If you have damaged or missing teeth, they could be impacting other aspects of your dental health, your physical well-being and the way you are perceived by others. Unfortunately, many people experience significant problems with their teeth as the result of accidents, injuries, medications or genetic pre-dispositions. The good news is that restorative dentistry includes several different types of dental services that work together to give you the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve.

What Is Restorative Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry are often confused for one another. One important difference between the two is that cosmetic dentistry cannot be provided until your gums and teeth are intact and healthy. In comparison, restorative dentistry is available to damaged teeth to make them whole and usable once again, by restoring function and an attractive appearance to your teeth, gums and jaw.

It includes the following types of professional services:

• Endodontics

• Periodontics

• Prosthodontics    

Do You Understand The Role of Endodontics In Modern Dental Care?

Endodontics is a field of dentistry that is devoted to saving natural teeth whenever it is possible to do so. For instance, many dentists will recommend pulling a severely damaged tooth that needs a root canal. Your Endodontist is more likely to recommend additional options like a white filling that will match the surrounding teeth and then rebuilding the existing tooth structure.

If you have many teeth that are no longer intact, it is not always possible to save each one. However, saving even a single tooth provides more options to treat other teeth, as dental implants are often appropriate.  At its most basic level, endodontics works to improve your oral and dental health so that other dental specialists can build your smile on a sturdy base of natural teeth whenever possible.

So, What About Periodontics?

Although you may know periodontal disease as gum disease, they are actually the same thing, and when left untreated, tooth loss is probable. Therefore, your periodontist may clean the root when it is infected or remove damaged tissue from the tooth or gums in order to jump-start the healing process.

Severe gum problems will worsen over time, so your periodontist will examine your teeth and gums in detail to form a care plan. It is also important to note that they are trained to install, maintain and repair dental implants if your teeth have already been compromised or are beyond repair.

Do You Need Prosthodontics?

Prosthodontics is a dental specialty that provides dental prosthetics. Sleep apnea, the disease TMJ and an impaired ability to bite are only a few of the problems that can be effectively managed with specially designed prosthetics.

Damage to the face, chin, jaw or head can often benefit from a prosthesis that molds to the affected feature and strengthens, supports, or replaces missing or unusable parts. A false eye or an intact nose will require collaboration between your prosthodontist and a doctor specializing in prosthetic rehabilitation for the entire body.

In conclusion, when you need more than you can get from a cosmetic dentist and extensive repairs are needed before you can beautify your smile, it is essential to consider restorative dentistry. Your smile will never return to its original glory if untreated dental problems are still there. For more information, contact a business such as Alliance Family Dental.