|
|
Silver fillings
Tooth coloured (composite) fillings - Tooth-colored dental fillings, a substitute for silver fillings, offer a natural-looking alternative to amalgam. And unlike silver dental fillings, white fillings can actually be structured to resemble real teeth! Tooth-colored fillings are an excellent option for those in need of minor restorations. Not only are patients pleased with the result, but there are several clinical reasons one may choose white dental fillings over silver dental fillings. Consider the "pros" when it comes to tooth-colored fillings:
- Amalgam dental fillings darken over time, and large fillings may cause outlying enamel to appear gray
- Amalgam dental fillings sometimes require the dentist to remove more of the tooth structure. With composite fillings, only the diseased part of the tooth is removed, helping to preserve more healthy tissue.
- Composite fillings can be done in just one dental visit.
Composite resin and porcelain are excellent alternatives for patients with rare metal allergies. As some believe mercury toxicity has been linked to certain medical conditions, they may choose tooth-colored fillings as a prevention method. But throughout its long history, there has been no proof that amalgam causes any disease.
Composite Fillings - Also known as composite resin fillings, these are the most common of the tooth-colored dental fillings.
Porcelain Fillings - Porcelain may be used as an alternative to composite dental fillings, and is used to create dental inlays, dental onlays and dental crowns. Perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing of the tooth-colored restorations, porcelain fillings are more expensive than composite fillings.
Inlays and Onlays - Like dental crowns, dental inlays and dental onlays are made in a dental laboratory and cemented onto the tooth. But a dental inlay covers only a small section of the tooth, and the larger dental onlay covers the chewing surface. Because dental inlays and onlays are custom-made to fit your teeth, they are often done in two visits.
Extractions
Bridge to replace missing teeth - Missing teeth - a common dilemma for many people who have had teeth removed because of extensive cavities, gum disease, injuries, and those who may never have developed some of their teeth due to a heredity trait. Missing teeth can often be a source of embarrassment as it can also affect a person’s quality of life.
Some of the problems associated with lost teeth include difficulty in eating or chewing (hard foods can get painfully jammed into the gum), speech problems, and also cause the adjacent teeth to shift. When these teeth shift, they can create further cosmetic problems and also become more susceptible to cavities, bite problems and gum disease. With all of these potential problems, it’s good to know the pros and cons of some of the most common solutions that your dentist can offer for replacing missing teeth.
The three most common ways for a dentist to replace one or more missing teeth are a bridge, implant(s), or partial denture.
A bridge is one of the most common ways that missing teeth are replaced. The procedure involves the dentist trimming down the teeth surrounding the missing one, taking a mold (impression), and then having the laboratory construct the bridge out of porcelain and gold. The procedure takes about three visits (4 weeks), and about two hours of total in-office time. The bridge is fitted over the surrounding teeth, and cemented into place, replacing the missing one(s).
The results are generally excellent. The teeth look very natural, and the comfort level is high (for most people, it feels like their own teeth).
|
|
|
|
|