Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing damaged or decayed teeth and replacing teeth that have been lost, with the goal of restoring oral function, comfort, and the natural appearance of your smile. Depending on what has happened to a tooth, treatment may range from a filling or crown that preserves the remaining tooth structure to a bridge, denture, or dental implant that replaces what is missing.
At Emerald Dental, restorative care starts with understanding what caused the problem and finding an appropriate way to rebuild your smile rather than simply addressing what you can see. Our Lakewood and Littleton dentists develop treatment plans around the condition of your teeth, your ability to eat and speak comfortably, and what will help you maintain a healthy, functional smile over time.
Curious what your smile could look like in six months?
Smile Fact
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, yet it cannot repair itself once it is lost.
Our Restorative Dentistry Services
Restorative dentistry covers everything from a single filling to replacing several missing teeth at once. Every treatment is built to repair what’s damaged and restore how your mouth actually functions, not just how it looks. Here is what is included when you choose Emerald Dental as your restorative dentistry provider in Lakewood or Littleton.
A crown caps a tooth that’s cracked, worn down, or too decayed for a filling to fix. It restores the tooth’s structure and strength while blending in with the teeth around it.
An implant replaces a missing tooth from the root up, using a titanium post placed in the jawbone to anchor a replacement tooth. It also helps preserve the jawbone itself, which naturally starts to shrink once a tooth is gone.
A bridge fills the gap left by one or more missing teeth, anchored to the natural teeth or implants on either side. It restores your bite and stops neighboring teeth from shifting into the open space.
Composite fillings repair a cavity with a tooth-colored material instead of metal amalgam. They bond directly to the tooth and blend in, so the repair isn’t obvious when you talk or smile.
Full or partial dentures replace several or all of your teeth with a removable option built to fit your mouth. They restore the ability to eat and speak comfortably for patients who’ve lost most or all of their natural teeth.
Sometimes saving a tooth isn’t possible, and removing it is what protects the rest of your mouth. We handle extractions with local anesthesia and talk through replacement options like an implant or bridge afterward.
A root canal removes infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth, then seals it so the tooth can stay in your mouth instead of being extracted. Most patients find the procedure itself far less painful than the toothache that brought them in.
How You Benefit From Restorative Dentistry
Repairing or replacing a damaged tooth isn’t just about the tooth itself. It changes how you eat, how you talk, and how often you think about your mouth during the day.
Eating and chewing without favoring one side or avoiding certain foods
One less thing you're self-conscious about when you laugh or talk
A bite that's actually stable, instead of one tooth doing more work than it should
Fewer emergency visits down the road, since a repaired tooth is a lot more predictable than a damaged one
A treatment plan built around your mouth and your budget, not a single default option
Why Choose Emerald Dental
Families and individuals choose Emerald Dental for restorative work because every treatment plan starts with an actual conversation, not a default recommendation. You’ll hear what’s actually wrong, what the realistic options are, and what each one costs before anything gets scheduled. Appointments aren’t rushed, and patients who are nervous about bigger procedures get the same patience as anyone coming in for a cleaning. Emerald Dental operates two offices in the Denver metro area, in Lakewood under Dr. Stephanie Paswaters and in Littleton under Dr. Christina Spady-Montoya, so you can get the same standard of restorative care no matter which office is more convenient. Meet both doctors on our About Us page.
What Patients Are Saying
Real feedback from real patients across our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need a filling, a crown, or an extraction?
It depends on how much healthy tooth structure is left once the decay or damage is removed. A filling works when enough natural tooth remains, a crown covers and protects a tooth that’s more compromised, and an extraction becomes the answer when the tooth can’t reasonably be saved. An exam and X-ray are really the only way to know for sure, since the same symptom can point to any of the three.
Why do dentists recommend replacing a missing tooth even if it doesn't bother you?
A missing tooth changes how the teeth around it behave, even without pain. Neighboring teeth can drift into the open space, the opposing tooth can over-erupt, and your bite shifts in ways you might not notice for years. Replacing it earlier, with an implant or bridge, is usually simpler than fixing the problems that show up after waiting.
Are dental implants a one-time procedure or an ongoing commitment?
The placement itself is a one-time surgical step, but the process from consultation to a finished tooth typically spans a few months while the implant fuses with the jawbone. Once it’s healed and the final crown is placed, it functions like a regular tooth with normal brushing and flossing, no special daily routine required.
Is it normal to put off getting a cracked tooth looked at because it doesn't hurt yet?
t’s extremely common, and understandable, but a crack that isn’t causing pain yet can still be spreading underneath the surface. Waiting doesn’t usually make the eventual fix simpler, it just narrows the options by the time it does start to hurt. Getting it looked at while it’s still minor is almost always the easier appointment.
Does restorative dentistry hurt?
Most restorative procedures are done with local anesthesia, so the treatment itself is not painful while it’s happening. Some soreness for a day or two afterward is normal for things like extractions or implant placement, but it’s manageable and temporary, not the ongoing pain that usually brought you in for treatment in the first place.
Stop Working Around a Tooth That Needs Attention
A damaged or missing tooth shouldn’t dictate what you eat, how you chew, or whether you feel comfortable smiling. Restorative dentistry is about getting back to using your teeth normally without constantly thinking about the problem. Emerald Dental provides restorative care at our Lakewood and Littleton offices. Schedule a consultation and find out what it would take to get your smile working for you again.
Find Us
Two Convenient Locations
Both offices are open Monday through Thursday and accept new patients of all ages.
Lakewood
Emerald Dental Lakewood
12093-A West Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228
Littleton
Emerald Dental Littleton
2731 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80123