Restorative Dentistry: What Is It And What's The Cost?

 While preventative care is the best way to ensure oral health, not everyone has the time or the money to pay for regular dental checkups. This leads to poor oral health including gum disease, cavities, and even failing or broken teeth.

The good news is, even if you've put off dental checkups and cleanings, your dentist can help when issues arise. Restorative dentistry offers a variety of options for those patients needing help with their teeth.

What Is Restorative Dentistry?

Some people confuse restorative dentistry with cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is done to improve the look of a person's smile and is not always covered under dental insurance plans.

Restorative dentistry is focused on getting a patient's teeth back to normal appearance and function. Most dental plans cover restorative dentistry because the procedures are necessary for oral health.

What Are Some Restorative Dentistry Procedures?

Teeth whitening and other procedures are often seen as cosmetic, but many other procedures fall under the category of restorative.

• Fillings: A common procedure to fix a decayed tooth
• Bridges: Fill gaps where teeth are missing and restore a normal bite
• Crowns: restore cracked, decay or damaged teeth back to normal appearance and function
• Root canals: Fixes badly decayed teeth and eliminates painful toothaches
• Dentures: Restore a smile and help the patient eat and talk normally

Tooth extractions are also considered restorative because it eliminates pain and removes decayed teeth that can cause other oral issues. However, tooth extraction is often the last resort and is only used when the dentist can't save the tooth.

Are Veneers Considered A Restorative Procedure?

Dentists consider veneers as both cosmetic and restorative. The difference is why the patient is getting veneers.

Veneers are considered cosmetic if they are only used to enhance the appearance of teeth and/or the color. Restorative veneers are those used to restore a damaged or decayed tooth. Veneers cover damaged teeth and help restore bites.

How Much Does Restorative Cost?

Restorative procedures vary in cost based on the type of procedure and also can vary by dentist offering the service. Most insurance plans cover at least a portion of the cost of many restorative procedures, so finding a good dental insurance plan is beneficial.

Your dentist can help you with ensuring you get good oral care and hopefully prevent many of the issues that arise from poor oral care. If you miss your regular visits to the dentist, there are options to help you restore any damage to your mouth and teeth.

For more information on restorative dentistry, contact a dentist near you.