What Is Reconstructive Dentistry?

Reconstructive dentistry, also called restorative dentistry, focuses on repairing your teeth and restoring your mouth to full function and good health. It includes procedures that can treat anything from gum disease or a small chip on a tooth to a mouth full of damaged teeth or completely empty of all teeth. 

Reconstructive dentistry has significant overlap with cosmetic dentistry. Damaged teeth can look unattractive, and reconstructive dentistry can beautify a smile while repairing it. 

Who Is a Good Candidate for Restorative Dentistry?

Restorative dentistry can help people with all manner of dental problems. From people with a simple cavity to those who have lost every tooth in their mouth, restorative dentistry can bring back most people’s healthy and beautiful smiles. 

More specifically, reconstructive dentistry can help with the following:

  • Tooth decay
  • Chips, cracks, and wear on teeth
  • Old, nonfunctional, and unattractive restorations
  • Missing teeth
  • Premature aging

Typically, reconstructive dentistry lets us save your damaged teeth. However, in some cases, we recommend extracting and replacing damaged teeth. We recommend this only if the tooth cannot be saved or if trying to do so would jeopardize your oral or overall health. 

Choosing the Best Reconstructive Dentistry for Your Teeth

Reconstructive dentistry often offers multiple options to treat your dental problems. We’ll look at each potential problem and discuss the different treatment approaches. 

Tooth Decay Treatments

The simplest treatment for tooth decay, also known as a cavity, is a filling. Instead of old mercury-based metal fillings, we offer tooth-colored fillings. Composite resin fillings are inexpensive and easy to apply. They also work great for small cavities. Larger cavities benefit from ceramic inlays and onlays. These restorations not only look more attractive, but they also restore the strength of a decayed tooth. Very bad tooth decay might require a dental crown. Crowns protect and strengthen your teeth. 

Treatments for Damaged Teeth

Reconstructive dentistry can fix chipped, cracked, and worn teeth. If the damage is mostly cosmetic, we might recommend porcelain veneers. This can give you back your healthy, attractive, and functional smile. Dental bonding can also work in this case, but it doesn’t last as long. 

For more seriously damaged teeth, our reconstructive dentists recommend dental crowns. Thanks to our CEREC system, we can make your dental crown while you wait–no need to come back for a second office visit. 

Replacing Old Restorations

Reconstructive dentistry can help replace your old restorations. If you have restorations that have broken, are leaking, or are causing sensitivity, replacing them might be necessary to save your teeth. People often ask for the replacement of old metal amalgam fillings. These start silver but can turn black and look as bad as or worse than a big cavity.

You might also choose to replace your restorations if they no longer match each other or your teeth. Reconstructive dentistry can replace all these restorations at once to give you functional teeth that look beautiful when you smile. 

Replacing Missing Teeth

Dental implants are a tooth replacement option better than anything that’s come before. Dental implants work just like your natural teeth. They are comfortable and easy to care for. Plus, they can last the rest of your life with proper care. 

If you have tooth replacements that are uncomfortable and aren’t functional–such as traditional dentures–consider an upgrade to dental implants. 

Get a Facelift without Surgery

Your teeth are part of the essential structure of your face. If your teeth are badly worn down, damaged, or missing, your facial structure won’t have the support it needs to maintain a youthful appearance. You’ll notice wrinkles, jowls, turkey neck, and more effects of aging. 

A non-surgical facelift with reconstructive dentistry lets us rebuild the support under your face. You’ll look younger and look like yourself–you won’t have to worry about surgical cutting and stretching distorting your appearance. 

Your Dentist Makes All the Difference

The appearance, comfort, and longevity of your reconstructive dentistry depends on the skill and training of your reconstructive dentist. The dentists at Rochester Advanced Dentistry have completed extensive training focused on reconstructive dentistry. They are also talented dentists admired by their peers and sought after nationally to provide training for other dentists in these procedures. 

If you need reconstructive dentistry, let us help you achieve a renewed, repaired, and beautiful smile. 

Reconstructive Dentistry in Detroit

If your teeth are damaged by decay, trauma, wear, or other circumstances, the reconstructive dentists at Rochester Advanced Dentistry can help. Whether you’re looking for a simple filling or a full arch replacement of your teeth, we are prepared to give you back your beautiful smile. 

Please call (248) 656-2020 or use our online form today to request an appointment at Rochester Advanced Dentistry, serving the Detroit area, from our office in Rochester.