The different types of restorative dentistry

Over the course of a life, despite good oral hygiene techniques we can all experience issues with our teeth or gums. Restorative dentistry in Harley Street is involved in the diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases of the teeth and the surrounding structures of the teeth. The different types of restorative dentistry are endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics, words that can make you feel uncomfortable and instil fear in your mind. Speak to us at Harley Street Dental Clinic today and let us put your mind at ease and find out how restorative dentistry in Harley Street is used to help treat your dental issues and prevent more serious issues in the future.

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Root canal treatments

Endodontics is the field of restorative dentistry in Harley Street which is concerned with treating issues of the dental pulp in the centre of the tooth such as root canal treatments.

Root canal therapy is a common treatment in restorative dentistry in Harley Street. Root canal treatment is carried out when there is an issue with the dental pulp in the centre of the tooth. This can occur as a result of many factors such as tooth decay, damaged fillings and other issues such as an accident or physical injury which may have damaged the enamel of your tooth and resulted in the pulp becoming infected. Diseases of the dental pulp include pulpits, which are inflammation of the pulp that is either reversible or irreversible and cause a lot of pain. Other issues include dental pulp calcification, when the soft tissue of the pulp becomes hardened, and dental pulp exposure when physical damage to the tooth results in the pulp being exposed to the bacteria in your mouth and becoming infected. Dental pulp issues cause many unpleasant symptoms which include toothache, sensitivity, eating difficulties, swollen gums and if left untreated it may result in tooth loss, therefore it is vital that you contact us immediately at Harley Street Dental Clinic if you experience any of these symptoms. Root canal treatment involves disinfecting the root canal system by creating a hole in the top of the tooth and using irrigation solutions and scrapers to decontaminate the inside of the tooth and attempt to preserve as much as possible of the original tooth which may otherwise have to be removed. Once the bacteria have been successfully removed the tooth is filled and sealed with either a filling or a crown. This helps restore the aesthetics and the function of the tooth, and if kept clean and healthy will increase the longevity of your tooth by many years. Rest assured that your comfort, ease and well-being is our priority and any such treatment will be carried out under local anaesthetic to numb the tooth and the surrounding area to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible throughout the process. Speak to us at Harley Street Dental Clinic today to find out what restorative treatment options are available for your dental requirements and how we can help you smile happily again very soon.

The extraordinary power of restorative dentistry in Harley Street

What we do

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At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we strive to uphold the standards of excellence that our historical, landmark location represents. Harley Street has been, and forever will be, synonymous with the absolute best in quality, of both health and dental services. Our committed and approachable team of expert practitioners do all that they can to maintain their estimable services and continue to provide the city with the highest tier of dental care. At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we have some of the most renowned practitioners specialising in restorative dentistry in Harley Street, who work tirelessly to help restore the smile of each of their patients, making them as happy as they possibly can be with their dental health.

What is restorative dentistry?

Restorative dentistry in Harley Street is a field of dentistry which is focused around restoring a patient’s smile to its fullest potential and beauty. It covers a variety of procedures, each of which enables a dentist to address any problems with a patient’s teeth and dental health. Unlike cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers or tooth whitening, restorative dentistry in Harley Street aims not only to improve how a patient’s existing teeth look, but rather to improve their whole smile by replacing teeth which have been lost, allowing them to enjoy a life with all the privileges of having a whole set of healthy teeth. Procedures such as installing dental crowns or bridges, or dental implants, are a large portion of what restorative dentistry is about here at Harley Street Dental Clinic.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are one of the most transformative and rewarding procedures which our dentist, specialising in restorative treatments, carries out here at Harley Street Dental Clinic. An implant is a procedure designed to fill a gap in a long lasting way, using a surrogate root where a patient has lost a tooth, and replacing the missing crown with a prosthetic one. This durable replacement tooth both looks and feels completely real. Dental implants are the only procedure of this nature, and have been developed over thousands of years – although treatment has made leaps and bounds in recent years thanks to cutting edge innovations and technologies. The basis of the modern dental implant procedure is to place an artificial tooth root into the jawbone of a patient, so that it becomes moulded within their jaw permanently and as such  allows for the gap to be filled in the same way as if by a natural tooth.

