How to Maintain Dental Work Done by a Restorative Dentist

A restorative dentist helps patients keep their natural teeth whenever possible by performing restorations on them. Whether due to facial trauma, injury, bacteria, or another issue, a tooth can become damaged enough to cause pain and need treatment. When this happens, a restorative dentist may use fillings, crowns, and other treatments to preserve the natural tooth as a preferred alternative to removing it.

As a patient, you likely want to maintain this dental work so you do not have to undergo more procedures in the future. Taking care of a restorative dentist’s handiwork is often a simple matter of good oral hygiene.

Take care of a restorative dentist’s work

The right way to maintain the dental work done by a restorative dentist depends on the type of restoration that a patient received. In general, good overall oral health is an ideal place to start.

Maintaining crowns

A crown is a cap placed on a vulnerable tooth. This vulnerability is most evident at the seam where the crown meets the natural tooth underneath, usually at the gumline. Patients should thoroughly brush near the gums, not just the tops of the teeth, to protect crowns from decay at the base.

Additionally, they should try to avoid sticky foods, which could get attached to the crown and pull it off. They should also floss between teeth to remove plaque buildup from the crown seam.

Taking care of fillings

A filling is the most common type of restoration, and taking care of it is simple. Patients can prevent bacteria from attacking the bond between the filling material and the tooth by maintaining good brushing and flossing habits. If the filling feels rough or has a sharp edge, the patient should inform the dentist so they can smooth it to prevent forces like food items from tugging on it.

Preserving root canal work

A root canal entails removing the interior tissues of a tooth and sealing it with a filling. Therefore, caring for a tooth after a root canal is similar to maintaining a filling. Since the root canal entry points are typically located on the back of the tooth, patients should take extra care to angle the toothbrush correctly in this hard-to-reach area and brush in a rotating motion rather than in straight lines.

Caring for implants

A dental implant requires the restorative dentist to make an incision into the gumline and use a screw to affix the prosthetic tooth’s post to the jawbone. Brushing the gumline thoroughly (once it heals) keeps the surrounding area in good condition. Patients should eat nutritious food to preserve their jawbone strength so the implant remains stable.