Restorative
Restorative Dentistry
Some people take their teeth for granted. While it may be understandable, it’s certainly not wise. When we keep our teeth strong and healthy, it helps us maintain our overall health. Live Oak Dental Group is committed to assisting patients to maintain the function, integrity, and feel of their natural teeth for as long as possible through restorative dentistry procedures and treatments.
Unlike cosmetic dentistry, dentists perform restorative dentistry due to disease or an accident. Although older adults seek restorative treatments most often, we treat patients at every stage of life under one roof.
Why is restorative dentistry important?
Dental professionals use the blanket term “restorative dentistry” to describe and explain how they replace damaged or missing teeth. Our goal is to evaluate where your smile is right now and provide the appropriate restorative treatments to prevent further dental issues. This includes:
- Providing natural-looking dental restorations
- Addressing plaque accumulation and cavities
- Boosting overall health
- Eliminating dental discomfort
- Potentially improving self-esteem
Our Restorative Dentistry Options
If your smile is suffering from a cavity or trauma, we can offer treatment to keep the infection and damage away. Here are four ways that we can restore your smile and the key purposes for each treatment:
Fillings
Commonly used to fill minor cavities, dental fillings help:
- Close spaces on dental surfaces that can trap bacteria, sugar, and food particles
- Prevent the progression of a cavity
- Repair worn-down, broken, or chipped teeth
Crowns
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that provide strength and protection over a tooth. Our CEREC crowns can be applied in as little as a few hours, while traditional crowns typically take at least two visits.
Root Canals
If one of your teeth is deeply infected due to a severe cavity or injury, a root canal can help save what’s left of your natural tooth and restore its health. After removing all signs of infection and the dental pulp, a dentist carefully places a filling or crown to protect and strengthen the tooth.
Extractions
In specific scenarios, the tooth and tooth root cannot be saved. Therefore, pulling a tooth can surprisingly protect your overall oral health. While it’s sometimes unnecessary to replace a removed tooth, speak with your dentist about our natural-looking tooth replacement options.
Are you a candidate for restorative dentistry?
When deciding between restorative methods, your Porterville dentist will consider the following:
- The amount of tooth structure that must be replaced
- Function and location of the affected tooth
- Gum tissue positioning
- The health and state of the surrounding teeth
