What is Biomimetic Dentistry?
The word biomimetic refers to imitating nature. When it comes to dentistry, this means conserving and preserving the natural form and function of your teeth rather than using artificial replacements. At Redding Biomimetic Dentistry, we aim to strengthen your natural teeth and provide solutions that are more likely to serve you in the long-term, resulting in fewer treatments over time. This often means increased comfort, reduced costs, and time saved for our patients.
We take into account the way your teeth move and bend and the way they are integrated into your body. This influences the materials we use, the procedures we follow, and the horizon we consider for treatment. By imitating the natural structures of your teeth and operations of your mouth, we can help ensure your teeth are less susceptible to decay and infection caused by bacteria. Biomimetic dentistry has been shown to be 80% more effective in preventing the future need of crowns and root canals than traditional dentistry.
We are always happy to discuss our minimally invasive approach to caring for your dental needs. Please feel free to ask us about it at your next visit or contact our office for more information.
How does biomimetic dentistry compare to traditional dentistry?
Traditional dentistry tends to focus on providing quick fixes and replacing existing tooth structures with materials deemed to be stronger. While sturdy materials may provide a short-term solution, they can also cause damage to other teeth or structures and lead to complications that require extractions, root canals, implants, and bridges.
Too often, traditional dentistry involves removing more of the natural tooth and replacing it with something artificial in the name of “restoration.” Of course there are some cases when this is necessary, but the practice is often used when other options exist.
In contrast, biomimetic dentistry focuses on maintaining natural tooth structures for longer-lasting results. The following are general principles of the biomimetic approach:
- mimic the strength, flexibility, and function of natural teeth
- retain as much of a natural tooth as possible
- repair and restore existing dental surfaces
- minimize the removal of natural dental material
- use materials that replicate the function of natural enamel and dentin
While treatment times may vary, our services sometimes take more time up front as they require better isolation of problem areas, careful removal of damage and decay, and special application techniques. However, our treatments generally last far longer than traditional ones and reduce the need for more invasive procedures in the future, saving you both time and money. If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out to our office anytime.