Both preventive dentistry and conservative or conservative dentistry aim to preserve teeth without having to resort to extraction, always keeping most of the tooth healthy.

Whether through prevention, information on good dental hygiene habits or repairing damage to teeth in time through conservative restorations, at Dr. Enzo Yuruvich’s clinic we have the philosophy of trying to keep your mouth healthy for much longer while preserving as much of the natural dental tissues as possible.

Whenever the situation allows, instead of resorting to extractions or invasive treatments, we focus on restoring and maintaining the original tooth structure. Procedures such as fillings, crowns and root canals are designed to save the affected teeth and restore their functionality without compromising the integrity of the rest of the dentition.

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the care and maintenance of oral health to prevent the onset of dental diseases and problems. Its main goal is to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, tooth wear and other problems that can affect the health of the mouth. Preventive dentistry includes a series of practices and treatments aimed at keeping teeth and gums healthy.

By anticipating potential dental problems, we can avoid more complex treatments.

What is conservative dentistry?

Conservative dentistry is any dental work necessary to manage oral health problems and restore the function and aesthetics of teeth. Its main goal is to maintain the integrity of teeth and minimize the removal of healthy tooth tissue during treatments. Conservative dentistry uses techniques and materials to restore damaged teeth effectively and aesthetically while preserving their natural function and appearance. Restorative dentistry procedures that fall under the scope of prosthodontics include fillings, veneers, dentures, dental implants and bridges.

Types of dental restoration

Now that you know exactly what restorative dentistry is, let’s take a look at some of the most common restorative dentistry treatments:

Dental crowns and caps

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped covering that is placed over a damaged tooth or attached to an implant abutment. Crowns can be made of a variety of materials, including porcelain, gold, different metal alloys, and ceramics, such as Emax crowns.

Dental bridges

A dental bridge is a dental prosthesis that ‘bridges’ the space between two teeth. There are different types of dental bridges. The most common type is the fixed bridge, which consists of a crown on either side of one or two pontics (artificial teeth).

The crowns fit over the adjacent teeth, thus securing the bridge in place. A disadvantage of this type of bridge is that the adjacent teeth must be filed down for the crowns to fit.

Endodontics

Endodontic therapy involves removing the dental pulp, cleaning the root canal of bacteria and filling the tooth with special resinous materials. A tooth without dental pulp loses neither function nor quality.

Dentures

Dentures, also known as false teeth, are a type of dental prosthesis for people who have lost at least one and potentially all of their teeth. A denture helps toothless patients regain their ability to eat and speak in a way closer to natural. They can also protect the remaining teeth from erosion (from overuse or too much chewing pressure) and prevent the face from sinking inward.

Dental fillings

A dental filling is another type of dental restoration used to repair damage caused by tooth decay and prolong the life of damaged teeth.