These days you can choose from many options for a dental restoration that are suitable for repairing worn, damaged, decayed or missing teeth. Restorations are the different ways your dentist can restore or replace your missing teeth or missing parts of your tooth structure. Tooth structure can be missing due to various reasons including decay, the deterioration or weakening of a previously placed restoration or a tooth fracture. Knowing all your tooth-replacement options will help get your smile up and running again.
The teeth are designed to work together to help a person chew, smile and speak but missing teeth make it hard for people to do these things. People lose teeth for many reasons including tooth decay and gum disease. Sports injuries are also a major cause of tooth loss. Fortunately, there are many ways a person can replace missing teeth. Replacing one or more missing teeth can be important for a patient’s looks and dental health. Here are some examples of dental restorations a dentist may suggest depending on the needs of a patient.
Fillings are a popular type of dental restoration. The procedure involves placing a filling into a prepared tooth cavity. A dentist can choose from several types of filling options based on the location and type of filling. Teeth can be filled with silver amalgam, gold or tooth-colored glass and plastic materials called composite resin fillings.
A crown is a cap that is placed over a tooth and it helps to cover the tooth’s entire chewing surface. A crown can restore a tooth’s shape, appearance, strength and size. Sometimes, it can be recommended for covering a dental implant or holding a bridge in place. Teeth often need to be evenly reduced around the tooth to allow the crown to restore the shape and size of the tooth. This process can be long and it may involve an impression that is sent to a lab, with a temporary crown or filling in the meantime. There are some offices that have technology in which an impression is sent to a machine that helps fabricate the crown in the office.
Dental implants are common replacement tooth roots. Dental implants are small posts made of metal often of titanium or a titanium mixture. They are surgically placed into the bone socket where the teeth are missing. A dental implant may need an attachment referred to as an abutment that acts as a crown preparation and it can then be covered with a crown. Dental implants manage to provide good support because the implants are inserted into the jaw. This helps prevent the replacement tooth from shifting or slipping and helps a patient maintain normal speaking and eating abilities.
You should not panic if you lose a tooth. There are many dental restoration options available to you. Some common ones are fillings, crowns and dental implants. Talk to your dentist to determine the ideal solution that will keep you smiling and promote your oral health.
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