Frequent Questions About Restorative Dentistry
Q: What is restorative dentistry?
A: Everyday use and abuse can leave your smile worn out or your teeth damaged. Other factors, like decay, injury, or aging can also cause our teeth to become weak, affecting both oral health and overall health. Restorative dentistry describes the services we provide to repair the damage done to your teeth. Treatments like fillings, crowns, and root canal treatment repair the decay of cavities and other damages to tooth structure; and dental implants can prevent harmful effects of missing teeth. Even if you have multiple restorative needs, we will assist you in creating a treatment plan that will restore your healthy set of teeth.
Q: What if I have a cavity?
A: A cavity is a dangerous infection that can cause more complicated and painful problems if it is not treated quickly. When you notice toothache or sensitivity, it is important to have the tooth checked immediately for decay. Regular preventive dental appointments and good daily oral hygiene are good ways to protect against a cavity. We utilize the advanced technology of DIAGNOdent to detect cavities in their earliest stages; however, once decay has started, a cavity is not reversible and must be treated, often with a tooth-colored filling, or in more severe cases, root canal treatment.
Q: How can a broken tooth be repaired?
A: Sometimes decay, injury, disease, or other factors can cause a tooth to break, leaving you with a fractured smile, issues with talking or chewing, or oral health problems if the breakage is severe. Our comprehensive restorative dentistry services make it possible for you to have quality repairs to your broken teeth. A dental crown covers the entire exposed portion of the tooth with a porcelain material which is specifically molded to restore and protect a broken tooth. The porcelain is colored to match the surrounding teeth so that the crown is almost completely indistinguishable from a natural tooth.
Q: What should I do about a missing tooth?
A: If you have ever had a missing tooth, you have experienced the inconvenience of eating and speaking without the proper tools, and the embarrassment of an incomplete smile. Aside from these everyday dilemmas, missing teeth also contribute to alveolar atrophy—also called jawbone deterioration—and cause surrounding teeth to drift out of place. Alveolar atrophy occurs because the jawbone is missing the chewing stimulation it receives from a tooth. Dental implants replace the missing teeth by fusing directly to the jawbone and recreating a chewing sensation that keeps jawbone shrinkage at bay. Dental implants also create a spacer which keeps surrounding teeth from drifting to accommodate for the hole that is left from a missing tooth.
Q: What if I have several chipped, broken, or decayed teeth?
A: If you are experiencing several issues with your overall oral health, let us help you regain your good oral health. Full-mouth rehabilitation can help you get started on the right track to good oral health. Also known as a complete dental restoration or rejuvenation, full-mouth rehabilitation is a phased treatment plan that helps you set a goal for oral health and target problem areas to repair over time. We will assess your case by taking digital X-rays, using intraoral cameras, and pinpointing decay with DIAGNOdent. Our technology will assist us in explaining diagnoses and problem areas thoroughly so that you do not have to pay for procedures you do not need.
Learn more about restorative dental treatment
If you have more questions about how restorative dentistry can improve your smile and quality of life, schedule an appointment by calling Syosset Dental today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678. We proudly serve the residents of Syosset, Long Island, Nassau, Suffolk, and all surrounding New York City communities.
