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Restorative dental care includes treatments that repair or replace damaged or missing teeth. It protects oral health, restores function, and improves the look of your smile.
In this blog, you will learn what restorative dentistry means, how it is different from cosmetic care, and what qualifies as major versus basic restorative dental procedures.
Table of Contents
- What Does Restorative Dentistry Involve
- How Restorative Dentistry Benefits Your Oral Health
- How Foley & Le Oral Surgery Handles Restorative Care
- Schedule a Consultation in Boulder, CO
Basic restorative dental care treats small problems like cavities, while major restorative dental care restores or replaces teeth after more serious damage. Restorative dentistry protects your oral health, strengthens natural teeth, and gives you a complete smile.
What Does Restorative Dentistry Involve
Restorative dentistry focuses on restoring the integrity, function, and health of your teeth.
This includes fixing cavities, replacing missing teeth, restoring broken or worn-down teeth, and preventing further dental damage. While cosmetic dentistry enhances appearance, restorative dentistry solves a functional problem.
Common goals of restorative care include:
- Stopping decay or infection before it spreads
- Preserving as much of the natural tooth as possible
- Improving your bite for chewing and speaking
- Protecting surrounding teeth from shifting or further damage
These goals support long-term oral health, preserve natural teeth, and reduce the need for future dental procedures.
Basic Restorative Dental
Basic restorative dental services treat minor damage and early stages of decay or wear.
These procedures are often routine and non-invasive. They help stabilize teeth and prevent the need for more complex treatments later.
Examples of basic restorative procedures include:
- Dental fillings: Used to repair a decayed tooth and restore its shape and function
- Simple tooth extractions: Performed when a damaged or infected tooth cannot be saved
- Dental sealants or minor bonding: Protect weakened teeth or repair chips and cracks
- Root canal therapy: Removes infection from the pulp of an infected tooth
Basic restorative treatments aim to preserve real teeth with proper care and early intervention.
Major Restorative Dental Care
Major restorative dental care includes complex procedures that rebuild or replace severely damaged or missing teeth. These treatments often address structural damage, tooth loss, and compromised dental health.
Examples of major restorative procedures include:
- Dental crowns: Restore strength and function to a weakened tooth or after root canal treatment.
- Dental bridges: Replace one or more missing teeth using neighboring teeth as anchors.
- Dental implants and implant-supported dentures: A permanent restorative option to replace missing teeth and preserve the jawbone.
- Full or partial dentures: Removable oral appliances that restore the entire arch or parts of it.
- Complex oral surgeries: Jaw surgery, dental bone grafting, or tooth extraction involving broken teeth or misaligned teeth.
How Restorative Dentistry Benefits Your Oral Health
Restorative dentistry services provide more than repairs, they help rebuild your bite, prevent future problems, and restore confidence.
Key benefits include:
- Restores chewing ability: Helps you eat comfortably without pain or restrictions.
- Prevents further complications: Stops decay and infection from spreading to healthy teeth or the jaw.
- Preserves your natural smile: Saves real teeth when possible and enhances your complete smile.
- Improves long-term dental health: Reduces the risk of bone loss, jaw pain, and systemic health issues.
Whether dealing with a single decayed tooth or multiple missing teeth, restorative care can protect your healthy smile.
How Foley & Le Oral Surgery Handles Restorative Care
At Foley & Le Oral Surgery, our dental team takes a conservative, patient-first approach to every restorative dental procedure.
We provide honest evaluations, explain dental procedures in clear terms, and offer custom treatment plans based on your dental issues and goals.
Our restorative dentistry services include:
- Tooth replacement options like dental implants
- Bone grafting for implant treatment success
- Full arch restorations
We work to restore your oral health and function using long-lasting restorative options that support a beautiful smile and healthy teeth.
Schedule a Consultation in Boulder, CO
Choosing the right restorative dentistry team is the first step to reclaiming your oral health. We are committed to providing expert care, honest guidance, and lasting long-term results. To book a consultation at our oral surgery office in Boulder, CO, call (303) 444-2255 or visit us at 1420 28th St, Suite 100, Boulder, CO.
