Restore Your Confidence With Restorative Dentistry
Discover the transformative power of restorative dentistry. Addressing dental imperfections isn't just about aesthetics—it's about reclaiming your confidence and achieving life goals. Explore how procedures like implants, dentures, and reconstructions can enhance both your smile and oral health. Regain confidence with personalized care at Smiles Los Gatos.
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Smiles are more than an expression of joy and happiness — and often a reflection of how we feel about ourselves. A recent survey shows that smiles are directly linked to our self-confidence and may even influence the way we make decisions. This means that dental imperfections can cast a shadow on your confidence and even hold you back from achieving your life goals.
If your smile is affected by tooth decay or oral injuries restorative dentistry may be the solution. Read on to learn how you can regain your confidence with an improved smile and oral health.
What is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry focuses on restoring the function of your teeth. This includes fixing damaged or missing teeth, as well as addressing bite concerns.
Restorative dentistry involves procedures that restore the function of the teeth, including:
Dental implants for missing teeth
Dentures for extensive tooth loss
Composite fillings for decay
Dental bridges for gaps
Root canal treatments root canal treatments for infected teeth
Partial or full oral reconstruction for extensive dental issues
What is the Difference Between Restorative Dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry focuses on fixing oral health issues and restoring function through procedures like fillings, crowns, and bridges — all of which improve your ability to bite, chew, and speak properly. Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, aims to improve the appearance of teeth, using treatments like whitening, veneers, realignment, and bonding.
Types of Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry offers a range of treatments aimed at repairing or replacing damaged or missing teeth. From dental implants and dentures to full-mouth reconstructions and simple fillings, these procedures cater to diverse dental needs.
Below you’ll find more information about the many restorative procedures that can help regain the function of your teeth.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial root topped with an artificial tooth. This is commonly referred to as a dental crown. They are most often used to replace missing or severely damaged teeth. Unlike partial dentures, dental implants are permanently fixed into your mouth and will look and work like your real teeth.
Dental implants are held in place with a metal anchor that is set in your jawbone and serves as the tooth's root. A small metal abutment extends up from the anchor, where a dental crown is attached. This dental crown can be created in the same size, shape, and color as a natural tooth. Generally, it takes about three to six months after placing the anchors, before you can get your dental implant crowns. This allows your body to make enough bone around the anchor to keep it in place. Having healthy bones and gums is important for the success of dental implants, so regular exams and professional teeth cleaning with a dentist you trust are recommended.
Dentures
Dentures are often thought of as a restorative dental solution for older people, but many young people can benefit from them, too! Dentures are also known as “false teeth” and are used to replace one or more missing teeth. Dentures are a great option for someone who needs restorative dentistry but doesn’t have a healthy enough jaw or gums for dental implants.
A big difference between dental implants and dentures is that dentures can be removed. In fact, dentists recommend that denture-wearers remove their dentures daily for proper oral hygiene.
Dentures come in “partial” or “complete” sets. A partial set of dentures can cover one or just a few teeth, while a full set of dentures covers the entire top or bottom row. For some people, dentures may be a more cost-effective option for restorative dentistry.
Full-Mouth Reconstruction and Partial-Mouth Reconstruction
Dental reconstruction focuses on reconstructing the teeth and sometimes the upper and lower jaws. This is usually an extensive process that involves multiple procedures.
Some reasons that make reconstruction necessary include:
Trauma to the face or mouth
Serious infections of the mouth
Spreading of an infection to surrounding bones and tissues
In some cases, dentists work in conjunction with oral surgeons and endodontists or orthodontists to complete the reconstruction process.
Composite Fillings
Fillings are also considered a form of restorative dentistry. This procedure involves removing decayed portions of your natural teeth and “filling in” the missing portions with a composite that can be molded and colored to the same size, shape, and color as your natural tooth. Fillings can vary in how extensive they are, depending on the extent of decay in your natural tooth.
Since over 90% of adults have tooth decay, fillings are one of the most common restorative procedures that dentists perform.
Benefits of Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry does more than help you get your smile back — it has a huge impact on your oral health and overall health. Most of all, restorative dentistry helps you gain full function of your mouth, so you can speak clearly and chew without pain.
Finding the Best Restorative Dentistry in Los Gatos
At Smiles Los Gatos there is a team of restorative dentists in Los Gatos who are experts in restorative dentistry, from simple fillings to extensive full-mouth reconstruction. We provide a patient-centered approach to dentistry that includes individualized care plans and prioritizing patient comfort from the moment you walk through the door. You can see the results of our restorative and cosmetic dentistry procedures by viewing actual patient before and after photos in our digital Smile Gallery.
We also provide a range of dental services to keep your oral health intact long after the restoration process is complete. Our Los Gatos dentist office is home to some of the best dentists in Los Gatos — here to help with all of your dental needs, including:
Comprehensive family dentistry
Dental check-ups
Dental cleaning
Pediatric dentistry
Periodontal services
Root canal treatment
Endodontics
Tooth extractions
Veneers
Crowns
Dental bridges
Teeth whitening
Invisalign clear aligners
Orthodontics
Want to learn more about how we can help restore your smile and your oral health in a modern, comfortable dental office in Los Gatos?
