How Long Does Tooth Restoration Last?

Despite the numerous innovations and improvements in dentistry, millions globally still experience common oral problems like tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry if your teeth, gums, and mouth are compromised. There are a handful of dental restorations that you can use to restore your bite function, appearance, and overall oral health.

Whether you have decayed, missing, chipped, or broken teeth, our dentists in Cupertino and West San Jose, CA, can address all your needs.

When considering dental restorations, you might be wondering how long they last. In this article, let’s learn what restorative dentistry involves, its importance, and how long the treatment can last.

What is Restorative Dentistry?

Restorative dentistry refers to dental procedures geared toward restoring a patient’s oral function, health, and appearance. Most of these treatments involve repairing teeth damage and replacing missing teeth.

A general dentist or specialist can offer these treatments. Sometimes, you might need more than one restorative and multiple appointments.

Why is restorative dentistry important?

The primary goal of restorative dental treatments is to restore a patient’s oral function and health.

Dental concerns such as teeth loss, decay, and the broken tooth can affect how you chew and speak and even cause significant discomfort.

Most dental concerns worsen gradually if not treated on time, leading to severe and long-term complications such as tooth loss, jawbone damage, and bite problems.

Restorative dentistry gives you the best chance of correcting your dental concerns, which has numerous benefits, including:

• • Improved bite function

Dental concerns such as missing, decayed, cracked, or broken teeth significantly affect your bite function, making it difficult to eat certain foods, which can cause malnutrition.

The dentist can use restorative treatments such as implants to replace missing teeth or dental fillings to treat cavities, significantly improving your bite function.

• • Restored oral health

Existing concerns such as missing, decayed, or crooked teeth make you vulnerable to further oral complications such as tooth loss, jawbone damage, poor bite, and much more.

Correcting these problems prevents further damage and protects your future oral health.

• • Eliminate oral discomfort

Dental flaws like tooth decay and gum disease can cause significant symptoms such as pain, sensitivity, swelling, and even bleeding.

Restorative dentistry aims at treating your existing primary dental concerns by eliminating any associated symptoms.

• • Improved appearance

Dental concerns such as missing, decayed, chipped, and broken teeth can ruin your oral appearance, making you feel and look unattractive. Replacing missing teeth and repairing teeth damage improves your oral appearance, giving you a reason to smile with confidence.

• • Improved overall health

Your oral health is connected to your overall body. For instance, untreated oral concerns such as tooth decay and gum disease can affect your nutrition, impair your immune system, and spread infections to vital organs of the body like the brain and heart.

It increases your risk of serious, life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, pneumonia, and diabetes. Therefore, correcting oral concerns with restorative dentistry improves your oral and overall health.

How Long Does Tooth Restoration Last?

How long your treatment will last depends on your condition, treatment type, and preferences.

Below are the most common restorative treatments and how long they might take:

• Dental fillings. If you have cavities, the dentist might recommend dental fillings to prevent further damage and save your tooth. The treatment only requires a single appointment, and the results can last for 5 – 15 years, depending on the material used.
• Dental inlays and onlays. If you have dental damage that’s too large to repair with a filling but small for a dental crown, the dentist can recommend an inlay or onlay. You need multiple appointments, and the results can last for 10 – 15 years.
• Dental bridges. If you’ve lost a tooth or several teeth adjacent to each other, a dental bridge is a perfect way to replace your lost teeth and restore your oral health and function. On average, a dental bridge lasts for about 10 – 15 years.
• Dental crowns. A crown is a tooth-shaped device placed over a tooth to improve its shape, size, strength, and appearance. A crown lasts for 10 – 15 years or longer.
• Dental implants. Like bridges, dental implants replace missing teeth. With good oral care habits, an implant can last for 30 years or more.

Schedule an appointment today

Are you interested in restorative dentistry in San Jose, CA? Contact Neeshat S. Khan, DDS, for more information.