Waterloo West Dentistry provides a wide range of restorative dentistry services. Restorative procedures involve any dental treatment that aims at repairing or correcting decayed or damaged teeth. We perform many dental restorations including fillings, dental crowns, dentures, dental implants, and dental bridges to restore the function of your teeth and mouth.
We perform a thorough examination, including X-rays and other diagnostics as necessary to diagnose and determine the extent of an oral health or dental concern.
We discuss your potential treatment options, answering your questions, providing recommendations, and working with you. Your overall oral health is our priority.
Our restorative dentistry services aim to treat, strengthen, and protect teeth to correct your dental issues and restore oral health. Preventive dental care is also prioritized, to avoid future concerns.
Waterloo West Dentistry performs a variety of procedures to correct dental issues and strengthen natural teeth. We perform fillings, gum disease treatments, and other procedures to restore the structure and function of your teeth.
Dental fillings treat cavities caused by tooth decay. The decayed tooth material is removed, then replaced with a filling. Different types of fillings are available, but composite resin is most popular, as they can be completed in one visit and have a natural, white appearance.
We install dental crowns. A dental crown is a cap that is placed over your natural tooth and permanently cemented on. There are gold, ceramic composite resin, and porcelain crowns. Crowns add strength and support a tooth's structure, to restore broken teeth, heavily decayed teeth, or any that may be more vulnerable. A dental crown is custom made for you, so a temporary crown is placed until your permanent crown is ready. A crown is often used after a root canal procedure. They last for many years, with proper care, but the exact life span depends on the material.
We also perform root canal therapy which involves removing dead, damaged, or infected tissue known as pulp from inside the roots of a tooth. After removing the pulp, the canal is disinfected and possibly shaped, then filled. Root canals are usually needed to save a tooth.
Tooth extractions are performed as a last resort, as keeping a natural tooth is better for your oral and dental health, and a variety of health concerns are linked to tooth loss.
If you have a missing tooth, or several, Waterloo West Dentistry can restore your smile and self esteem, as well as restoring function, so you can eat and talk more easily again. We offer different options for your individual circumstance.
We can fit you with complete dentures or partial dentures, as needed, to replace missing teeth. Complete dentures, also known as full dentures, replace all teeth in your upper or lower jaw. Partial dentures replace just one or a few missing teeth. Whether you need a full or partial denture, they are usually made from porcelain or acrylic.
Dental implants are popular for addressing tooth loss. A dental implant is a metal post that is surgically implanted and screwed into your bone. After the dental implant has healed, a crown is attached to the post to replace your missing tooth. Dental implants feel and look like natural teeth and are a permanent solution that will last for years. Dental implants prevent other teeth from shifting, and protect against bone loss.
A dental bridge, or fixed bridge, is a permanent restoration to replace one or more missing teeth. Different types of dental bridges are available to match specific needs. A dental bridge involves affixing two crowns onto your teeth directly next to your gap. These are known as abutment teeth. The crowns strengthen them sufficiently for them to support the dental bridge, which is attached to these crowns. Dental bridges are usually porcelain or ceramic.
The purpose of restorative dental work is to save teeth, promote overall oral health, and to give you back teeth that perform and feel like your natural teeth. It also prevents larger oral and dental concerns from developing. Replacing missing teeth will keep other teeth spaced properly for eating and talking, and prevent bone loss.
Although some risks are possible with any treatment, restorative procedures are safe and effective. They are also generally pain free, and some can be completed in less than an hour.
Restorative dentistry will correct and repair teeth so you can talk and chew more normally again, with less discomfort. Damaged teeth, missing teeth, crooked teeth, or a decayed tooth can all be addressed.
Ignoring dental concerns leads to more serious oral health complications. Not treating tooth decay leads to it spreading and greater infection, while ignoring missing teeth does not just leave unsightly gaps but can lead to bone loss.
The difference between dental restorations and cosmetic dentistry is that the purpose of restorative work is to improve function, while the purpose of cosmetic dentistry is to improve aesthetics. Often, a restorative dentistry procedure will improve aesthetic issues as a side benefit, but the purpose of the procedure is functionality. Sometimes, such as in the case of dental veneers and aligners, the procedure is considered cosmetic, but can add some strength or functionality to the teeth, as well. Because cosmetic dental services are considered optional, they are not covered by insurance. Restorative procedures, on the other hand, may be, depending on your insurance.
