Embarking on a journey to achieve a healthy and radiant smile often involves exploring the diverse realm of restorative dentistry. From addressing minor imperfections to replacing missing teeth, modern dentistry offers a spectrum of solutions.
If your smile could benefit from restorative dentistry, contact Lakewood Dental Group in Dallas, TX, today. Our team can assess your oral health and make recommendations that fit your needs and budget. Learn more about how restorative treatments can impact your smile by calling Drs. Mihir Patel and Shaun Sigurdson at (214) 827-1885!
In today’s comprehensive blog, we delve into an extended range of restorative dentistry procedures, shedding light on what each entails, reasons for considering them, the pros and cons, associated costs, and the expected lifespan of each procedure. Knowing what your options are can help you make choices that benefit both your smile and body!
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a relatively swift and painless process. The treatment requires a skilled dentist and a tooth-colored resin. The dentist uses the resin to repair minor imperfections (like chips or cracks) by applying the resin to teeth and forming it into the desired shape. With the help of a special light, the dentist then cures the resin, effectively bonding it to the teeth.
In most cases, dentists can provide dental bonding in just one dental visit, saving you time and money while enhancing your smile.
Why You Might Need It
Many patients seek this type of restorative dentistry when they have a minor imperfection, like a small chip or crack. However, dental bonding is a versatile solution for many issues. Indeed, patients can explore this treatment to:
- Fix misshapen teeth
- Smooth rough textures
- Prevent wear and tear
- Lengthen teeth
- Establish a better bite
- Cover stubborn stains
Pros and Cons
Dental bonding is great for patients who are looking for a fast and affordable way to transform their smiles with minimal enamel removal. However, this procedure may not be as durable as other treatments, like dental crowns.
Cost and Lifespan
Dental bonding is relatively affordable, with many patients paying around $100 to $500 per tooth. With proper care, this restorative dentistry procedure can last for roughly 10 years.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a remarkable way to preserve a tooth and prevent further dental damage. This restorative dentistry treatment involves placing a custom-made cap over a damaged tooth. However, dental professionals must prepare the tooth for the crown by reshaping it. This usually requires removing any damaged tissue and stripping away most of the tooth’s enamel.
To ensure a snug and proper fit, the dentist must take dental impressions. These impressions help the dentist create a personalized cap to ensure ultimate comfort, effectiveness, and aesthetics. However, creating such a customized crown can take days or weeks. That’s why the dentist fits the patient with a temporary crown while the permanent one is being made.
Why You Might Need It
Dentists often recommend this treatment for teeth that have been extensively damaged due to decay or trauma. This is because crowns provide strength, support, and a natural appearance that other treatments just cannot provide.
Pros and Cons
The key benefits of dental crowns include their excellent durability, functionality, and aesthetics. However, more enamel removal and higher costs may be involved.
Cost and Lifespan
Because dentists can use many materials to create customized crowns, costs can vary. Nonetheless, most patients can expect to pay between $800 and $3,000 for a porcelain crown. Luckily, these types of crowns can last for 10 to 15 years or longer with proper care.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a comprehensive and long-lasting solution for missing teeth. The procedure involves oral surgery to place small titanium posts into the jawbone, effectively acting like artificial tooth roots once healed. Because the implant fuses with the jawbone, these replacement tooth roots can securely hold entire restorations, including crowns, bridges, and dentures.
Why You Might Need It
Usually, dental implants are a great option for most patients with tooth loss. They offer unsurpassed stability and durability, contributing to a more natural look and feel.
Pros and Cons
The stability of implants makes them a fan favorite among patients. They also deter bone resorption after tooth loss, helping patients establish a healthier mouth and body. However, the treatment requires surgery and months of recovery.
Cost and Lifespan
Many patients experience sticker shock with dental implants, as each implant could run patients roughly $2,500. However, higher initial costs are balanced by a potential lifetime lifespan with proper care, which saves patients more money overall.
Dental Bridges
Dentists use dental bridges in restorative dentistry to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges rely on dental implants or neighboring teeth for support, which may require alteration to those supporting structures.
Why You Might Need It
Dentists often suggest this type of restoration when an individual has one or more consecutively missing teeth. These restorations are a great way to restore aesthetics and functionality while preventing surrounding teeth from shifting.
Pros and Cons
Bridges provide a stable and aesthetic solution for many patients. However, they may require the alteration of adjacent teeth, which can damage an otherwise healthy tooth.
Cost and Lifespan
Costs are influenced by materials and dentist experience, however many patients pay around $500 to $2,000 per bridge. Luckily, bridges can last for over 10 years, making them an economical choice for many.
Dentures
Dentures are removable appliances that look like natural teeth and gums. As such, they are ideal for helping patients replace missing teeth and surrounding tissues. They can be complete (full dentures) or partial (which are supported by existing teeth).
Why You Might Need It
Dentures are an option for patients living with extensive tooth loss. These appliances help restore function, aesthetics, and facial structure, contributing to better oral health and higher self-confidence.
Pros and Cons
Dentures are a highly customizable and cost-effective solution. However, they may require frequent adjustment and may not feel as natural as other options (like dental implants).
Cost and Lifespan
Depending on the materials and the type of denture required, costs can vary greatly. However, many partial dentures start at around $1,500 while most full dentures can cost well over $3,000. With the right care and maintenance, these appliances can last for 10 years or more.
Explore Gentle Restorative Dentistry in Dallas, TX
As you embark on your journey to a healthier, more radiant smile, understanding the array of restorative dentistry options is key. Each procedure comes with its unique benefits and considerations. If you’d like to discuss your options with a top-rated dentist in Dallas, TX, contact the team at Lakewood Dental Group. You can request a consultation here or at (214) 827-1885.
