Restorative dentistry plays an important role in helping patients enjoy healthy, functional, and comfortable smiles as they age. Charleston, SC, dentists Dr. James Dickert and Dr. Agatha Lynn offer experienced care to renew damaged, decayed, or missing teeth with restorative dental services.
West Ashley Family Dentistry can often provide dental restorations in a single visit with our high-quality materials, modern tools, and software. For example, our dentists can place same-day dental crowns and other repairs using E4-D, CAD/CAM software, and an in-office milling machine.
Better mouth function enables you to enjoy a good quality of life. Restorative care can support a healthy diet, normal speech, and confidence in your look. We’ll address your worn, damaged, and missing teeth so you can get back your confident smile and get back to enjoying life to the fullest.
Restore Your Smile in Charleston, SC
Dr. Dickert or Dr. Lynn will meet with you to evaluate your dental health and discuss your needs and goals. We’ll tailor your treatment to your needs and ensure we support your long-term dental health. We take a thorough approach to your care. For example, our team will seek to identify any undiagnosed dental problems that can compromise the integrity of your result. We want your new smile to look great, feel great, and last a lifetime.
If you have worn or damaged teeth:
- Dental crowns: A dental crown acts like a cap to cover an entire tooth. You can get a crown to protect worn, weakened, or damaged teeth. Dr. Dickert or Dr. Lynn will permanently bond the crown in place. The crown provides lasting strength, function, and a natural look.
- Dental veneers: Veneers are custom-made, strong, ultra-thin shells that we place on the front and sides of teeth. We use porcelain veneers that can cover one or all your teeth in the smile line. This treatment can cover tooth gaps, stains, or areas of damage.
- Tooth bonding: Dental bonding is a tooth-colored resin. Dr. Dickert or Dr. Lynn sculpts it by hand directly onto the affected tooth. It’s an easy and economical way to improve your smile.
If you have missing teeth:
- Dental bridges: A dental bridge is a restoration that your dentist can use to “bridge” a gap between natural teeth. It’s a series of prosthetic teeth we link together and support with an anchor on either side of the gap. We can also use implants so we don’t need to prepare teeth to anchor your bridge.
- Dentures and partial dentures: Dentures are custom-made artificial teeth that replace multiple missing teeth. We can provide complete dentures, partial dentures, and implant-supported dentures.
- Dental implants: A dental implant is a titanium post. Dr. Dickert, Dr. Lynn, or an oral surgeon surgically implants this post into your jawbone beneath the gum line. It’ll act as the tooth root and provide a strong foundation for a replacement tooth.
Our dentists will work with you to find the right option to fix tooth damage or replace missing teeth. We can also combine multiple treatments for a full mouth reconstruction. If you have problems eating, speaking, or smiling because of your dental problems, we welcome you to call our office. We can create a restorative treatment plan so your mouth can function again.
Sedation Dentistry for Dental Anxiety
Our dentists foster a caring, warm, and friendly dental environment. Many patients suffer from the effects of poor oral health because of dental anxiety. Without routine visits to the dental office, you can face concerns such as gum disease, tooth decay, and missing teeth.
Sedation dentistry makes it possible for patients to get the care they need without fear or anxiety throughout their dental visit. We can perform more procedures in a single visit, saving you time and money. Sedation dentistry is best for anyone that has trouble relaxing at the thought of visiting the dentist.
We provide nitrous oxide sedation or laughing gas. We administer conscious sedation through a face mask that delivers odorless gas. This will leave you completely relaxed and able to receive the dental treatments you need.
The effects of laughing gas work fast, are reversible, and are completely safe. Patients are in control of their bodily functions and can respond to the staff. But they completely relax their mind, and most likely won’t remember their treatment.
Restorative Dentistry FAQs
Do you have questions or concerns? Our office is here to help. Read answers to common questions about restorative dental treatment in Charleston, SC.
What’s the goal of restorative dentistry?
Restorative dental treatments repair and replace damaged and missing teeth. The goal of restorative care is to renew the full function of the smile using high-quality materials and expert techniques.
How can you repair a broken tooth?
Depending on the extent of your tooth damage, you have two main options to repair a broken tooth. Tooth bonding can add structure to a chip or fix tooth cracks using malleable, tooth-colored material hardened with a curing light. Dental crowns fully cover teeth like caps and are cemented to prepared teeth to protect them from further tooth damage.
What are my options for missing teeth?
We recommend a dental implant if you have a single missing tooth. A dental implant restores the tooth with a titanium anchor and dental crown.
Implants can secure dental bridges that restore consecutive rows of missing teeth. You can get implant dentures to restore arches and rows of teeth in different areas of the smile. While bridges and dentures may be removable, we recommend implants to ensure restorations last.
What’s the difference between restorative and cosmetic dentistry?
Replacing missing teeth and repairing tooth damage can create a more balanced and fuller smile. While restorative dentistry can improve the appearance of the smile, its primary goal is to enhance your mouth function and comfort. Cosmetic dental care is only focused on the smile’s aesthetics.
Will I need a partial denture or a bridge?
A partial denture can replace multiple teeth in different parts of the smile. Dental bridges only restore teeth in a consecutive row of missing teeth. Both partial bridges and bridges can use implants for support, so they’ll last and feel natural.
Am I a candidate for dental crowns?
We recommend dental crowns for patients with cracked, worn, or weakened teeth. You can also get a crown after a root canal or to cover a large dental filling. Our office will ensure you don’t have any cavities, signs of tooth decay, or gum disease before we recommend crowns. Once you’re healthy, we’ll begin treatment.
Schedule A Dental Exam Today
To learn more about how we can help you restore a functional smile, schedule a visit with Dr. Dickert or Dr. Lynn in our Charleston, South Carolina, dental office. Contact us at (843) 371-5480 or request an appointment online.