Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry encompasses the dental specialties of Endodontics (root canal treatment related dental treatment), Periodontics (the diagnosis and management of gum disease and related gum problems) and Prosthodontics (the restoration and replacement of teeth – both with fixed and removable prostheses).

What is Restorative Dentistry?

Restorative Dentistry is the study, diagnosis and integrated management of diseases of the oral cavity, the teeth and supporting structures. It includes the rehabilitation of the teeth and the oral cavity to functional, psychological and aesthetic requirements of the individual patient, including the co-ordination of multi-professional working to achieve these objectives.

Restorative Dentistry is recognised dental speciality in the United Kingdom by the General Dental Council. Since its inception nearly 50 years ago, the speciality has seen significant changes and has developed in response to factors such as: increasing life expectancy; greater patient awareness and expectations of dental treatment; a widespread understanding of the need to prevent oral diseases developing and to maintain oral health; our ability to treat patients with more complex conditions, the increasing recognition of the importance of oral health for complex medical and surgical conditions and the more recent establishment of multi-disciplinary clinical teams.

In the future, further significant changes within health care systems and the increasing needs of the population are likely to see an increasing demand and need for Restorative Dentistry services.

The foundation of Restorative Dentistry is based upon the interaction of these specialties in cases requiring complex, multi-faceted care. Restorative Dentistry is sometimes referred to as ‘Oral Rehabilitation’ due to the increasing need for multidisciplinary and integrated care within and out with the speciality including Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric Dentistry and Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, due to the increasing complexity of oral health problems as people live longer.

What we do

The focus of the Restorative Dentistry speciality is to work with other dental, medical and surgical specialists and other clinical colleagues, to provide and support the integrated management and oral rehabilitation of patients with complex treatment needs. We undertake out-patient diagnostic and treatment service for the following dental problems:

Patients affected by developmental disorders such as hypodontia (failure of teeth to develop), cleft lip and palate, advanced periodontitis (gum disease) and developmental dental disorders, who require multidisciplinary care
Assessment and management of patients who require surgery and/ or radiotherapy for the management of oral/ head and neck cancer.
Patients who have had traumatic injuries to the face, mouth and teeth (including the placement and restoration of dental implants to replace missing teeth)
Patients who have sustained damage caused by periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, tooth attrition and acid erosion (commonly referred by General Dental Practitioners for specialist advice)
Patients with severe medical and surgical problems to ensure the best treatment outcome
We are also a teaching Department for visiting Specialty Registrars and Dental graduate trainees

At the Royal Surrey we also have a close working relationship with the associated specialities of Orthodontics and Maxillofacial Surgery. We routinely provide the following multi-disciplinary clinics: