What is Basic Restorative Dental Care? [5 FAQs]

What is Basic Restorative Dental Care? [5 FAQs]Photo by Quang Tri NGUYEN

Originally Posted On: https://www.dmsdmd.com/what-is-basic-restorative-dental-care/

 

When you need to repair an area of tooth decay or address concerns such as teeth replacement, the type of therapy provided falls under a category of dentistry that we refer to “restorative.” That is, we’re restoring the health and function of your smile through various therapeutic approaches. It goes beyond the traditional preventative services like cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments and exams. Rather, it’s the approach to care that you need when something like cavities or structural tooth damage comes into play.

Now let’s take a deeper look at what is basic restorative dental care with these five frequently asked questions.

How Do I Know What Procedures Fall Under Restorative Dentistry?

Oral health needs vary from one person to the next. Some require only prophylactic (preventive) procedures, such as cleanings and routine exams. Others require more major work, like getting a root canal or oral surgery. Restorative dentistry is the act of physically restoring the form and function of damaged or diseased teeth. Restorations come in all shapes and sizes, including fillings, crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges, and dental implants.

Your insurance company divides these types of services into categories of treatments: preventive, basic, and major. Restorative dentistry is the care you receive beyond simple cleanings or gum disease treatments: it focuses on correcting decay, infection, or tooth loss. A basic restoration would be a filling, where a major treatment is more like crowns, bridges, or dentures. Depending on the category of the restoration, your insurance will pay more or less of the total procedure costs. That’s why it’s best to take advantage of preventative care services, which are usually covered at 100%!

Can My Smile by Improved Quickly? How So?

“Quick” is relative when it comes to deciding on what basic restorative dental care is going to be worked into your treatment plan. Depending on how many teeth or areas of your mouth need to be treated, we will generally phase the appointments out over a period of time. This keeps you more comfortable (so that your entire mouth is not numbed up at once) and gives you the flexibility of prioritizing your oral health needs as your budget allows. How quickly your appointments are completed is up to you! Some procedures can be completed in one appointment, while others require extra visits because of restorations being made in an off-site lab.

Is There a Way to Find Out How Long These Procedures Take?

Some procedures (like fillings) take only one visit to complete. The restoration is shaped into your tooth and cured at the same appointment. Other treatments (such as crowns or dental implants) can take two or even three appointments. Other treatments (such as crowns or dental implants) can take two or even three appointments, because they require impressions and hand-crafting by a ceramist. If you’re able to combine various treatments into the same appointment, it can affect how long you’re here for a visit (and if you need to be numbed again.) Most people prefer to get their dental work completed in fewer appointments; thanks to comfortable options like sedaiton dentistry, it’s easier than ever.

Once we know which type of dental restorative care you need, our treatment coordinator will go over your care plan with you. That way you know which services will be correlated into different visits, how long each appointment should take, and the number of trips involved. Your care plan is fully customizable. Some people prefer to “get everything over with as quickly as possible” while others like to spread it out into several shorter appointments. This plan will also outline the cost of each restoration as well as your estimated insurance benefits.

After the Treatment: What Should I Do if I Get an Infection? 

Every treatment appointment will also involve educating you on how to care for your mouth after a restorative procedure. We’ll go over any common concerns or signs to watch out for. Should a problem such as an infection come up, you will know exactly how to reach us. Let our local restorative dentist in Ventura know immediately if you are experiencing any complications.

With dedicated home care and regular checkups, most dental restorations can last for well over a decade. Some, like dental implants, may even last the rest of your life. The key is preventative care like daily flossing, using fluoridated home care products, and having your teeth cleaned regularly by your dental hygienist.

How Will I Know if My Insurance Will Cover These Procedures?  

There’s nothing more painful than a dental bill you didn’t expect. Before you schedule your procedure, our treatment coordinator will go over the exact cost of each procedure. We will also use a benefits breakdown provided by your insurance company to provide an estimate of how much your insurance will pay for, including any deductibles or co-pays involved. This leaves you with an estimate of your total out-of-pocket costs before you move forward with scheduling. In certain cases, we can also request a pre-authorization for dental work directly from your insurance carrier.

Since insurance pays more for preventative care, it’s ideal to take advantage of your coverage to reduce your need for restorative work. But cavities happen, and older restorations wear out. Treating them as early as possible is a great way to reduce the cost of your overall dental care.

Delaying your dental treatment could cause small cavities to expand into abscessed teeth. Ask our Ventura dentist what restorative options are available for you to choose from!

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