As you probably know, our teeth, unlike other parts of our body, are not able to heal themselves or regenerate dentin and dental enamel. This is why professional restorative dental treatment is so important; our Elmhurst dentists are here to give you a short overview of a restorative treatment process.
Start with a professional cleaning
The first step in any treatment plan is going to be cleaning your smile; this gives our dentists a chance to assess your oral health, and it allows us to start restorative or cosmetic treatment with a clean slate. During your dental cleaning we will check for signs of infection and cancerous tissues. When you come into our office with a specific complaint—about a cavity or gum disease, for example—we will determine how severe this infection is, and how much it has spread throughout your mouth.
Clear away diseased tissue
The next step in the process is to get rid of any tissues that are beyond saving. We want to support your body’s natural healing process; clearing away infected tissue helps your immune system by minimizing the number of infections it has to battle. When treating a cavity, we will eliminate dental enamel and dentin that has already been infected. If an infection has spread all the way to the core of the tooth, we will need to perform root canal therapy to remove vulnerable, sensitive dental pulp.
Customized restorations
The final step in the process is to rebuild missing portions of your smile with restorative dental treatments. If your tooth had a cavity, for example, our team may use composite fillings or ceramic crowns to fortify your remaining natural tooth, and to help you maintain healthy bite alignment and attractive dental aesthetics. Our office is completely mercury-free, so all of the restorative materials we use are custom shaded to blend with your natural tooth shade.
If you suspect that you are dealing with an oral health problem, our Elmhurst dentists encourage you to reach out to your dentist as soon as possible. Oral infections usually need to be treated through professional intervention—we are here to help you!