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The eyes may be the windows to the soul, but let’s not undervalue the charm of a beautiful smile. Of course, even if you’re lucky enough to grow up with a perfect set of pearly whites, it’s hard to keep them that way. From chipped teeth to cavities, tooth damage is as common as it is unpleasant. But you don’t have to live with tooth damage forever. If you have a badly damaged or missing tooth, restorative dentistry might be the answer. But what is restorative dentistry, and is it right for you?

What Is Restorative Dentistry?

If you’ve never heard the term before, you might be wondering: what is restorative dentistry? In short, restorative dentistry focuses on repairing and replacing damaged teeth. These procedures can address many types of dental issues, from severe cavities to damage caused by trauma. Overall, the goal of this type of dentistry is to rehabilitate your smile into its full glory. Restorative dentistry might involve repairing tooth damage with fillings, repairing missing parts of a broken tooth using onlays or crowns, or replacing missing teeth with artificial versions that will feel just as real as the originals. Though it shares some of the same techniques as cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry addresses damage or disease. Restorative dentistry is an essential step in keeping your teeth healthy as well as beautiful.

Common Restorative Dentistry Procedures

Now that we’ve discussed what restorative dentistry is, let’s talk about what it entails. If you think you might need a restorative dentistry procedure, there are many options your dentist can tailor to your needs. Here are a few standard restorative dentistry procedures:

  • Dental crowns can serve various functions, from replacing significant amounts of missing tooth material, salvaging cracked teeth, or serving as a cover to restore a damaged tooth’s size and shape.
  • Inlays, onlays, and overlays are great for restoring a part of a tooth’s structure. They’re less invasive than a crown and are suitable for smaller areas.
  • Dental bonds use a resin to repair chipped teeth, filling cavities, or improving the damaged or discolored surface of a tooth.
  • Dental bridges replace missing teeth, though they require two natural teeth to anchor them on either side of the missing tooth area.
  • Dentures are appropriate when a person loses some or all of their teeth, usually to tooth decay or gum disease.
  • Dental implants replace a missing tooth by surgically implanting an artificial tooth root into the jawbone.

How Much Does Restorative Dentistry Cost?

Hopefully, we’ve answered your questions about what restorative dentistry is and what it can do for you. But one thing on most people’s minds before scheduling a procedure will be restorative dentistry costs. Because of the wide variety of available procedures, the cost of restorative dentistry varies based on the treatment you need, the number of damaged teeth, and the extent of the repairs required. Luckily most dental insurance will help cover some of the costs of restorative dentistry. While cosmetic dentistry is considered medically unnecessary (and thus often not covered by insurance), restorative dentistry is vital for tooth health, and therefore insurance will often cover it.

What’s The Best Restorative Dentist Near Me?

If you’re in the mid-Willamette Valley, we at Pinnacle Dental Associates would be happy to talk to you about your options for restorative dentistry. Once you schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, we can customize a personalized treatment schedule for your individual needs. We pride ourselves on our minimally invasive procedures and our decades of local experience. If you have a dental emergency, know you have teeth that need to be fixed or just need a routine cleaning or exam, please contact us and let us know how we can help you.