Restorative dentistry: The art of dentistry has come a long way from George Washington’s wooden and ivory dentures, or the old silver fillings used for decades (the current scourge of Baby Boomers). Dr. Gotun examines, studies and diagnoses your teeth and gums in order to recommend the best possible course of treatment. His ultimate goal is to restore your mouth to its functional and aesthetic best. In doing so, he takes into account the structures of the individual teeth and the health of the gums and bone. The highest aim is to maintain and retain your own teeth for life. If teeth are missing, damaged or decayed beyond repair, restorative dentistry makes it possible for you to recover at least some form and function of normalcy. In certain individuals, sometimes restorations function even better than the original!

While it’s best to never lose a tooth to damage or decay, if a tooth is compromised beyond recovery, it should be replaced. If it is not, problems can arise. Adjacent teeth may shift out of their original positions. For example, if the lost tooth was in the lower jaw, the tooth opposing it in the upper jaw may shift downward. In other words, the loss of a tooth triggers a series of changes in the mouth, which can affect how the remaining teeth fit together. There may be interference between the teeth that have shifted, or uneven distribution of force in your bite. These factors can cause problems in eating or chewing, or even further deterioration of the teeth and jaws. Headaches, malnutrition – even changes in appearance or the ability to enunciate – are other possible side-effects of tooth loss.

The different restorations are: fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, implants.