5 Signs You're a Candidate for Restorative Dentistry
Apr 02, 2023
In 2022, the restorative dentistry market grew to an estimated $18.8 billion worldwide. Advances in technology and sedation have made even complex procedures such as dental implants and root canals more comfortable and easier than ever.
If it hurts when you chew or open your jaw, or if you’re embarrassed by your smile, you may benefit from restorative dentistry. A bonus of today’s restorative dentistry is that even if your aim is solely to improve function, you may also achieve a more beautiful smile.
At AB Dental and Oral Surgery in San Antonio, Texas, Anthony Osei, DDS, PhD, and our expert team offer a full range of restorative dentistry procedures, including:
Are you a candidate for restorative dentistry? The following lists the five most common reasons why you might be.
The loss of a permanent tooth is a dental emergency. When you have a gap in your arch, all of your other teeth become endangered, too. The teeth on either side of the gap may slowly fall into it, shifting all of the other teeth out of alignment.
Even the opposing teeth directly above or below can be affected. They may become “super erupters” and lean toward the gap. Super eruption moves the tooth out of the jaw bone and puts it at risk for loss.
A cracked or chipped tooth isn’t just aesthetically displeasing, it’s an oral health risk. Cracks and chips let bacteria into the tooth, which may lead to an infection in the pulp that could extend down into the “canals” of the roots.
You may need bonding, a crown, or other procedures to close the fissures. A deeply stained tooth may need to be covered with a veneer to strengthen it and prevent further stains.
A decayed tooth must either be removed and replaced, or cleaned, disinfected,and capped with a dental crown. Decayed and infected teeth put you at risk for a dangerous, life-threatening infection called sepsis. Tooth infections may even contribution to heart disease.
When your root canals are infected, the tooth must either be pulled or you must undergo a procedure called a root canal. Though root canals have a reputation for being painful, today’s sedation dentistry now ensures that you’re comfortable during a root canal.
As with other types of infections in your teeth, infected root canals can pass through your bloodstream to affect your other organs, including your heart and brain. A root canal procedure removes the infection, disinfects your tooth, and stabilizes it so that you can keep your natural root and maintain oral health.
Your jaw and teeth should work painlessly. However, if your teeth are misaligned, or if you’re missing teeth, you could create stress on your jaw that could affect the health of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Restorative dentistry can replace missing teeth, fix broken teeth, and correct alignments. When your teeth are properly aligned, your jaw health is preserved. A well-aligned jaw also allows you to chew your food properly, to avoid digestive issues.
Book your restorative dentistry consultation today by contacting our team by phone or through our online form. We keep you comfortable with sedation dentistry and give you explicit aftercare instructions to ease your recovery.