Having teeth that function well throughout ones lifetime is paramount to one’s health and well being. Restorative dentistry aims to provide that function when a tooth is damaged. The type of restoration chosen depends on many factors such as the extent of the damage and the nature of this damage. Feel free to discuss the following options with us at any time.
Fillings?
These are the most common restorations, used to replace decayed, eroded or fractured portions of a tooth. The materials used are gold, amalgam or composite resin.
Onlay
Teeth with too much damage to be repaired with a filling may require an onlay. This is an indirect restoration, which means it is made outside of the mouth then cemented or bonded in place after being made. An onlay can be made of porcelain, gold, composite resin or any number of new materials which combine strength with the beauty of a natural tooth. Onlays are more conservative than crowns but stronger and longer lasting than a filling.
Crowns
This restoration fully encases or “caps” a tooth. It is placed over a natural tooth or can top a dental implant. Teeth requiring crowns are often badly broken down have had extensive decay or have had root canal treatments which cause a tooth to become more brittle due to the loss of vitality.
When a tooth is missing the options for replacement are a bridge, an implant with a crown or a denture (whether complete in the case of missing all of the teeth or partial when one or more teeth are missing).
The bridge and implants are fixed into the mouth whereas the denture is often removable though it can be held in place with implants.
Bridges
Are used to replace missing teeth when there are teeth present on either side of the missing tooth. They are made of gold, porcelain or a combination of the two. Many new materials are emerging again combining strength with esthetics. This restoration is fabricated outside of the mouth and cemented or bonded in place permanently. A bridge can restore the function and appearance of a missing tooth for the most part.
Implants
A
re used to replace the root of a missing tooth with a titanium post. This post is then topped with a crown. This is considered to be the best option for replacing a missing tooth in most cases because it does not rely on the restoration of other teeth.
Dentures
are a replacement for missing teeth and tissues. There are many different designs for these dentures and with the combination of dental implants many of the problems with conventional
dentures are overcome.
There are presently many options to restore damaged teeth, but nothing is as strong or functional as your natural sound tooth. That is why we focus on preventative dentistry; but when you desire one or more restorations, do not hesitate to contact Art & Science Dental.
