Los Angeles Restorative Dentistry

No matter how hard you work to keep your teeth healthy and clean, things can still go wrong. The sector of restorative dental care works to repair your teeth after accidents, illness and tooth loss.

This type of dentistry covers all aspects of tooth repair and replacement. Restorative dental helps with both functionality, making it easier to eat, chew and swallow, as well as appearance. So you can smile without hesitation.

Restorative dentistry can fully transform a smile to it’s former beauty and function. Some reasons why you may seek restorative dental treatments include:

• Lost teeth due to infection, age or injury
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Cavities
• Teeth that are not effective or worn down
• Large amount of missing teeth
• Bone loss
• Protection and preservation

Restorative dental procedures can be both preventative and corrective. For example, you may want a tooth removed as a preventive measure, before it becomes problematic. You may also want a tooth removed, in order to correct an overcrowded bite. Both procedures would be considered restorative dental care, but for different reasons.

Restorative Dentistry in Los Angeles, CA

There are countless benefits in restorative dental. You have the opportunity to fully restore your mouth to its original functionality.

• Regain the use of entire mouth
• Eating and chewing is safer and easier
• Bite improvement
• Prevention against further infection
• Balanced weight on jaw
• Improved tooth alignment
• Aesthetically pleasing smile

Types of Restorative Dental Procedures

There are many different services that can be considered restorative dental treatments. At LA Dental Clinic we perform the following restorative dental procedures: fillings, dentures, dental implants, fixed bridges, and crowns. We believe that everyone deserves a beautiful smile, and restorative dental procedures can make that happen!

1. FILLINGS

Dental fillings are needed when a patient has a cavity. In order to prevent further damage and infection to the tooth, we drill in and remove the cavity. A filling is what replaces the part of the tooth that was removed with the cavity. Fillings can come in a variety of different materials. The two most common are a form of tooth colored resin, created to bond to the tooth. Secondly, various metals are used, predominantly silver amalgamate. Learn more about fillings here.

2. DENTURES

Dentures are the fastest way to get a full mouth of teeth when you have experienced tooth loss. Dentures are the oldest way to replace missing teeth in the upper and lower arches. They are typically fabricated from acrylic with plastic or porcelain teeth. They can replace all your missing teeth whether you are missing only one tooth or all your teeth. Learn more about dentures here.

3. DENTAL IMPLANTS

A dental implant is an artificial replacement tooth root. It is used to hold a restoration to replace teeth since it provides a firm foundation for removable or permanent replacement teeth which are made to closely resemble the natural teeth. Dental implants are made of titanium. Learn more about dental implants here. 

4. FIXED BRIDGES

Dental bridges are permanent, prosthetic sets of teeth that can be installed in your mouth. They will give you a fully functional bite that allows you to eat, drink, smile and talk like you normally would. Dental bridges are a low risk procedure, with a high success rate. The dental bridge contains an artificial tooth that fits in place of your missing tooth. Learn more about fixed bridges here.

5. CROWNS

Over time, your fillings can wear away, or in some cases, your cavities may need to be refilled. This can wear away parts of your natural tooth so much so, that you risk breakage or tooth loss. In order to keep your teeth healthy, dental crowns are needed to ensure your teeth are protected.

Dental crowns are the most efficient way of salvaging a damaged tooth. With a dental crown, your tooth can be restored and protected from future damage or decay. Dental crowns are protective caps that are placed over a patient’s entire tooth, they act to protect against bacteria, breakage and further decay. Learn more about crowns here. 

What To Expect During Your Procedure

All of our restorative dental treatments are performed in house, so you do not have to worry about being in a hospital, where some dentists perform certain restorative treatments.   Most of the time, we use local anesthetic, but some patients prefer to be sedated.  We can do a mild sedation or use nitrous oxide gas to help you relax.

Some patients prefer to be put completely under during sedation and at LA Dental Clinic, this is done with the assistance of an anesthesiologist. The medication is administered through an IV. Most restorative procedures can be performed in under an hour. So you do not need to worry about a long surgery.

Dental implants are the main exception to this, as they can take several different appointments to have them completely installed. Fillings, crowns and dentures are usually faster, and fixed bridges are similar to implants in the sense that they usually take a series of appointments to fully install.

Cost Of Restorative Dental Procedures

Cost of Fillings – The price of fillings are dependant of the material they are made up of. The price of an individual metal filling ranges between $50-$150. Fillings made up of tooth colored resin normally cost between $90 and $250.

Cost of Crowns – Dental crowns are the best way to preserve a dead or broken tooth after infections, like a root canal. They can cost between $800 – $1200.

Cost of Dentures – A full mouth of dentures, or a complete set of teeth can cost between $1000-$2000. Extra costs occur when teeth need to be adjusted or replaced.

Cost of Dental Implants – The cost of dental implants ranges between $3000 – $20 000. Implants are priced individually, so when multiple implants are needed, the price increases.

Cost of Fixed Bridges – Fixed bridges cost between $800-$1200, like the previous treatments, the cost is mainly based on the number of teeth needed.

Come On In!

Ask us about our restorative dental procedures and see if it is a good option for you or your family members. Restorative dental can be life changing, talk with your dentist about how you can benefit.