Restorative dental treatments – what are my options?

Missing, lost or broken teeth are everybody’s worst nightmare

Whether tooth loss occurs through an accident, ill health, tooth decay or old age, it can have a significant impact on confidence and daily life. For the patient replacing teeth can feel like a daunting prospect, but also necessary in order to reclaim a sense of what has been lost and normality when it comes to eating, drinking, talking and smiling.

In today’s blog we share more on the various options available to patients who require restorative dentistry to replace missing or damaged teeth. For tailored advice on which options are best suited to you and your situation please call us or email our team to book an appointment.

Crowns

Crowns are one of the most common restorative treatments patients experience throughout their lifetimes. Daily wear and tear, age (and in some cases poor dental hygiene or diet) can cause cavities to form in the teeth.

A crown is essentially a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over the damaged tooth and cemented into place. Crowns suitable for patients with cavities and damaged or broken teeth. They also protect the structure and strength of the tooth and offer long-lasting protection.

Crowns are a very common way to treat missing or damaged teeth, but they don’t last as long as implants. Crowns over time can be prone to cracking or breaking, even when properly fitted, due to daily wear and tear. You can expect your crown to last anywhere between 10 and 15 years when taken care of.

Bridges

Bridges take their name from architectural bridges – as they look and behave just like them. A bridge is comprised of a replacement tooth with two crowns either side which fit over your remaining healthy teeth (and the gap or damaged tooth) to form a ‘bridge’ over the missing tooth or teeth. Bridges look completely natural once fitted and are a great option for teeth which have been partially or completely lost.

Bridges are one of the most cost-effective solutions to replacement of missing teeth. The treatment is quick and straightforward, and patients don’t require bone grafting (if bone loss is present). However Bridges rarely last a lifetime and will need to be replaced either by another Bridge or a more suitable solution at some stage. They can sometimes place strain on the surrounding teeth leading to additional problems, and if not properly taken care of could lead to the loss of additional teeth. This is why regular 6-monthly check-ups with our dentists are essential to ensure your Bridge is still working well for you.

Implantology

Dental implants are exclusively used to replace missing teeth. Teeth may have been lost through decay or illness, or may have been irreparably damaged and/or surgically removed. Implants are incredible because they operate, look and feel just like natural teeth – unlike some other solutions they can be fitted and forgotten about (on the most part). When fitting an implant our dentist will insert a metal anchor into the jawbone, which the implanted tooth is then fitted onto. Implants are designed to be very long lasting – they can last a lifetime when properly taken care of.

Although implants are one of the most expensive solutions and require more extensive dental treatment, the pay-off is a near-permanent remedy for lost teeth.

Takeaway

All restorative dental work requires proper aftercare, which is a joint effort between our dentist and patient. Our dentist will want to see you periodically to ensure that your implants are still performing well and to identify potential problems arising so that they can be prevented. Regular professional teeth cleaning is also a must. For the patient, it’s important to floss and brush teeth twice daily, adding a mouthwash to ensure deeper cleaning in those hard to reach areas. The better the initial treatment and better the care, the longer lasting your restorative deental work will be.

Speak to us today about specialist restorative dentistry and effective treatments for missing, lost or broken teeth.