Repairing what is damaged or missing
Restorative dentistry covers everything done to rebuild a tooth that is decayed, cracked or worn, and to replace teeth that are already gone.
The guiding principle is to keep as much natural tooth as possible. A filling is preferred to a crown, a crown to an extraction, and a restored natural tooth to any replacement — because nothing performs quite as well as the tooth you were born with.
A missing or broken tooth is not only about appearance. It can make eating and speaking harder, and a gap left open lets the neighboring teeth drift, the opposing tooth over-erupt and the bone that held the root shrink away. Restoring the tooth, or replacing it, stops that slow rearrangement before it involves teeth that were healthy to begin with.
Restorative treatments
From the smallest repair to replacing a tooth altogether — each page explains how the treatment works, who it suits and what recovery involves.
Dental Fillings
Repairing a cavity while most of the tooth is still sound, before decay reaches the nerve.
Dental Crowns
Covering a tooth too broken or weakened for a filling, so it does not split under chewing force.
Root Canal Treatment
Removing infected pulp from inside a tooth so the tooth itself can be kept.
Tooth Extractions
When a tooth cannot be saved: how it is removed, and the aftercare that helps the socket heal.
Dental Implants
Replacing a missing tooth at the root, which preserves the bone and leaves neighboring teeth untouched.
Dental Bridges
A fixed replacement for one or more missing teeth, supported by the teeth on either side of the gap.
Dentures
Full and partial dentures to replace several or all teeth, and the relines that keep them fitting.
Planning treatment
Where more than one tooth needs work, a treatment plan puts it in order: anything painful or infected first, then the teeth at risk of breaking, then replacement of what is missing. It can usually be phased over time, and the order is worth talking through rather than accepting as given.
Ask for a written estimate before treatment starts — for restorative work it should be normal, not awkward. How payment works is covered under financial options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do restorations last?
It varies widely with the material, the size of the restoration, your bite, and how well the area is kept clean. Any of them can fail early if the surrounding tooth decays again, which is why check-ups continue after the work is done.
Can a badly damaged tooth still be saved?
Often, yes — it depends on how much sound tooth structure remains above the bone, and on the health of the root and gum. An examination and X-ray will answer it.
What happens if I leave a missing tooth unreplaced?
The teeth either side tend to drift and tilt into the gap, the tooth opposite can over-erupt, and the bone where the root was gradually shrinks. None of it is urgent, but it makes replacement harder the longer it is left.
Which is better — an implant, a bridge or a denture?
There is no single answer. An implant preserves bone and leaves other teeth alone but needs surgery and time. A bridge is fixed and quicker but relies on crowning the neighboring teeth. A partial denture is removable and usually the least expensive. The right choice depends on the teeth, bone and gums around the gap, and on your priorities.
Is restorative work painful?
Fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions are done under local anesthetic, so the usual sensation is pressure rather than pain. Some tenderness for a few days afterward is common.
Will my restorations match my natural teeth?
Tooth-colored fillings, crowns and bridges are shaded to match the teeth around them. If you are thinking about whitening, it is best done first, because restorations do not change color with whitening.
