A guide to biomimetic restorative dentistry in Maryville, TN

Today, dentists like Dr. Proffitt can rebuild teeth “from the roots upward.” These teeth are designed to look, feel, and function no differently than healthy, natural teeth. With that being said, at Proffitt Dentistry in Maryville, TN, we appreciate that there is still no replacement tooth that looks and performs better than the “real thing.” For this reason, we use techniques, technologies, and materials that preserve most of the natural tooth structure. We are true practitioners of “biomimetic dentistry.” This guiding principle supports our patients’ lasting health, comfort, and well-being.

What is biomimetic restorative dentistry?

“Bio” refers to “life,” while “mimetic” refers to “mimicking” or “imitating.” So, biomimetic dentistry essentially copies or mimics what nature intended. When rebuilding a part of a tooth or an entire tooth, biomimetics is a technique used to bond synthetic materials to the tooth structure. Better bond means less sensitivity, longer lasting restorations, and less of the natural tooth is altered, and more tissue is conserved. These features produce a better result – a tooth that bends and moves naturally and with other physical properties that make it indistinguishable from unaltered teeth. No other technique can restore a tooth any closer to its original condition.

Biomimetic dentistry … in action

Missing portions of a tooth or cracked teeth may be precisely “pieced together” like pieces of a puzzle. Teeth may be bonded or restored without removing excessive amounts of natural tissue or introducing excessive lab-made parts (such as posts, pins, and crowns).

Here are a few examples of restorations or treatments that embody biomimetic principles:

Treating cavities with tooth-like composites – Metal-free composite fillings are both non-toxic and require minimal removal of natural tooth structure. Traditionally, metal fillings need more of the tooth structure to be drilled away to allow for retention of the filling material. Composites keep alteration of the natural tooth structure to a minimum.
Conservatively prepared and placed crowns – This approach eliminates the aggressive removal of otherwise healthy tooth structure through the drilling process. We use advanced materials and products to replicate the natural durability and resiliency of the teeth that developed with you. This design further reduces the stress placed on the tooth over time, which results in crown failures and shortens the lifespan of the treated tooth.
Implant-supported teeth – Tooth replacement with dental implants embodies biomimetic dentistry. After all, the implant itself is placed in the jaw and designed to function as a tooth root. Once the biocompatible implant joined by the surrounding bone in the jaw, it can effectively stabilize the overlying tooth. Conventional forms of tooth replacement only replicate the part of the tooth seen above the gum line, not the root. Implants represent the only type of tooth replacement that is designed like natural teeth.

As noted, biomimetic dentistry offers many benefits as an option that is: