- (805) 284-0826
- 350 Chapala Street, Suite A
- Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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If you are lucky, you will never need to visit our Santa Barbara office for anything except your routine cleanings and exams every six months. If you are not so lucky, however, you may need to have cavities filled or undergo other dental procedures.
This is where restorative dentistry comes in and See Me Smile Dental & Orthodontics offers a full range of restorative dentistry services in our modern, innovative office.
There are two types of general dentistry, restorative dentistry and preventative dentistry, and we provide both of them here at See Me Smile Dental & Orthodontics.
Preventative dentistry includes anything that is meant to prevent dental problems from occurring. It includes professional cleanings, oral exams, and x-rays. It also includes fluoride treatments and dental sealants.
Restorative dentistry encompasses procedures that repair or restore teeth that are already damaged or have tooth decay. Any procedure designed to restore the function or strength of your natural tooth is a restorative dentistry procedure, from fillings to crowns.
Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry dedicated to aesthetics. The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to improve the appearance of your smile. The purpose of restorative dentistry is to restore the strength and functioning of your teeth. Some restorative dentistry procedures might also improve your smile’s appearance, but that is secondary to repairing your teeth.
Restorative dentistry procedures are divided into minor and major procedures. Major procedures are those that provide more extensive repairs. Many people will only need minor restorative dentistry procedures during their life, and most people will need no more than a couple of major procedures.
Most people are familiar with the most common form of restorative dentistry, which is a dental filling. Unfortunately, almost everyone will develop a cavity at some point in their lives and need to get it filled.
Dental bonding is a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored resin is used to repair a tooth. It may be used for cracked, chipped, or otherwise damaged teeth. It is also used in cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of teeth.
These are custom-made dental appliances that fit on or inside your tooth. The purpose is to restore the tooth to its normal shape, size, and strength. These devices are used when tooth decay or an injury is too extensive to be corrected by a filling but not severe enough to need a full crown. They are created using impressions of the tooth and are tooth colored.
Sometimes tooth decay or damage is so extensive that restoring the tooth requires more involved work than simply putting in a filling or making an inlay or onlay. Procedures to correct these kinds of issues are called major restorative dentistry procedures. They are more time-consuming and expensive than minor restorations as well.
A dental crown is used to cover a tooth that is severely damaged from either decay or an injury. Crowns are custom-made from various materials using an impression of the tooth that is to be covered. A crown covers the tooth from the root to the chewing surface. Crowns are also needed following a root canal treatment to keep the treated tooth from breaking.
There are many kinds of dental bridges, but they are all designed to span the gap caused by one or more missing teeth. They are custom-made for each patient. Bridges may be fixed or removable.
Replacing a missing tooth or teeth is necessary to help restore proper chewing ability and keep your other teeth in alignment. This is where dentures and partial dentures come in. Dentures replace all of a person’s natural teeth, while partial dentures replace only a few missing ones.
Implants are a newer restorative dentistry procedure that replaces a missing tooth with a permanent prosthetic that acts just like a natural tooth. The implant procedure has two parts. In the first part of the procedure, a post is permanently implanted into the patient’s jaw. Once the patient has healed from the first procedure, a prosthetic tooth is attached to the post.
You should not experience any pain during the procedure itself. When you have restorative dentistry procedures done here at our Santa Barbara office, your provider will use an appropriate form of anesthesia to make certain you do not experience pain.
Depending on the nature of the procedure, you might experience some discomfort or irritation during the healing process, but over-the-counter pain medications should help.
Dental insurance covers most restorative dentistry procedures in whole or in part, depending on the plan. Coverage tends to be better for minor restorative procedures than for major ones. Dental implants are not yet covered by most insurance plans.
When you come in for your consultation, our staff will consult your insurance company to find out what is covered and what you will have to pay yourself. You will never have any unpleasant surprises at See Me Smile Dental & Orthodontics!
We know dental care can be expensive, so we are also proud to offer a variety of financing options and payment arrangements to help you get the care you need. Please ask our staff for more information if you are interested in these options.
Our office provides comprehensive general dentistry and orthodontic care for both children and adults in Santa Barbara. We have flexible appointments to make it easy for you to get seen and take many dental insurance plans. You will be impressed by our modern, state-of-the-art office that offers the latest in dental techniques and technology coupled with a warm, caring staff.
Call See Me Smile Dental & Orthodontics at (805) 398-0468 and make your new patient appointment today!
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