbone.
- Abutment Placement
This procedure is done with the patient under the influence of local anesthesia and only after healing is complete. The abutment acts as the connecting element for fixing the permanent crown on the implant.
- Placement Of Permanent Crown
The surgeon takes the impressions of your mouth and remaining teeth to make the crown, which then is bonded to the implant. A bite test will be taken to ensure your ideal bite is restored.
Bridges
A dental bridge is a false tooth that bridges the gaps in your smile. This false tooth, referred to as pontic, can be made from diverse materials such as gold, or porcelain, to aesthetically blend in your mouth.
A dental bridge is composed of dental crowns on either side of the missing tooth, which supports the prosthetic tooth. Hence, to get a bridge, healthy teeth are required on both sides of the missing tooth.
Benefits of a Dental Bridge
In case of a missing tooth, the nearby teeth move towards the empty space causing bite problems and chewing difficulties. Getting a bridge has the following benefits:
- Help your bite conveniently
- Prevent other teeth from moving towards the empty space
- Restore chewing and speaking ability
- Restore your smile and the overall aesthetics of your face
Structure of a Dental Bridge
A dental bridge consist of 2 structures:
- Abutment teeth
The two adjacent abutment teeth provide support to the dental bridge. They are used to attach the bridge to teeth adjoining the gap, thereby holding the prosthetic in place and giving it the necessary stability.
- Pontic
It is the false artificial tooth that fills in the gap and attaches to the crowns, thereby replacing the missing natural tooth or teeth.
Types of Dental Bridge
- Conventional Dental Bridge
A traditional dental bridge is the most commonly used procedure that involves a pontic held in place by crowns cemented onto the abutment teeth. Placing a bridge through the traditional procedure demands natural teeth on both sides of the gap.
- Cantilever Dental Bridge
Cantilever bridges are not very common and are used only when there is one adjacent tooth next to the gap. This procedure is not recommended in the back of the mouth, as it can put more pressure on the neighboring teeth, resulting in further damage.
- Maryland Dental Bridge
Maryland dental bridges need two natural abutment teeth on both sides of the gap and are best suited for individuals with missing front teeth. They are made from porcelain fused to metal or ceramic teeth, supported by a framework, and bonded to the abutment teeth.
- Implant-supported Dental Bridge
In implant-supported bridges, the prosthetic tooth is supported by metal dental implants and is considered a more stable option. Also, the implant fills the gap left by the missing tooth root completely and prevents jawbone deterioration.
Process for Getting a Dental Bridge
In your first visit to the dentist, the abutment teeth are prepared to make room for a crown to be placed on them. Next, teeth impressions are made to fabricate the dental bridge. Until the permanent bridge is placed on the teeth, we will place a temporary bridge on it. During the next visit, we will remove the temporary bridge and place the permanent one on it, and bond it firmly using dental adhesives.
