Welcome to Matt McGee Family and Cosmetic Dentistry! Let’s discuss Nashville restorative dentistry—its definition, importance, and various procedures. As a family and cosmetic dentistry practice, we believe that a healthy smile is an essential aspect of overall well-being and confidence.
It’s essential to take care of your teeth through proper dental hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. A healthy smile leads to a happy and confident life! See you next time, and happy smiling!
What is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on diagnosing, preventing, and treating oral diseases. It also includes procedures to restore or repair damaged teeth, such as fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures. The ultimate goal of restorative dentistry is to improve the mouth’s function, aesthetics, and health.
Importance of Restorative Dentistry
Many believe restorative dentistry is only necessary for fixing damaged or missing teeth. However, it is crucial to maintain good oral health and prevent future dental problems. Here are some reasons why restorative dentistry is essential:
- Restores Function: Restorative dentistry procedures help restore the mouth’s proper function, such as chewing and speaking. This can improve a person’s quality of life, especially if they have been experiencing discomfort or difficulty with these activities.
- Prevents Further Damage: Ignoring dental issues can lead to more significant problems, such as decay spreading to other teeth or gum disease. Restorative dentistry can help prevent these issues from worsening and causing more damage to the mouth.
- Boosts Confidence: Having damaged or missing teeth can affect a person’s self-esteem and confidence. Restorative dentistry can improve the smile’s appearance, giving individuals the confidence to show off their pearly whites.
Standard Procedures in Restorative Dentistry
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common procedures involved in restorative dentistry:
Fillings
Fillings are used to repair teeth damaged by decay. We remove the decayed portion and fill the cavity with composite resin, porcelain, or gold. These fillings not only restore the tooth’s function but also blend in with its natural color, making them virtually unnoticeable.
Crowns
Crowns are custom-made caps that cover damaged or weakened teeth to restore their shape, size, and strength. They can be made from various materials like porcelain, metal, or both. Crowns protect the tooth from further damage and improve its appearance.
Bridges
A bridge is a fixed dental prosthesis used to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of an artificial tooth held in place by crowns attached to the surrounding teeth. Bridges not only fill in gaps between teeth but also prevent other teeth from shifting, improving the overall alignment and function of the mouth.
Implants
Dental implants are a popular restorative dentistry option for replacing missing teeth. They involve surgically placing a titanium post into the jawbone, which acts as an artificial tooth root. The post is then covered with a crown, creating a natural-looking and functioning replacement tooth.
Dentures
Dentures are removable dental appliances used to replace multiple missing teeth. They can be complete dentures, which replace all teeth in the upper or lower jaw, or partial dentures, which are used when some natural teeth remain. Dentures not only restore the function of missing teeth but also improve the appearance of the smile.
Post-Treatment Care
Proper post-treatment care is crucial for maintaining the success of restorative dentistry procedures. Here are some general tips to follow:
- Practice good oral hygiene: Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily to keep the restored teeth clean and healthy.
- Avoid hard or sticky foods: After specific procedures like crowns, bridges, or implants, you may need to avoid eating hard or sticky foods that can damage or dislodge the restoration.
- Visit the dentist regularly: Regular check-ups and cleanings will help to detect any issues early on and ensure the success of your restorative dentistry procedures.
Nashville Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is essential to maintaining good oral health and improving the function and aesthetics of the mouth. At Matt McGee Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer a variety of restorative dentistry procedures to help our patients achieve their best smiles. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Matt McGee, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our services include general/family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee.
