Restorative Dentistry in Palo Alto

You never have to worry about being in pain or discomfort during your restorative procedure at Mary Qian Dental Group. Dr. Qian will always administer local anesthesia before performing any type of invasive or minimally invasive procedure that involve tools like dental drills or needles. 

If desired, we can use a combination of anesthetic and dental sedation for ultimate relaxation and comfort. This not only prevents pain sensation, but also deeply relaxes you, melts away feelings of anxiety, and makes you feel sleepy. 

Sedation also causes little to no memory of the dental procedure which can help treat dental phobia, as it prevents memory recall of traumatizing dental situations. Remember, one of the primary purposes of restorative dental treatment is to relieve pain and discomfort, whether this is from tooth decay, infection, dental trauma, or injury. 

When tooth decay reaches the deeper layers of the tooth, where the nerves are located, this can cause severe and debilitating pain. We can relieve this pain immediately through anesthetic and root canal treatment which removes the source of infection or tooth decay. 

If you have an active oral health problem such as signs of tooth decay, gum disease, tooth infection, or a damaged tooth, you should get it treated as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the higher risk you are for a worsening infection that will spread to the other teeth or through your bloodstream which can be life-threatening if left untreated. 

Untreated tooth damage and decay can result in tooth loss that makes it more difficult to chew and speak and causes aesthetic issues with your smile. Most importantly, when you lose a tooth, you suffer from jawbone loss that only worsens over time and can never grow back. 

Bone resorption can cause facial sagging, changes to your bite, and collapsing facial features over time. Your teeth will shift and cause orthodontic problems if you don’t replace a missing tooth right away and then there won’t be enough space for a tooth restoration until you undergo orthodontic treatment which can be expensive. 

All of this can be avoided if you undergo restorative treatment promptly, which will save you time and money in the long run.

This depends on the specific treatment, its location, your oral hygiene, and individual lifestyle factors. A restoration will typically last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. However, when restorations are placed in the rear teeth, they must be fabricated of stronger and more durable materials. 

This will prevent breakage and damage from the significant chewing forces that the rear molars have to withstand. It's also important that you regularly brush, floss, and attend dental cleanings to prevent recurring oral health problems. 

To extend the lifespan of your restorative dental treatment, you should practice good oral hygiene, avoid tobacco products, limit your consumption of staining foods and drinks, and wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth.

Don’t chew on anything that isn’t food such as your fingernails or use your teeth as tools. A root canal treatment, when performed successfully, can permanently restore the health of your tooth, but this depends on you properly maintaining good oral hygiene. 

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Fillings can last for as little as 5 years or as long as 30 years. Implants have a lifespan of 25 years to a lifetime, crowns and bridges, inlays, and onlays can last for up to 15 years. If you're interested in restorative dentistry, contact us to schedule a consultation.