How does it work?

For those who believe that dental implant treatment may be the best form of approach for rectifying a gap within their mouths on a long-term basis, the first step in receiving treatment is to pay one of our specialists in restorative dentistry a visit. During this consultation, our experts can assess the patient’s overall dental health, and determine whether or not they are healthy enough to have treatment carried out. It also allows the patient to receive answers to any questions they may have. Next, if the patient is happy and healthy, when receiving treatment the dentist administers a local anaesthetic before stripping back the patient’s gums where the missing tooth used to be. Then they make a small hole, into which a titanium-alloy root is deeply embedded. This root is then left to bond within the patient’s jawbone. After a short period, the root becomes fully embedded within the patient’s jaw, and finally a replacement replica tooth is fixed to the root and the space is permanently filled. 

The power of restoration

Only a tiny minority of people get through their lives without needing some form of restorative dentistry. You may already have had one. This kind of dentistry restores teeth so that we can continue to use them to eat, talk and smile.

Restorative dentistry is an umbrella term for all treatments from the tiniest filling to replacing an entire mouth of teeth. This term even includes treatments for problems such as a cleft palate. Let’s take a look at what kind of restorative dentistry is on offer at Harley Street Dental Clinic in Harley Street.

Restorative Dentistry in Harley StreetFillings

When it comes to filling materials, people choose between amalgam or white composite fillings.

As well as being more attractive, white fillings have several advantages over amalgam. The materials used are now much stronger so white fillings last longer than when they first became available. They are also better at keeping out decay because the composite bonds with the tooth material, and does not just sit in the cavity as amalgam does. This means that decay bacteria cannot get in and around the edges of the filing and cause decay under it. Also, the dentist can rebuild the chewing surfaces of the tooth, making it more able to do its job properly.

Inlays and onlays

Sometimes the cavity in a tooth is too big for just a filling. We then use pieces of porcelain called inlays and onlays to cover the area.

Crowns

Crowns are placed over the entire tooth when it is crumbling or has a lot of decay, but is still worth hanging onto because it has a healthy root.

Bridges

Bridges replace single or neighbouring teeth. It has teeth suspended off it and is attached to adjacent healthy teeth, which are ground down and covered with crowns to act as buttresses.

Dentures

Dentures are removable crowns on a plate. Full dentures replace all the teeth and fit over the gums. Partial dentures clip onto neighbouring teeth.

Dental implants

The latest generation of replacement teeth, dental implants are anchored into the jawbone on titanium posts that fuse with the bone. One implant can hold up to 3 crowns on a bridge.

Restorative dentistry in Harley Street: making teeth like new again

Modern dentistry is all about finding ways to prolong the life of your natural teeth. ‘Teeth for life’ is the catchphrase we use to encapsulate this approach.

Teeth for life starts with you at home, making sure to spend two minutes twice a day brushing your teeth, cleaning out between them with floss and interdental brushes and steering clear of seriously sugary foods and drinks. Your routine also includes coming in for a check-up and scale and polish with us at Harley Street Dental Clinic.

Restorative Dentistry in Harley StreetIf you do all this, you stand a very good chance of hanging onto your teeth for a good long time, maybe even your whole life. However, there is always the chance of dental decay and if that happens, what we call restorative dentistry has various tools for making your teeth like new again, ranging from fillings all the way up to crowns, and even if you do lose your teeth, we can fit you with dental implants, dentures and bridges.

We are not mad keen to remove your teeth. The best teeth are natural teeth, and as long as your tooth roots are good, we should be able to use one of our methods to keep the crowns going.

Fillings

We use white fillings to fill small cavities. These are made of composite resin, which we put into the cleaned-out cavity in layers, which are cured by a UV light. White fillings don’t remove as much healthy tooth material as amalgam, plus we can shape them to give you back the mound and valleys that make a good chewing surface. White fillings are much stronger these days and can last for years. Plus, they look much better.

