Unless you’ve recently broken a tooth, you probably don’t give much thought to restorative dentistry and the different treatments dentists can use to repair an injured smile. After all, if nothing in your mouth is broken, then there’s nothing your dentist needs to fix!
However, what may surprise you is how often the treatments dentists use in restorative dentistry overlap with popular treatments in general and cosmetic dentistry. In most situations, a handful of tried and true dental methods are what save the day over and over again—no matter what a patient’s smile needs.
The following are three common ways that the most popular treatments for cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry in St. Augustine tend to intersect:
#1: Tooth-Colored Fillings
You probably immediately think of cavities when you picture dental fillings. Although fillings are the go-to method for this type of restorative dentistry, attractive tooth-colored fillings continue to grow in popularity for minor general and cosmetic dental needs.
Your dentist can use a tooth-colored filling to repair a tiny chip or crack in a tooth, to add extra support to a vulnerable part of your smile, or to replace existing silver fillings that are detracting from your smile.
#2: Dental Crowns
Crowns for teeth have almost limitless potential in the dental world. With a dental crown in cosmetic dentistry, you can cover a stained or misshapen tooth that is otherwise perfectly healthy.
General dentists also use crowns to cover teeth with slight imperfections, such as a chip, while dental crowns’ primary use in restorative dentistry is to protect teeth that either had a large cavity or recently underwent root canal therapy.
#3: Dental Implants
When it comes to matching the look and function of a natural tooth, dental implants are second to none.
Cosmetically, you can’t beat the beautiful appearance of a shiny, new tooth crown atop a dental implant post—and both general and restorative dentists will recommend dental implants to almost any patient with missing teeth and a healthy jawbone.
Implants allow you to mimic the look of your natural teeth (cosmetic dentistry), preserve the health of your jaw and your surrounding teeth and gums (general dentistry), and replace missing teeth while restoring function to your bite (restorative dentistry).
Get Restorative and General Dentistry Treatments Today
As your trusted St. Augustine dentist, we offer the three treatments discussed above along with many others. If you’d like to learn more about our dental practice or schedule a visit with us, please call us today at (904) 460-0999.