There isn’t a set criterion for a problem being categorized as “restorative” versus “general” dentistry. But when treatments move beyond the basics of normal twice-yearly exams and cleanings, you could say they’re moving into restorative dentistry. Here are some examples that we would consider restorative:
A broken tooth — A broken tooth can be restored by placing a crown over the entire remaining visible portion of the tooth. This returns strength and function without requiring the tooth to be extracted.
Missing teeth — If you have one or two missing teeth, we can place implants. If you have a series of missing teeth, we may use an implant-anchored partial denture.
Chipped teeth — If you’ve chipped a tooth, we can replace the missing corner with composite resin in dental bonding.
Large fillings — Large areas of decay in a tooth, or a tooth that had a filling and then later develops additional decay, can be too large for a composite resin filling. In these cases, depending on where the area is in the tooth, we will apply an inlay or onlay to restore the tooth.
Decay inside a tooth — If decay has entered the inner tooth, the patient will likely experience some extreme pain and the tooth is not in danger of needing extraction. We can perform a root canal to save the tooth, and then place a crown over the repaired tooth.