Restorative Dentistry Options at Grand Lake Dental for a Healthy, Whole Smile
Restorative dentistry involves treatments and procedures to restore your teeth to normal function. This may include replacing missing teeth or repairing damaged, broken, or decayed teeth.
At Grand Lake Dental, Dr. Karl Jobst has the training and experience you can rely on for your restorative needs. Just as important, however, is the unrivaled compassionate care he and his team deliver to each of their patients.
Whether you need a filling, a dental crown, bridge, or implant, or are looking for partials or dentures, you can trust and rely on the trusted team at Grand Lake Dental.
Restorative dentistry can be expensive. Is it really that important?
While some restorative dentistry treatments can be expensive, the truth is, you can’t afford to ignore missing or damaged teeth.
For instance, a small cavity is an easy, affordable fix. Left untreated, however, it can easily progress into something complex and expensive, like the need for a root canal and dental crown. Or even worse, a tooth that cannot be salvaged and requires extraction.
A broken tooth allows food particles and bacteria to get into the pulp of the tooth. This can easily lead to the need for a root canal and crown or extraction.
A missing tooth that is not replaced can lead to several complications. The remaining teeth move and shift, causing crooked teeth and an altered bite. This affects more than the appearance of your smile.
Crooked teeth are harder to keep clean, which increases your risk of gum disease and dental decay, and a misaligned bite can affect chewing and speech and put you at risk for TMJ problems.
The Restorative Dentistry Process
Before Dr. Jobst can make any determinations regarding restorative dentistry needs, he will perform a thorough oral examination, including inspection and imaging with digital x-rays. Once he makes a diagnosis, he will discuss your treatment options.
Some treatments, such as a simple filling can be completed in one appointment.
Other treatments may require two or more appointments. For instance, if there is severe decay or damage, a root canal may be needed. After a root canal, we will need to take impressions for a dental crown. Then, once we receive the fabricated crown from the lab, you will need to return for placement.
If you require complex or potentially painful treatments or you suffer from anxiety or fear, Dr. Jobst will also discuss sedation options with you.
Restorative Dentistry Options
At Grand Lake Dental, we offer most restorative dentistry options.
Some of our options include:
Filling a Cavity
Mild to moderate dental decay requires a filling to keep the decay from spreading.
This option is a simple fix that takes approximately one hour in a single appointment. Dr. Jobst will numb the affected area and then clean out the decay. He will then place a tooth-colored composite to fill in the tooth.
Inlays and Onlays
If tooth decay doesn’t affect the tooth cusps, you may want an inlay. If it does affect the cusp, an onlay is an option. There are some benefits to inlays and onlays over a filling, but both require more than one appointment.
These options require impressions to make a custom-made restoration of either composite or porcelain.
Root Canal Therapy
When dental decay goes beneath the tooth surface toward the tooth root, root canal therapy may be needed.
Root canal therapy includes completely cleaning out the inside of the tooth. If pain, fear, or anxiety are an issue, you can discuss sedation options with Dr. Jobst.
Because root canal therapy greatly weakens the tooth, a dental crown is required for protection.
Dental Crowns
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers the tooth. This treatment is needed for damaged, weakened, or broken teeth.
A dental crown can also replace a missing tooth when used in conjunction with a dental implant or bridge.
Dental Bridge
A bridge is a prosthetic device that “bridges the gap” of a missing tooth or teeth. Using pontics, or fake teeth, it is fixed in place with either adjacent dental crowns or dental implants.
Dental Implant
When you are missing a tooth, bone loss occurs if you do not replace the tooth root. This can lead to further tooth loss and a sunken-in appearance to the face. A dental implant is a screw-like implant made of titanium that is placed in the jawbone. This gives a stable, permanent anchor for a dental crown or bridge that most mimics a natural tooth.
Partials and Dentures
If you are missing several nonadjacent teeth or an entire arch of teeth, your option is partials or dentures. At Grand Lake Dental, we offer realistic, natural-looking partials and dentures.
For the best option available, we also offer All On Four dentures, which involves dental implants to fix dentures in place.
Is it time to restore your smile?
If you need restorative dentistry, or if you think you may need it due to dental pain, one of the friendly team members at Grand Lake Dental can help you. Call (918) 787-5800 today for more information or to schedule your appointment.