Has your smile been affected by tooth decay or physical damage? There’s no need to put up with the impact these issues have on the appearance, function, and health of your smile. In many cases, straightforward restorative dentistry treatments, such as dental crowns and fillings, can completely transform your smile.

How restorative dentistry revitalizes your smile.

Restorative treatments include a wide variety of procedures intended to restore the appearance, function, and health of your teeth. While there’s an overlap with cosmetic dentistry, these options typically focus on teeth that have more issues than just aesthetics.

If there is damage to your teeth caused by tooth decay, wear, or physical damage, their structure may be compromised. Not only does your smile not look its best, but you may also find yourself dealing with pain, struggling to bite and chew, or even being at increased risk of infection.

Dental crowns and fillings can reinforce a tooth and seal the vulnerable interior layers from bacteria and other hazards. The two treatments serve similar purposes but are used to deal with damage affecting different parts of the tooth and of varying severity.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped protective cover that is used to strengthen and protect extensively damaged teeth. The tooth is first prepared by removing some enamel, providing a solid and stable base. The crown is custom-made to fit and match your smile, providing years of reliable performance.

Dental crowns are typically reserved for cases of serious decay or fractures. They’re often used when the inner layers of the tooth have been exposed, creating a risk of infection. If you have had a root canal treatment to deal with infection, you will likely need a dental crown to restore the chewing surface and overall integrity of the tooth.

Today, dental crowns are made of all types of materials. You can find porcelain, ceramic, and gold crowns. While gold tooth crowns do have their benefits, most people today choose more natural-looking options. The best material for a given crown also depends on whether you need a crown on a back or front tooth.

Modern options such as ceramic and zirconia crowns have made the crown treatment process very straightforward. With a CEREC crown, you can even avoid the long processing time at the dental lab. Make sure you choose a dentist who offers same day crowns.

Dental Fillings

Chances are you’ve already had dental fillings at some point in your life. They’re widely used to combat cavities, sealing them to prevent further tooth decay. Fillings are highly effective for this use. However, they can also be used to repair minor chips and cracks that impact your teeth.

Traditional fillings are made of a metal amalgam material. You may recognize the distinct silver or gray appearance. This is a strong and reliable substance, but it can be unsightly and unsuitable for some patients with sensitivities. Today, composite resin provides an alternative that matches your natural tooth color and doesn’t contain any metal.

To place a filling, your dentist will remove decayed enamel around the cavity and prepare the surface. They then apply the metal amalgam or composite resin to the cavity, filling it and sculpting the surface to match your tooth. In the case of composite resin, a UV light is also used to quickly cure it.

Achieving a Natural-looking Smile

Modern restorative dentistry helps you achieve a truly natural-looking smile. Dental crowns are customized to match your natural teeth with the proper size and shape. In addition, composite fillings are carefully matched to the natural shade of your teeth. The end result is that they’re unnoticeable, even when used in teeth near the front of the mouth. You can share your smile without any worry about conspicuous dental work.

Supporting Long-term Oral Health

Restorative dentistry isn’t just about looks. Both dental crowns and fillings prevent further damage to your teeth. They can stop tooth decay and infection from taking hold and prevent cracks or chips from spreading.

These treatments in turn help maintain overall health as well. Being able to bite and chew, without worrying about pain, supports good nutrition. And avoiding infection prevents it from spreading to other tissues. You also can’t overstate the mental health impact of having a complete and beautiful smile.

Putting Restorative Dentistry to Work for Your Smile

Both dental crowns and fillings play important roles in dental restoration, addressing different type and severity of damage and decay. As a result, patients can enjoy beautiful, natural-looking smiles while also improving function and long-term oral health outcomes.

If you’re concerned about your smile, you can visit the best dentist in Dallas, Texas, for effective restorative dentistry. Dallas Cosmetic Dental offers a full range of restorative treatment options and can develop a custom treatment plan that meets your unique needs. Schedule your appointment today to get started.