Tuesday, August 18, 2015

What is Conservative, Responsible Dentistry?

Seeking dental treatment so that your smile looks its best and is equally healthy is important. The best way to get there is through oral health care that is conservative and responsible. Our dental office has developed procedures that meet these specifications to help our patients get strong and beautiful smiles. Our philosophy of conservative and responsible dentistry helps to:

Preserve Natural Oral Structures

In any dental treatment plan, keeping as much of your natural tooth structure (enamel, roots, and tooth walls) is important. While dentistry has come a long way in providing replacements for natural structures, it’s important to preserve any healthy parts of teeth. Our Edmonton dentists recommend treatments that target only decayed or weakened parts of teeth, and allow you to keep as much of your own natural teeth as possible.

For example, placing zirconia crowns on severely damaged teeth does not require as much alteration of tooth structure as a metal-over-porcelain crown might, which is why we offer this kind of restoration.  For patients with missing teeth, dental implants provide independent replacements that do not cause damage to healthy oral structures, like gum tissue or existing teeth.

Help Patients Keep their Smiles Strong and Healthy

Part of helping to preserve the health and strength of your smile is a routine of thorough, proactive care to spot problems before they cause big issues that damage your teeth. We employ comprehensive oral health check-ups and responsible gum health routines that allow us to provide the care patients need to protect their teeth and gums. Visiting the dentist for check-ups helps to minimize the need for more extensive dental restorations later and reduces complications due to gum disease.

Encourage Conservative Treatment

While there are any number of treatments to address a specific dental problem, there are some that are more conservative than others. In the event of moderate tooth decay, a crown can certainly be used to restore your tooth, but placing an inlay or onlay can help you keep any un-damaged dental enamel. When designing cosmetic and restorative treatment plans, we help out patients avoid more aggressive treatment and select the options that will be most appropriate for them. 

If you have questions about cosmetic dentistry, dental restorations, and gum health, contact our Edmonton dentists for more information about our conservative and responsible treatment plans.