By age 50, Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. Among adults between the ages of 65 and 74, 26% have lost all their teeth. Tooth loss can affect your appearance, self-confidence, and health.

If you lost a tooth due to decay or injury, find the best cosmetic dentistry practice in town. Replacing teeth with treatments like implants now can protect your health for years to come.

Which smile restoration services suit your needs? Read on to find out!

What Is Smile Restoration?

Before we explore your treatment options for replacing teeth, let's discuss smile restoration services. While there is an overlap between smile restoration and cosmetic dentistry, there are three core differences. 

Essential vs. Elective

Both can restore decayed, damaged, or missing teeth. A general dentist can offer both. 

However, restorative dentistry services are essential for replacing teeth, including broken or decayed teeth. You should seek restorative treatment if you have dental pain, bleeding, or swelling.

Cosmetic dentistry services, on the other hand, are elective. They can alter the shape, size, alignment, or color of your teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry is ideal for patients who aren't happy with the appearance of their teeth. These patients don't require urgent care. 

Purpose

The purpose between restorative and cosmetic dentistry also differs. Restorative dentistry focuses on function, while cosmetic dentistry focuses on aesthetics.

Restoring your smile will allow you to maintain good oral health and functionality. Sustained tooth loss could put your oral health at risk. Food particles and bacteria can hide in the void.

Food particles, saliva, and bacteria can mix together to form plaque. Plaque can harden into tartar and release acid. You could develop a cavity.

After experiencing tooth loss, your teeth may start to shift. Brushing and flossing could become more difficult, and your risk of a cavity will increase further. 

Nearly 26% of adults ages 20 to 44 have untreated dental caries. About 25.3% of adults ages 45 to 64 require treatment. It's no wonder that 13.2% of adults ages 65 and up have lost all their teeth.

Losing teeth can affect your ability to chew. Your stomach will work harder to digest foods, causing stomach aches and other issues.

Restorative dentistry, like dental implants, can improve your ability to chew and function. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on the visual aesthetics of a tooth. It can improve the appearance of your smile, benefiting your self-confidence.

Materials

Restorative and cosmetic dentistry services rely on different materials. Dental restorations require more durable and affordable materials, including amalgam fillings (a mixture of metals).

Cosmetic dentistry uses durable and aesthetically pleasing materials. These materials are selected for their color or translucent properties. Composite resin, for example, can be color-matched to blend with your natural teeth. 

The Best Cosmetic Dentistry Options

An experienced dentist can choose cosmetic or restorative dentistry treatments to improve your smile. Here are a few treatment options to consider.

Fillings

Neglecting your oral hygiene gives plaque and tartar the chance to form. As tartar releases acid, a cavity can develop. The bacteria will eat away at your tooth's protective enamel.

This will cause holes (cavities) to grow. If the hole is small, your dentist may recommend fillings.

First, your dentist will need to remove the decayed portion of the tooth. They'll use a tooth-colored composite to fill the hole. Seeking immediate treatment can halt the decay's progression.

If the cavity develops further, you may experience tooth loss. Your dentist may recommend dental implants instead. 

Dentures

After you experience tooth loss, a dentist may recommend replacing teeth using dentures. You may need a full set of dentures if you're missing an entire arch of teeth. If only a few teeth are missing, partial dentures are also an option.

The dentures will rest over your gums. They may shift when you eat or talk. If your dentures cause discomfort, talk to your dentist about dental implants instead. 

Dental Implants

While dentures sit atop your jaw, dental implants are placed within your jaw. The procedure involves placing an implant (which looks like a screw) into your jawbone. This ensures stability.

Over a few months, osseointegration will occur. This process gives the jawbone time to grow around the implant, ensuring stability.

Once the area heals, your dentist can place a dental crown atop the implant. They'll match the color of the crown to your surrounding teeth. Talk to your dentist about all-on-4 implants.

Implant dentistry can restore the appearance and functionality of your smile. You can chew, speak, and smile without issues. Dental implants have a 97% success rate and are one of the most advanced solutions for replacing teeth. 

Root Canal Therapy

You may need root canal therapy before one of the above procedures. Sometimes, a cavity can reach a tooth's pulp, causing an infection. Your dentist will need to remove the diseased pulp and clean the area.

After treatment, you can restore your smile with a dental crown and dental implant. 

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are customized restorations bonded onto your natural tooth structures. They can replace a small amount of tooth structure.

Both inlays and onlays can fit inside a tooth. However, onlays also extend onto the chewing surface of a back tooth. They can replace one or more cusps. 

Dental Bridges

Bridges can replace a single tooth or a row of missing teeth. Your dentist may need to shave down your existing teeth before the procedure. They'll bond a bridge to your teeth, restoring your smile.

Bridges are artificial teeth with crowns located on each side. They can restore the appearance of your smile. 

Crowns

Crowns can restore a broken, decayed, or damaged tooth. They're designed to fit atop an existing tooth.

Your dentist may need to shave down some of the existing teeth first. The crown will restore the tooth's functionality and appearance. 

Request Cosmetic Dentistry Today

Don't let tooth loss or damaged teeth affect your smile. Instead, visit the best cosmetic dentistry practice in town. With smile restoration treatments, you can grin with confidence in your healthy, beautiful teeth!

A+ Family Dentistry offers general, cosmetic, and emergency dental services. We use the latest technology and techniques to provide a higher standard of care.

We're dedicated to offering personalized treatment plans for each patient. Contact us today to restore your smile!