Dental Restoration Processes to Bring Back Your Smile
Dental restoration is a common euphemism to describe the processes of fixing what’s broken in your mouth. At some point we will all need to explore the various dental restoration options available to us, as our teeth just don’t last forever.
Trauma and decay take their toll over the years and maintaining a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile takes time and effort. What can we do to keep decay at bay, and when do we need to seek dental restoration services?
What is Dental Restoration?
Dental restoration is the broad name given to restoring missing teeth, or restoring the function, size, shape or structure to a tooth which has suffered from damage due to decay or trauma. This treatment can take many forms which we’ll talk more about below, but the purpose of restoration is to replace or to bring the tooth back to its former strength and match its original look as closely as possible.
What are the different types of dental restoration?
Broadly speaking, these treatments can be broken down into direct and indirect restoration processes.
Direct restoration involves making repairs directly onto the prepared tooth. Indirect restorations, however, will usually include the fabrication of a replacement tooth or part of a tooth outside the mouth which is then fitted in place once it is ready.
Examples of types of restorations include:
The process of restoring a tooth depends on its location and the severity of the problem.
In most cases, your dentist will determine how much of the tooth is worth saving and will then set about removing any damaged or infected parts of the tooth – both internally and externally. This is done with a variety of tools such as a rotary dental handpiece and dental burr, or a laser – all of which are carefully and precisely used to carve away at the tooth in the most painless and comfortable way.
Once the tooth is ready, the chosen restorative materials (amalgam, dental composites, porcelain, etc) will be used to fill or shape the tooth, creating a strong, natural-looking replacement.
All too often, we have found that our patients ignore dental pain and bad breath, perhaps buying breath mints and pain killers to combat the problem. However, a rotting tooth is probably not going to get better on its own.
Can’t I just leave a rotting tooth?
Well, yes, you can, in much the same way as you can leave a broken arm. There are, however, some compelling reasons to seek dental assistance if you are suffering from one or more rotting teeth.
- Many people suffering from rotting teeth experience fatigue as the body is using up a lot of run time trying to combat the onslaught of oral bacteria which is seeping through your system.
- Bad breath can affect your relationships and your confidence levels.
- Unattended rotten teeth can cause blood poisoning and in severe cases, sepsis or meningitis.
- As the bacteria from the rotting tooth affects the surrounding areas, gum disease can quickly follow.
Fighting the Battle with Fillings
One of the most common dental restoration procedures for dealing with decay is the humble filling.
We prefer to use composite fillings which are an excellent option for several reasons:
- Composite fillings are UV light cured which means there is no down time.
- Less healthy tooth is removed as these white fillings bond chemically with the existing tooth to create a strong and effective fix.
- Composite fillings are durable and resistant to fracture.
- Decay can be removed and the filling placed in a single visit.
Keeping Decay at Bay
It’s clear that it is crucial to attend to tooth decay or damage as soon as possible to stop it from spreading and becoming a much bigger and far more expensive problem.
Of course, we would encourage you to take preventative measures to avoid cavities and decay in the first instance. Brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding sugary drinks and snacks (especially before bed), and enjoying regular check-ups with your dentist for a good old-fashioned scale and polish is the best way to start.
If you are bothered by mouth pain or you are self-conscious over a missing tooth, please get in touch with us. Our dental team are well-known in the area for gentle, caring treatment as well as beautifully natural results.
Whether you need a filling, a root canal or any other dental restoration procedure, book a consultation with us and we’ll bring back your smile.
Information accurate at time of posting
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