I’ve heard the term conservative dentistry. What does that really mean?

Conservative dentistry, also known as biomimetic dentistry, is an approach to dental restorations which we take whenever possible.

Our goal for every patient is to save the tooth structure. Conservative dentistry is a minimally invasive process which focuses on preserving your natural teeth and support structures, whereas traditional dentistry is more invasive and often removes healthy tooth structure which, in many cases, is a poor practice.

Traditional or Conventional Dentistry

In traditional dentistry generally there is extensive drilling where healthy tooth tissue is removed in the process. Also, some of the restorative materials used in traditional dentistry are harder than the original tooth, which can eventually lead to cracked or damaged teeth. Crowns, for example, may seem like a great choice for restorations, but require much of the tooth to be removed and can simply end hiding subsequent decay with additional dental work down the line. This writer speaks from experience having many crowns fail or where decay has surrounded the lower part of the tooth or manifested below the crown itself.

Biomimetic or Conservative Dentistry

This approach can lead to little or no drilling which makes patients happy, while preserving as much of the tooth’s natural properties and functionality as possible. With advanced materials and adhesives, we can carefully repair cavities. Biomimetic restorations look and feel like natural teeth, and patients often feel less sensitivity following the restoration.

Generally, biomimetics restorations include composite fillings and partial coverage repairs which include inlays, onlays and overlays. The idea is to return the hard tooth tissues (enamel, dentin, cementum) to attain full function with advanced restorative materials and techniques to mimic the function of the original tooth.

In cases where a tooth is cracked or where there is extensive decay, traditional crowns remain an excellent treatment option. We make same day crowns in our own lab (in Oxnard). You can read all about the process here.

The white objects are crowns. The pink in the images is decay.

Often, in traditional dentistry, bacteria can sneak their way in below a crown, eventually leading to more tooth decay, more removal of the natural tooth, root canals, or even complete loss of the tooth..

At Carson & Acasio Dentistry in Oxnard, and our sister practice Spanish Hills Dentistry in Camarillo, our approach to treatment is always to be as minimally invasive as possible and save as much of the original tooth structure as we can.

In the long run, you and your teeth benefit from this approach:

1. Reduce costs now and in the future when additional restoration may be required.

2. Restorations through conservative dentistry can often last a lifetime.

3. Better aesthetics.

4. More natural looking smiles.

5. Improved preservative measures.

   
   

Many dentists are still old school and stick with traditional dentistry. But in our practice we are forward thinkers who like to be on the cutting edge of the latest technology, use advanced materials, and practice the latest dental restorative theory.

So, when you come in for a consultation, rest assured that we are going to choose and recommend the best treatment plan for your particular situation and needs. To be honest, we don’t want to see you coming back in a year or two to have additional work done when conservative dentistry may have been the best approach to begin with.

Whether you need a simple cavity filled, have a broken tooth, need a whole new set of teeth, or just need a routine cleaning, why not call us for a consultation? We’ll be happy to take care of you.

We have two convenient locations to provide the dental needs for you and your family. In Oxnard, call (805) 983-0717. For Spanish Hills Dentistry in Camarillo, call (805) 987-1711.

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RICH SPRAGUE

Rich is our Marketing Services Manager. He’s responsible for our business rebrand, including the design of our new logo, the production of our marketing materials, and the development of our new website. He is extremely passionate towards the complete marketing and sales process. In addition to his Master’s Degree in Web Design & New Media, he has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and has been writing articles since high school. Rich's email is rich@richsprague.com.