Functional Restorative Dentistry in Salt Lake City, UT
“Restorative dentistry” is the term dental is the used for fixing missing or broken teeth. Fillings, crowns (“caps”), bridges and implants are common restorative treatments. Our goal is to bring back your natural smile, restores your oral health, and prevent future issues.
Several Reasons Restorative Dental Procedures are Important
– Filling empty spaces in the mouth helps keep the teeth properly aligned, and less chance for shifting, causing issues with biting
– Replacing teeth makes it easier to maintain good oral care habits, and helps prevent plaque build-up and the problems that come along with plaque
– Missing, damaged, or broken teeth can affect your health, appearance and confidence
Your teeth may become damaged due to injury, or may simply need to be repaired as you age. Making Great Smiles provides restorative dentistry to help you regain a healthy, fully functional, and beautiful smile if your teeth have been lost or have become damaged. Each treatment is custom-designed to meet your unique needs so that you can enjoy a healthy smile for years to come.
Dental bridges may be used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress on your bite. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Dental bridges are made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap — two or more anchoring teeth and a false tooth or teeth in between. Bridges can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials, and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.
The success of any dental bridge depends two things. First is home care or maintaining proper oral hygiene. Second is the foundation it is built on— the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it’s very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong.
Dental cavity fillings are the most common dental procedure. Most people need at least one tooth filling in their lifetime. Fillings are commonly used to treat cavities, but they’re also used to repair cracked or broken teeth, or teeth that have been worn down over time.
Most dental filling procedures feature the following:
- Topical anesthetic to numb the area of treatment
- Decay removal from the affected teeth
- Tooth restoration using a composite, which is a tooth colored material
- Bite check to make sure your teeth align comfortably
If you want a smile that’s your crowning glory, you may need a crown to cover a tooth to help restore it to its normal shape and size. We offer in office, same day, tooth colored crowns.
A dental crown, or cap, is a restoration that can be used for a number of purposes. One of the most common uses of dental crowns are to restore a tooth that is significantly damaged or decayed. The crown is custom made to fit over the entire tooth, starting at the gum line, in order to restore the tooth to its original shape and size. Dental crowns can be made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal; porcelain crowns are popular because they match the natural color and appearance of your teeth.
Dental crowns can be used for a number of restorative and aesthetic purposes, including:
- Times when a dental filling will not provide a successful restoration
- To support a large filling when little natural tooth structure remains
- To strengthen a tooth that is fractured or weakened
- To anchor and attach a dental bridge
- To protect a tooth following root canal treatment
- To cover and complete a dental implant
- To enhance the beauty of your smile
- To improve a misshapen tooth
Tooth loss causes a variety of problems that can affect eating and speaking habits as well as your overall health and appearance. Getting dental implants at our Salt Lake City dentist provides a permanent solution for a natural feeling and looking smile.
What Are Dental Implants?
It involve surgically placing a titanium implant into the jaw bone that acts as a new “root” for the tooth. Our Salt Lake City implant dentist then creates an acrylic tooth that caps the titanium tooth root. Like bridges, it can replace single or multiple missing teeth, but unlike bridges, It involve no reshaping of existing teeth, are as easy to clean as your natural tooth structure and have the appearance of a natural tooth erupting from the gum tissue. It is designed to stay within your jawbone, and the crown (false teeth) are crafted to match the color of your existing teeth, creating a natural and healthy-looking smile.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Implants can do a lot for you. Some of their benefits include:
- Look and feel just like natural teeth
- Do not slide around like dentures might
- No additional cleaning methods necessary than that of your natural tooth
- Improves your overall health by restoring your ability to chew properly
- Minimal downtime and pain
- Improves speaking and digestion ability
- Maintains good jawbone health
Implants can improve your overall health, confidence, as well as your quality of life. If you are struggling with your current set of dentures or simply wish to replace your loose or missing teeth, dental implants could be the right option for you. Dental implants can restore the functionality of your bite. With dental implants, you can gain a full and natural-looking smile.
Home Care After Implants
Click here to learn more about what to expect after implants, and the healing process.
Are Dental Implants Right For You?
If you are missing a tooth or teeth or want a more stable and permanent solution than dentures, you may be a good candidate for implants. Call Smiles in Salt Lake City to discuss dental implants and schedule a consult today.
What are Dentures?
Dentures are natural-looking replacement teeth that are removable. There are two types of dentures: full and partial.
Full dentures are given to patients when all of the natural teeth have been removed. Conventional full dentures are placed after the gum tissue has healed, which can take several months. Immediate full dentures are placed immediately after the teeth have been removed and may require frequent adjustments during the first couple of months of use.
Partial dentures are attached to a metal frame that is connected to your natural teeth and are used to fill in where permanent teeth have been removed. Partial dentures are considered a removable alternative to bridges.
How Do I Know if Dentures are the Right Choice for Me?
If you’re interested in learning more about dentures and want to know if they are the right choice for you, please schedule an appointment. Our team will be happy to answer any questions you might have, and can determine the best course of treatment for your ongoing dental health.
Caring for your Dentures
- Just like natural teeth, they require daily maintenance to stay clean and keep bacteria from growing inside of your mouth. Some tips to keep your dentures clean and your smile healthy are:
- When handling your dentures, stand over a clean, folded towel or a sink full of water.This way, if you accidentally drop your dentures, they are less likely to break.
- Your dentures are not immune from plaque and tartar build-up, so it’s important that you brush your dentures every day. To brush your dentures, use a soft-bristled brush and gently brush the surfaces, being careful not to break or bend the plastic. Between brushings, it’s important to rinse your dentures after each meal.
- Use a gentle cleanser to clean your dentures. Many toothpastes, household cleaners, and mouthwashes can be too hard on your dentures, so it is recommended that you use a mild hand or dish soap to get your dentures clean. Be sure to check for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval to choose products that are safe for your dentures, or ask your dentist about which products may be best for you.
- When you are not wearing your dentures, they need to be kept moist. Dentures that are not kept in a denture cleaning solution or in water can dry out, lose their shape, or even crack and break. Certain styles of dentures require certain soaking solutions, so be sure to ask your dentist which solution is best for you.
- Even if you have a full set of dentures, it’s important to keep your gums and tongue clean. Be sure to use a soft-bristled brush to gently clean your gums and tongue every day.
If by chance your dentures do break, please contact our practice and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Broken dentures that don’t fit properly can cause irritation to your gums and mouth. Also, remember to continue scheduling regular dental checkups every six months to make sure that your smile stays healthy for many years to come.