Biomimetric Dentistry
Translated literally, biomimetic dentistry means to copy what is life-like. When restoring damaged, broken, and decayed teeth, the goal is to return the tooth to its original strength, function, and esthetics
Restoring Damaged Teeth
Traditional prosthodontic principles (stabilization and retention) do not align with the biology (pulp survival), function and mechanics of natural teeth. In the “biomimetic approach,” the dental tissues (enamel, dentin, dej) are returned to full function through a hard tissue bond, allowing functional stresses to pass through the tooth and returning the damaged tooth to a functional, biologic, and esthetic result. This is in sharp contrast to the traditional approaches being applied today.
Biomimetic restorations include stress-reduced direct composite restorations and porcelain/composite inlays and onlays that restore the biomechanics of broken and damaged teeth. Traditional dental treatments including porcelain fused to metal crowns, gold crowns, and amalgam fillings are not biomimetic by any measure.
What Is Biomimetic Dentistry?
Translated literally, biomimetic dentistry means to copy what is life-like. Nature has provided the most successful and ideal properties to our natural teeth. When restoring damaged, broken, and decayed teeth, the goal is to return the tooth to its original strength, function, and esthetics. Biomimetic dentistry accomplishes all of this in a conservative, strong, and attractive approach.
A Different Approach than Standard Dentistry
Traditional approaches to treating damaged and decayed teeth require more aggressive preparation to place a “strong”, stiff restoration. The emphasis is on the strength of the restoration, but no attention is placed into the function and biomechanics of final restored tooth. By ignoring this critical aspect, it is no surprise that complications such as root canals occur more frequently and future treatment becomes progressively more aggressive and invasive. So begins the restorative dental cycle in which the teeth are ultimately lost from successive treatments. With Biomimetic dentistry, only the damage and decay is removed from the teeth, and the final restoration is bonded to the remaining healthy natural tooth structure. These bonded restorations function and behave “Biomimetically” and break the restorative dental cycle (not patient’s teeth)!