Variety of Restorative Dental Treatments

Restorative dental treatments are made to replace or repair your teeth. There are several restorative treatments available and the dentist can tell you the best solution for your needs. Below are the most common ones available for dental patients.

Fillings

Fillings are the most common dental restorative treatment. They are used to fill a hole in a tooth due to decay. They can also be used for cracks and chips. There are two types of fillings. These are composite and amalgam. Amalgam fillings are made of metal and have a different color than the tooth. This is widely used because it is easy to fabricate the plastic material into fillings. They can be completed in a single session. Amalgam fillings are often used for posterior teeth. Composite fillings are ideal because they match the color of the teeth and have a smoother texture.

Crowns

Crowns are used to cap a tooth that is discolored or badly damaged. They are made of porcelain and can be used for cosmetic purposes. Crowns are often used after a root canal as well as the finishing touch for dental implants. After tooth preparation, a thin bonding agent is used. Then photo-polymerized composites are placed and cured in thin layers. After some curing, the final surface is shaped and polished.

Bridges

Bridges are utilized by dentists to replace missing teeth. They are made of crowns that go over the teeth on either side of a missing tooth. A replacement tooth is in the center. Bridges can also be used to replace several teeth in a row. Some of the materials used for bridges include porcelain, gold fused to metal, or porcelain alone.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are long term solution for missing teeth. They require dental surgery as well a healing period before the replacement teeth can be placed. Metal posts are inserted into the jaw and they fuse with the bone during the healing period. Crowns are then placed to provide a natural look. The success or failure of dental implants depends on the health of the person. The amount of stress that will be placed on the implant and fixture will be evaluated by the dentist.

Dentures

Dentures are another alternative for missing teeth. They can be partial dentures to replace few missing teeth or a full set of dentures to replace all the teeth. Dentures are removable unlike dental implants.

Post by Samuel R. Beyers [Public domain], undefined