5 Types of Restorative Dental Treatment
From a small filling to a full set of implant teeth, restorative dentistry covers a wide range. Here is a plain-language guide to the five main options.
Restorative dentistry covers any treatment that repairs or replaces damaged or missing teeth. The goal is always the same: comfortable chewing, a healthy bite, and a natural-looking smile. Here are the five options we use most, from the smallest repair to the most comprehensive.
1. Fillings
When decay is caught early, we remove the damaged area and fill it with tooth-colored composite that is shaded to match. Fillings are the most conservative way to restore a tooth and are usually completed in a single visit.
2. Crowns
A crown is a cap that covers the entire visible tooth. We recommend one when a tooth is cracked, heavily filled, badly worn, or has had a root canal, any time the tooth needs more support than a filling can provide.
3. Bridges
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring a replacement tooth to crowns on the neighboring teeth. It is a fixed solution, so it is not removed for cleaning, and it keeps nearby teeth from drifting into the gap.
4. Dental Implants
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a small titanium post placed in the jawbone, topped with a custom crown. Because implants stand on their own, they do not rely on neighboring teeth, and they help preserve the bone that can shrink after a tooth is lost.
5. Dentures
Dentures replace several or all of the teeth in an arch. Traditional dentures rest on the gums, while implant-supported dentures snap or lock onto implants for much better stability when eating and speaking.
Choosing the Right Option
The best plan depends on the condition of your teeth, gums, and bone, your bite, and your priorities. As a prosthodontist-led practice, we plan these treatments together so they work as one system. Explore our restorative dentistry page or book a consultation to talk through your options.