Restorative Dentistry

We restore smiles so you can get back to living

Even with the best preventive care, your teeth may need more than cleaning at some point. Our restorative services are designed to give back your healthy smile.

What is restorative dentistry?

Having healthy, functional teeth and gums plays a major role in enjoyable living. Restorative dentistry eliminates the pain and embarrassment caused by unhealthy or missing teeth.

At our James Island dental office, we offer the following services:

Tooth colored fillings
Dental crowns
Dental bridges
Traditional dentures
Implant-supported dentures
Dental implant restorations
Root canal therapy
Extractions

Implant-supported dentures vs traditional dentures

Implant-supported dentures have become more popular over the last two decades, and with good reason.

Traditional dentures rest directly on the gums, which can increase bone loss over time and make the patient’s face look sunken in. The dentures are also able to shift and irritate the gum tissue, causing pain and making it difficult to chew.

Implant-supported dentures work just as the name implies. They are anchored by titanium posts implanted into the jawbone, then the denture attaches to the implants. This provides more stability, keeps dentures in place without the use of dental adhesive, gives the patient the ability to chew a wider variety of food and more thoroughly, and preserves the bone mass to prevent a sunken appearance.

Common questions about restorative dentistry

Because restorative dentistry is not as common as regular check-ups and routine cleanings, some of the procedures we provide in this category may be unfamiliar. Here are answers to some of the questions we receive most often.

Do root canals hurt? A root canal is a procedure that cleans out bacteria in the root of a tooth in an effort to save the tooth. This procedure is done with anesthesia, so it is not painful, and Dr. Greenfield has a pain management protocol to follow after the procedure to minimize any postoperative discomfort once the numbing has worn off.

Are tooth-colored fillings better than silver fillings? The most obvious benefit of tooth-colored fillings is they blend in with your teeth better than a silver filling. Another feature most patients like about tooth-colored, or composite, fillings is they often require less drilling than a metal filling because they adhere directly to the tooth.

What recovery is needed after a tooth extraction? It usually takes about 7 to 10 days for your gums to heal after having a tooth removed. During this time, you can apply ice in short intervals to prevent swelling and take an over-the-counter pain medication to alleviate any discomfort.

Discover the Difference at Holy City Dentistry

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