Restorative dental surgery helps fix damaged or missing teeth. Several options are available to restore teeth, including dentures, dental bridges, veneers, and implants. The choices depend on your needs and budget. Restorative dental surgery offers many benefits if you know what it entails and how it works.
The following myths and truths will help you better understand the process and make an informed decision about your treatment options.
Myths and Truths about Restorative Dental Surgery
Myth: Restorative dental surgery is painful.
Truth: Dental surgery is performed with local anesthesia, so you’ll feel no pain. Most patients do not report pain during restorative dental surgery. When the procedure involves bone removal or tooth extraction, patients may only experience mild discomfort.
Myth: Restorative dental surgery is expensive.
Truth: This is not necessarily true. While restorative dental surgery may cost more than other treatment options, it saves you money in the long run by preventing future problems with your teeth and gums. If you skip out on restorative dental surgery, you may spend more money due to additional damage.
Myth: Restorative dental surgery is for older people.
Truth: The American Dental Association states that 17% of adults lose their natural teeth by age 65. However, the trend has reduced significantly due to advanced technology in dentistry. While some people may need restorative dental surgery at an older age, younger people may also require this treatment.
Myth: Restorative dental surgery is for cosmetic reasons.
Truth: While it’s true that cosmetic concerns are one of the common reasons why patients seek restorative care, it also improves chewing ability, speech, and appearance. In addition, it enhances the health of patients who have lost teeth due to gum disease or injury.
Myth: Restorative dental surgery requires general anesthesia.
Truth: The surgery deploys local anesthesia if you are healthy and have no medical conditions that might complicate the procedure. However, if necessary, an anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia to ensure safety during the process.
Myth: You must have all your teeth removed to get dental implants.
Truth: Dental implants may require the removal of one or more teeth, but it depends on the condition of your dental and how many teeth you want to replace.
Myth: Insurance companies don’t cover restorative dental surgery.
Truth: Most insurers cover therapeutic procedures if they are medically necessary, but the coverage may vary depending on the treatment. Your dentist can help determine if your insurance company covers your treatment plan.
Myth: I’m too old for restorative dental surgery.
Truth: If you’re missing a tooth, you may be a good candidate for restorative dental surgery, and your age doesn’t matter. Missing teeth can cause your bite to shift, which can lead to jaw pain. Curative dental surgery help address these issues by replacing missing teeth with artificial ones that look and function like natural teeth.
Myth: Restorative dental surgery is risky.
Truth: Therapeutic dental surgery is safe. Dentists use a local anesthetic to numb your mouth before an operation. It ensures you don’t feel pain during the process, which helps minimize the risk of infection and other complications.
Myth: Dental surgery is invasive, painful, and dangerous.
Truth: Dental surgery isn’t intrusive. Although you may feel some pain, it’s minimal and short-lived.
Myth: Restorative dental surgery takes a long time.
Truth: Restorative dentistry has come a long way in recent years, with technological advances making it possible to complete many procedures within a few visits.
Myth: I don’t need dental surgery because I brush my teeth regularly.
Truth: Just because you brush your teeth doesn’t mean they’re healthy. The more often you brush, the easier it is to remove plaque buildup and prevent gum disease. But there are bacteria between your teeth that regular brushing can’t reach. Your dentist may recommend getting a complete dental examination once every six months.
It ensures you have healthy teeth and prevents gum disease and tooth decay by treating the problem before it worsens.
What are The Benefits of Restorative Dental Surgery?
The treatment offers many benefits, including:
- Restoring the natural shape and appearance of the teeth.
- Improve your smile’s appearance by getting rid of discolored or misshapen teeth and replacing them with artificial fixtures that look more natural.
- It helps prevent disease. If you have an underlying problem with your teeth or gums, restorative dental surgery help prevents further problems from arising.
- Preventing further damage to your teeth and gums
What are the risks of Restorative Dental Surgery?
Restorative dentistry carries few risks; some patients may experience mild discomfort, but it usually fades shortly after the procedure. Also, crowns may chip or crack; however, with proper care, this is less likely to happen.
Restorative Dental Surgeries
These include:
Dental implants. These surgical procedures stabilize loose or missing teeth by placing an artificial root into the jawbone. This supports permanent replacement teeth or prosthetic devices such as crowns or bridges.
Root canal treatment. A root canal may be necessary when a tooth’s pulp becomes infected or damaged beyond repair. The process removes the diseased pulp, cleans the inside of the tooth, and fills and seals it with a permanent filling material.
A crown may be placed over the tooth after the root canal to protect it from future damage.
Other replacement teeth. These include crowns, which cover the entire visible part of a tooth; bridges, which replace missing teeth; partial dentures, which replace all of one’s upper teeth; and full dentures, which replace all of one’s lower teeth.
Final Words
Often, patients delay dental implant surgery because of myths and general uncertainty about the process. The best way to quell these concerns before they become overwhelming is to visit your dentist or a health professional and learn about the procedures involved with dental implants. Restorative dental surgery is a risk-free procedure that helps many areas of a patient’s mouth affected by tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental issues. With the right approach, caring for your teeth today can help preserve your oral health in the future.
