Restorative dentistry focuses on restoring missing or damaged teeth so that the patient can, once again, have a full set of functioning 
teeth. Dr. Garrett Hayashi, your Honolulu, HI dentist, performs a variety of restorative dental procedures. He can determine which procedures are right for you based on the condition of your teeth.
Types of Restorative Procedures
Common restorative dental procedures include installation of dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, inlays and onlays. These procedures can be performed in-office by your dentist. Some procedures can be completed in a single visit, while others require multiple appointments to complete the procedure.
Teeth that are either missing or have been extracted can be replaced with dental implants. The dental implant not only replaces the missing tooth, but its root as well. The implant is attached to the jaw bone below the gum line and serves as the tooth root. A crown is placed above the gum line and replaces the missing or extracted tooth. Crowns can also be used alone to cover teeth that are chipped, cracked or otherwise damaged but still have their original roots.
Dental inlays and onlays are used to repair or replace old fillings that are problematic and have begun to deteriorate. Dental bridges are used to fill in any areas where teeth are missing. An artificial replacement tooth is cemented into the space where the natural tooth is missing. The surrounding teeth are used to support and hold the new replacement tooth in place. Essentially, the replacement tooth forms a bridge in the space between the remaining natural teeth.
Dentures also replace missing teeth and can replace several missing teeth all at once. In fact, a complete denture is used to replace a full row of missing teeth. Partial dentures are used to replace several teeth when there are still some natural teeth left. Dentures typically are not permanent and must be fixed in place daily using a dental adhesive. However, in some cases, partial dentures can be cemented in place by your Honolulu dentist.
If you are in need of restorative dental procedures to give you back a full set of functioning teeth, Dr. Hayashi, your Honolulu, HI dentist, can help. To schedule an appointment and discuss which restorative procedures would be right for you, call (808) 536-5090.