Restorative dentistry refers to any type of dental procedure that a dentist performs to restore a damaged or missing tooth. Dental restorations can encompass several procedures that vary in terms of invasiveness, complexity, and what they can accomplish. However, the overreaching goal of all restorative procedures is to improve the health, function, and appearance of one’s smile.
It is not uncommon for patients to have questions or concerns regarding restorative procedures. The term “restoration” can seem frightening, especially to individuals who live with some level of dental phobia. However, with a bit of understanding about what restorations entail, patients can approach restorative appointments with calm and peace of mind. Below are the top FAQs and answers regarding dental restorations.
Restorative dentistry is a broad term that describes numerous services designed to repair a damaged smile and restore its health, function, and appearance. Though procedures within this area of dentistry can vary greatly, some of the more common procedures dentists offer include crowns, fillings, root canals, and bridges.
Dental restorations can help to correct a broad range of issues, ranging from minor cavities to missing teeth. Dentists may recommend restorative procedures to patients whose smiles have signs of decay, trauma, age, stress, or any other form of wear and tear. Some types of restorative dentistry even help to replace missing teeth.
The cost of restoration procedures varies just as greatly as the procedures themselves. For instance, a filling for a minor cavity may cost as little as $50 and no more than $150. More durable restorations such as crowns may cost anywhere from $300 to $800, while highly invasive procedures can cost upwards of $1,000.
However, patients should never let price be a deterrent. The one-time cost of restoration does not come close to the lifetime cost of decay, tooth loss, and the health issues that typically follow.
Most restorative dentistry procedures are considered “medically necessary” by insurance companies. In fact, most restorative procedures are indeed medically necessary, as they can restore the health of a tooth, preserve one’s smile and overall health, and reduce future dentistry costs. For these reasons, dental insurance providers typically cover all or part of restorative procedures. Though patients should check with their insurers before scheduling appointments, most insurers cover up to 80% of the cost of root canals and fillings and up to 50% of the cost of crowns, bridges, and major repairs.
Basic dental restoration procedures such as fillings and crowns are typically noninvasive and cause minimal to no discomfort. Though the same cannot be said for larger procedures, dental offices today offer several techniques to ensure patient comfort throughout the entirety of a restoration procedure, regardless of what it entails. Many dentists use local anesthetics to numb the site of treatment, sedation, general anesthesia, and laughing gas.
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Dental restorations are an important part of dentistry and are something that most people will find they need in their lifetimes. Patients who need restorations should contact a local dentist to learn more about available procedures.
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