What is Biomimetic restorative dentistry, and how does it benefit your oral health?
When treating oral health issues such as cavities and deeper decay, many dentists will use the fastest or easiest approach towards restoring your teeth. While this may sound enticing, it tends to translate into removing more of your natural tooth structure than is necessary. Excessive removal of tooth structure, most importantly enamel, can shorten the life of a tooth, cause it to be less resistant to decay, and limit the ability to repair the tooth in the future should decay develop again. At Kenner Dental Group, we take a different approach, one that preserves enamel whenever possible, by practicing biomimetic restorative dentistry.
What is biomimetic dentistry?
When you break down the word “biomimetic,” it has two root words: bio, which means life, and mimetic, which means to imitate or duplicate. Biomimetic dentistry is a dental treatment approach that strives to mimic natural tooth structure, by removing only the minimum amount of tooth during preparation, and replacing that lost tooth structure with materials that have similar properties. Restoring a tooth so that it more closely resembles its pre-treatment state results in better long-term survival of the tooth. Biomimetic dentistry focuses on:
- Saving as much natural tooth structure as possible
- Preventing oral health problems from progressing into a bigger problem by treating issues at their earliest stages with natural, conservative approaches
- Using biocompatible materials that closely mimic your natural tooth structure
- Minimizing stress placed on the teeth
- Maximizing adhesion between dental restorations and the natural tooth
- Restoring the natural function, biomechanics, and appearance of teeth
This type of dental care is based on the premise that despite the many technological advances that have been made in dentistry, artificial dental restorations and materials cannot offer the same strength and function as natural teeth.
Biomimetic dentistry: what it means for you
In the context of restorative dental care, biomimetic dentists like Dr. William Kenner unite an understanding of natural tooth biomechanics with conservative treatment techniques and materials that are designed to resemble natural teeth as closely as possible. Biomimetic principles can be used when preparing teeth for a wide variety of dental restorations, such as:
- Tooth-colored composite fillings
- Restorations such as inlays, onlays, and veneers that partially cover a tooth
- Restorations such as ceramic crowns that replace all the cusps of a tooth
Additionally, when biomimetic dentistry is used to treat decay and disease early, patients can often avoid the need for more intense procedures such as root canals or surgery to intentionally remove bone around a tooth, as is sometimes needed with older, outdated dental techniques. In addition to avoiding more invasive treatments, biomimetically treated teeth are less prone to pain, sensitivity, and bacterial infiltration.
Learn more about biomimetic dentistry
Dr. Kenner is experienced in using biomimetic principles to treat a wide array of dental conditions so that patients can enjoy a healthy smile that looks as great as it functions. We are always happy to answer your questions about our dental care approach and how it will benefit your oral health. To schedule your appointment at Kenner Dental Group, call our Burien, WA office today at (206) 208-2339.