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Restorative dental care helps repair damaged teeth and restore function to your smile.
Whether you have a cavity, a chipped tooth, or missing teeth, restorative dentistry provides solutions to rebuild and strengthen your mouth.
In this blog, you will learn what restorative dental care involves, how it supports your oral health, and which treatments may be appropriate for your needs.
We offer free dental implant consultations at our locations in Mesa, North Mesa, Queen Creek, Tempe and Show Low.
Table of Contents
- What Is Restorative Dental Care?
- What Is Major Restorative Dental Care?
- What Is Basic Restorative Dental?
- Restorative Dental Procedures
- Expert Surgical Care For a Stronger, Healthier Smile
- FAQs About Restorative Dental Care
Restorative dental care includes procedures that repair, rebuild, or replace damaged or missing teeth to restore normal function, oral health, and bite alignment.
What Is Restorative Dental Care?
Restorative dental care focuses on rebuilding and replacing teeth that are decayed, damaged, or missing. The goal is to restore a healthy, fully functioning smile.
It includes a wide range of treatments for issues like decay, trauma, tooth loss, or wear over time. The main goal is to restore chewing ability, protect teeth from further damage, and prevent complications.
Common conditions that require restorative care:
- Cavities: Small holes caused by tooth decay.
- Cracks or fractures: From injury or grinding.
- Tooth loss: Due to trauma, decay, or gum disease.
- Worn teeth: From aging, erosion, or bruxism.
What Is Major Restorative Dental Care?
Major restorative dental care involves extensive procedures to restore function and structure to significantly damaged or missing teeth.
These treatments are usually more complex and may require multiple visits. Examples include:
- Dental crowns
- Dental bridges
- Dentures
- Dental implants
- Full mouth reconstruction (All-On-4/All-on-X)
What Is Basic Restorative Dental?
Basic restorative dental care includes simple and more common procedures to treat early or moderate dental issues.
These treatments are typically quick, less invasive, and usually covered at a higher percentage by dental insurance. Common examples include:
- Dental fillings
- Simple tooth extractions
- Inlays and onlays
- Root canal therapy
Basic restorative dental procedures prevent minor problems from becoming major ones.
Restorative Dental Procedures
Here is a list of restorative dental procedures.
A long-lasting option to replace missing teeth.
- Titanium post placed in the jaw acts as a root.
- Topped with a crown that looks and feels natural.
- Dental implant surgery is performed by an oral surgeon.
2. Dental Fillings
Used to treat small to moderate cavities.
- Composite resin fillings match your natural tooth color.
- Quick, simple, and effective at stopping decay from spreading.
- Performed by a general dentist.
3. Dental Crowns
Protect a weakened or broken tooth by covering it completely.
- Ideal after root canals or for teeth with large fillings.
- Made from porcelain, ceramic, or zirconia for strength and aesthetics.
- Performed by a general dentist.
4. Dental Bridges
Replace one or more missing teeth using neighboring teeth for support. Alternatively, implant-supported dental bridges use dental implants as support rather than healthy teeth.
- Helps maintain bite alignment.
- Prevents shifting of adjacent teeth.
- Implant-supported options involve dental implant surgery by an oral surgeon. A general dentist provides the bridge.
5. Dentures
Used when multiple or all teeth are missing.
- Restores ability to eat and speak properly.
- Full or partial dentures available.
- Implant-supported and implant-retained options are available. A denture is supported by dental implants.
- Tooth extractions and implants surgery is performed by an oral surgeon. A general dentist provides the denture.
6. Inlays and Onlays
Custom restorations for larger cavities that are too big for fillings but do not require full crowns.
- Made in a dental lab for a precise fit.
- Performed by a general dentist.
7. Root Canal Therapy
Needed when decay or infection reaches the tooth pulp.
- Removes the infected tissue.
- Preserves the natural tooth with a crown for protection.
- Performed by a general dentist or endodontist.
When a tooth is damaged beyond repair, extraction is necessary
- Simple extractions are performed when the tooth is above the gum line.
- Surgical extractions are performed when the tooth is below the gum line or impacted.
- Socket preservation is performed after removal to preserve the tooth socket.
- A dental implant may be inserted immediately after extraction. This is called an immediate implant.
- Simple tooth extractions without bone grafting can be performed by a general dentist. Surgical extractions are performed by an oral surgeon.
Why You Should Not Delay Treatment
Ignoring damaged teeth can lead to serious consequences.
- Infections can spread to other areas of the body
- Bite problems may worsen
- Missing teeth can cause bone loss and facial changes
Early treatment is more affordable, less invasive, and protects your long-term oral health.
Expert Surgical Care For a Stronger, Healthier Smile
When teeth are damaged or missing, oral surgery can play a critical role in restoring both function and appearance.
At AZ Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, our experienced oral surgeons specialize in surgical tooth extractions, dental implants, and advanced restorative procedures that support long-term oral health.
To schedule a consultation at one of our 5 locations, call (480) 830-5866 or complete the online inquiry form. We have locations in Mesa, North Mesa, Queen Creek, Tempe or Show Low.
FAQs About Restorative Dental Care
Restorative care includes procedures that repair or replace damaged teeth, such as fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, and implants.
The most common treatments are dental fillings and crowns, which address cavities and broken teeth.
Tooth decay, chipped or cracked teeth, missing teeth, and dental infections often require restorative dental procedures.
