An Oral Surgeon’s Guide to Dental Restoration

Oral surgeons and other dental professionals use dental restoration as an umbrella term to describe the various ways they repair tooth damage and replace missing teeth.

Restorative dental treatments can help you reclaim your beautiful smile, but that’s more of an added benefit. The real focus is on restoring mouth function and preventing future oral health problems. If decay, gum recession, excessive wear or injury has left you with damaged teeth or gaps in your smile, you may want to consider dental restoration.

Why Oral Surgeons Recommend Dental Restoration

Tooth damage and missing teeth can take a toll on your self-esteem. Dental restoration gives you the confidence to smile, speak, eat and laugh again — without worrying about closing or covering your mouth. For most patients, that’s reason enough to entertain the thought of getting restorative dental treatment.

While having a full, beautiful smile is certainly advantageous, oral surgeons recommend repairing damaged teeth and replacing missing teeth for the functional benefits. These include:

• Tooth damage creates hard-to-clean surfaces that are vulnerable to the buildup of plaque-causing bacteria.
• Tooth loss increases the stress on the remaining teeth, which can eventually lead to misalignment.
• Missing teeth cause jawbone deterioration. Significant bone loss can result in further tooth loss and oral health problems.

Types of Dental Restorations

When it comes to restorative dental treatments, patients have several options:

• Fillings repair teeth that have cavities or minor decay.
• Crowns cover and protect damaged, chipped or broken teeth.
• Bridges fill tooth gaps by bonding crowns to the adjacent natural teeth.
• Dental implants are replacement teeth embedded within the jawbone.
• Implant bridges replace missing teeth using dental implants instead of the neighboring teeth for support.
• Partial dentures support replacement teeth by using a metal or plastic framework fitted around the natural teeth.
• Complete dentures support a full arch of teeth by forming a seal with the gums.
• Removable implant-supported dentures replace a full set of teeth with a snap-on denture plate.
• Fixed implant dentures permanently secure a full arch of teeth within the mouth.

Seeing an Oral Surgeon for Dental Restoration

Dentists can provide some restorative dental treatments, but professional oral surgeons have expertise and experience with all aspects of tooth restoration. For that reason, consulting with a local specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery can allow patients to achieve the best possible long-term results.

In addition, complex dental restorations may require a range of procedures — including bone grafting, reconstructive gum surgery and bite realignment — that are beyond the scope of a general dentist. Oral surgeons routinely perform these procedures, and when necessary, work with orthodontists, endodontists and other oral health care providers to restore mouth function and achieve a beautiful smile.

If you have damaged or missing teeth, consulting with a local oral surgeon is the best way to explore your options for restorative dental treatment. For expert advice in the greater Salt Lake City area, make an appointment with the professionals at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah.

Dr. Partridge and Dr. Maxfield are highly trained tooth restoration and implant surgery specialists with over 10 years of experience. For more information, or to discuss dental restoration with the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah team, contact our Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan or Tooele office and schedule an oral surgeon consultation.