We all know that older people are more prone to diseases and dental problems. Losing teeth is part of the life cycle. But do not worry! Restorative dentistry will help restore the teeth, especially seniors since they are more susceptible to losing teeth. More senior patients who have almost missing teeth wanted to know which is the best between dentures vs. implants. However, numerous restorative dentistry procedures can help more aged people restore teeth according to their unique needs.
Restorative Dentistry for Seniors
Restorative dentistry focuses on replacing damaged or missing teeth. Dentists in this field eliminate and fix tooth decay and cavities and give treatment to other oral health conditions. They additionally specialize in treating patients who require dental procedures because of injuries or trauma.
This part of dentistry integrates treatments from other dental fields such as endodontics, prosthodontics, and periodontics. This is because numerous patients need multifaceted care, meaning they may require treatment from more than one trained professional.
Even though adults and older individuals look for restorative treatment most often, restorative dentists can treat patients at each phase of life. The objective of restorative dentistry is to restore teeth and also preserve the natural look, form, and presence of natural teeth by:
- Replacing missing teeth altogether with artificial restorations, like bridges, implants, or dentures
- Restoring absent pieces of tooth structure with indirect or direct procedures like crowns, inlays, onlays, or fillings
- Repairing injured teeth with dental bonding or filling treatment
Common Dental Problems of Elder People
Advancing age places numerous seniors in danger for various oral health conditions, for example:
Darkened teeth
This dental condition is different from tooth decay. Consuming stain-causing foods and beverages can change dentin, the bone-like tissue that lies beneath the tooth enamel. These changes can cause tooth discoloration or having darkened teeth. In addition to this, diminishing the outer enamel layer causes the darker yellower dentin to appear through. Discolored teeth, precisely the darkened ones, can be a warning sign of a more significant issue and must be examined by your dentist.
Dry mouth
Although tooth decay is common among children, more established individuals can get tooth decay because of dry mouth, which is more common. Many factors can cause dry mouth. Cancer patients who undergo radiation to the head and neck area can develop this condition. Other diseases, like Sjögren’s syndrome and medication side effects, reduce saliva flow, leading to dry mouth.
Root decay
Exposure of the tooth root to decay-causing acids can result in root decay. The roots get uncovered as gum tissue subsides from the tooth. These roots have no enamel to shield them and are more susceptible to decay than the tooth’s crown area.
Gum disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a common oral health problem for many seniors because of:
- food left in teeth
- poor-fitting bridges and dentures
- poor eating routines
- certain illnesses, such as anemia, diabetes, and cancer
- use of tobacco products
Restorative Dentistry Treatments
Restorative dentists can offer several procedures to help restore the teeth of many patients. According to this site https://sandstonepointdental.com.au/ they include:
Dental Crowns
This procedure replaces large missing tooth structures brought about by fractures, root canals, or tooth decay. Dental crowns are metal or tooth-colored restorations and serve as full-inclusion covers that restore teeth. This treatment gives the teeth the natural size, shape, and function.
A dentist will consider a few aspects before deciding on a patient’s application for a dental crown. However, these components incorporate the capacity and area of the tooth, gum tissue situating, and the shade of surrounding teeth.
Dentures
Dentures can be removable or fixed arrangements of prosthetic teeth that replace several missing teeth. When somebody loses the entirety of their teeth, frequently from advanced tooth decay or gum disease, convention dentures are a standard arrangement.
There are five different kinds of dentures that you can choose from to restore your teeth. For instance, popular prosthetic teeth incorporate full dentures, fixed partial dentures, detachable partial dentures, immediate dentures, and implant-retained dentures.
Dental Implants
Dentists usually use dental implants to replace the missing tooth after extraction or loss. During the treatment, a dentist surgically puts an implant into the jawbone of the patient. The artificial tooth root is the implant that reflects the state of a screw and unites with the natural bone. The periodontist and oral surgeons perform dental implant surgery.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges help restore teeth by covering three or more teeth. Nevertheless, they only restore one or more teeth, while two regular teeth connect the gap on two sides of the absent tooth. Bridges are the aftereffect of advanced tooth decay, missing teeth, or removals.
Dental bridges are more affordable than implants, and the recovery time is faster, but they do not look as natural. They are additionally more inclined to break and decay than implants.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding integrates composite resins, the tooth-shaded fillings made of glass and plastic. Generally, dental bonds can fill tooth decay, cavities, fix broken or chipped teeth, and cover the layers of stained teeth. They also fill little gaps between teeth, which can be valuable for those with diastema.
There are three specific dental bonding treatments accessible, including composite bonding, composite veneer bonding, and indirect dental bonding.
Inlays and Onlays
This procedure restores smaller parts of missing or harmed tooth structure using tooth-colored or gold components. They are somewhat less intrusive than crowns and comprise indirect restorative materials.
These are the various restorative procedures you can get to restore the teeth and smile. Visit your dentist to know the proper treatment for your unique condition and lifestyle.