Inlays and onlays

We make a new surface from dental porcelain when the cavity is large. This strengthens the tooth.

Crowns

This is an entire new cover for the crown of your tooth. We take away the original enamel and put this over the top. It’s a great way to keep your teeth going when the root is good but the crown isn’t, for example, when years of night grinding is starting to split the crown in two.

Fix your smile with restorative dentistry in Harley Street

Restorative dentistry refers to all these treatments used by dentists to achieve optimum dental health, function and aesthetics. Restorative dentistry involves the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. Depending on your condition, your dentist may suggest various methods to restore decayed, cracked, chipped or even missing teeth.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic in Harley Street, we appreciate that restorative techniques can intersect with cosmetic dentistry treatments as modern restorations are designed to look and feel natural or enhance your appearance.

Restorative Dentistry in Harley StreetWhether you opt for fillings, crowns, implants, dentures, bridges or veneers, there are several options available depending on your individual needs and lifestyle.

Fillings

If you wish to restore the surface and appearance of your teeth, then white fillings may be an ideal option for you. Composite fillings are widely used for tooth-coloured restorations in both front and back teeth. They are completely mercury-free and many patients prefer them because they are aesthetically appealing and sturdier than amalgam fillings.

Crowns and bridges

Dental bridges are prosthetic crowns affixed to neighbouring teeth, replacing one or more missing teeth. A tooth replaced with a bridge is kept in place by the teeth on either side of the missing one. Crowns and bridges are usually made of high-quality, lifelike materials such as porcelain for aesthetic purposes. However, choice of the right material is a combination of aesthetics, function and tissue compatibility.

Dental implants

Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically fixed into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once they integrate with your jawbone, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth, bridges or dentures onto them. Because implants fuse to your jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial teeth and prevent bone loss and tissue deterioration in the long-run.

Dental veneers

Veneers are thin, tooth-coloured shells made either of porcelain or composite, which are bonded to the front of your teeth. They are very versatile and help improve the appearance of chipped, cracked, yellowed or misaligned teeth.

Removable dentures

Dentures are a common and cost-effective restorative device used to replace missing teeth for people who have lost most or all of their teeth. Dentures help retain face volume and allow for the ability to chew and bite properly.

Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry is the area of dentistry that focuses on rebuilding and replacing lost, decayed or otherwise damaged teeth. This covers everything from a single white filling to complex full-mouth rehabilitations. Our team at Harley Street Dental Clinic have extensive experience of restorative dentistry and can treat even the most challenging of cases.

restorative dentistryA wide range of treatments fall under the umbrella term “restorative dentistry”. Some of the treatments can save a tooth that is otherwise at risk of being lost, while others replace teeth that are already missing.

Restorative treatments include:

White fillings, inlays and onlays

Made either of porcelain or composite resin material, white fillings are more accurately tooth-coloured fillings, as whatever material is used will be closely matched to the natural colour of your teeth. Areas of decay will be removed before a filling, inlay or onlay is placed. It is also possible to remove worn or unsightly grey metal amalgam fillings for a more aesthetically-pleasing result.

Dentures

Dentures are artificial teeth used to restore functionality and appearance when teeth are lost. A full denture is used when all teeth in one arch are lost, while a partial denture is used to replace one or a few missing teeth. Dentures can be removable or can be fixed in place by dental implants. All of our denture work is carried out by our specialist in prosthodontics, Dr Charlotte Stilwell.

Dental implants

Dental implants are small, titanium screws that are placed directly in the jawbone, where they act as replacement tooth roots. They can support replacement teeth in the form of bridges, crowns or secured dentures.

Full-mouth rehabilitation

This involves a combination of treatments to restore your mouth to health, give you back pride in your smile and the functionality to eat a healthy, varied diet. If your teeth are extensively decayed, damaged or even lost, a range of treatments can be used. This may include bridges, crowns, veneers, implants and dentures, among other treatments.