What is Restorative Dental Care?
If your dentist finds evidence of tooth decay or if you are unhappy with your smile due to damaged or missing teeth, there are a variety of restorative treatment options available.
Damaged, decayed or missing teeth can negatively impact your oral health by contributing to the buildup of plaque and other debris, ultimately leading to additional tooth decay or gum disease.
Poor oral health can leave you with an increased risk of infection which may contribute to broader medical issues like heart disease. By restoring your smile, we help prevent serious complications and improve your oral health and quality of life.
Dental Crowns
Crowns are porcelain caps designed to be placed on top of a damaged tooth to restore its function and appearance. They can also be used to attach bridges, cover dental implants or prevent a cracked tooth from worsening. Crowns can even help a discoloured or stained tooth return to its natural appearance.
Dental Bridges
Bridges are tooth replacements for when teeth are missing in a row. These bridges are bonded to existing teeth or dental crowns on either side of the empty space to 'bridge' the gap. Dental bridges are custom-made to match your existing smile and can restore the natural contour of your teeth, bite and face.
Dental Fillings
When you have a cavity, our team at Waterloo Family Dental will use composite fillings to fill the hole. These fillings can also be used to repair tooth damage, like a crack, and are created to match the colour of your natural teeth. Fillings are designed to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing and, therefore, can be used on front and back teeth.
Inlays & Onlays
When a cavity is too large for a standard filling but too small for a crown, your dentist may opt to use an inlay or onlay. An inlay is made for the areas between a tooth's cusps (protruding bumpy parts), while an onlay covers at least one cusp. These dental restorations are custom-made as one piece and are then permanently cemented to your teeth.
Dentures
Dentures are artificial teeth used to replace one or more missing teeth in a row or a full jaw of teeth. They can help protect your remaining natural teeth, while helping you maintain your ability to speak and chew and preserving your facial contour. Because dentures are custom-fit to your mouth, they will be made to match your existing teeth.
Root Canals
A root canal is a procedure in which your dentist removes infected blood vessels, nerves, and tissues from the interior of a tooth. By getting this decay and bacteria out, your dentist can help stop the tooth from decaying further, leading to it needing to be extracted. Additionally, root canals can stop infection from spreading to the surrounding teeth and gums.
Same-Day Restorations
Using CEREC® technology, our dentists can create and place porcelain crowns, inlays and onlays in a single dental appointment to help restore your smile. No impressions or temporaries are necessary, so you'll have your restoration completed in one visit.