The development of the teeth starts before the birth of a child because of the importance of the teeth in our daily activities. However, the teeth do not erupt above the gumline until six to twelve months after the birth of a child. When the teeth erupt, they have the perfect size, shape, length, color, and structure, which help them to carry out their primary functions. The teeth at this stage are referred to as the milk teeth, and they are used for the chewing of food which aids easy digestion. They aid pronunciation and speech production in children, support the jawbone and shape the face, and keep space in the mouth for the permanent teeth to come.
By age six or seven, the milk teeth start to fall out and replace permanent teeth. These permanent teeth, in the absence of conditions that affect the development of the teeth, also take the perfect shape, size, length, color, and structure that help them to perform their functions perfectly. However, somewhere along the line of growing up, the teeth can lose their natural form due to abuse, improper care, injuries and accidents, old age, etc. These can even lead to permanent loss of a tooth which hinders the teeth from carrying out their functions properly.
Examples of defects that make the teeth lose their natural structure include fracture, chipping, or cracking. That can happen due to abuse of the teeth, i.e., using the teeth to break nuts, open corks, or severe teeth grinding. It can also be a result of injuries/accidents from sports or while working. Another example is tooth decay caused by improper care of the teeth. When there is no regular brushing and flossing of the teeth, dental plaques can thrive and cause decay in the teeth. Plaques can lead to a missing tooth as a result of severe decay. It is also important to note that the teeth contribute aesthetic value to the face; therefore, they must retain their natural structure.
However, if the teeth lose their natural structure (shape, length, size, color), they can be restored through dental restorative services offered in Dental Art Clinics.
Restorative dentistry is a branch of dentistry concerned with the procedures through which damaged teeth are repaired, and missing teeth are restored. Restorative dentistry in Cambridge ON focuses on ways through which dental defects and diseases are treated. The teeth are returned to their natural structure to enable them to perform their functions as they should. Unlike cosmetic dentistry, the ultimate goal of restorative dentistry is to repair the teeth to perform their tasks as they should. However, in the process, restorative dentistry can end up improving the appearance of damaged teeth.
Dental Restorative Services
Procedures involved in restorative dentistry include:
- Dental Crowns: A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap placed over a damaged, decayed, or cracked tooth to restore its normal size, shape, strength, and color. Teeth damaged by tooth decay are worn down and weak making them unable to carry out their functions. Dental crowns help to cover the entire tooth, protecting it from further damage and restoring its functions.
- Dental Fillings: When the decayed part of a tooth is cleared out, a large cavity is left behind, and the tooth in question is rendered useless. Dental fillings are used to fill a tooth that has been severely damaged by decay.
- Dental Implants: Dental implants are used for the replacement of missing teeth. They are surgical fixtures placed into the jawbone to serve as a tooth root replacement. A dental crown is then placed on the dental implant to restore the functionality of the teeth.
- Dental bonding: A dental bond is used to repair chips and cracks in the teeth. Bonding helps recreate the missing portion by forming and bonding composite materials to the remaining tooth.
Other dental restorative services include dental bridges, dentures, root canals, etc.
