Which Dental Restoration Procedure is Right for You?

Regardless of how bad the oral issue you are currently dealing with feels, there is a dental restoration that can restore the function and appearance of any tooth that has been affected by it. It might look bad to you, but most dentists have probably seen worse cases.

As far as dentistry is concerned, there is always a way to restore damaged teeth or restore lost ones.

Understand what each dental restoration is used for

Here are some popular dental restorations and the issues they are used to deal with:

1. Fillings

Most people get a few of these over the course of their lives. These restorations are used to deal with one of the most common oral issues: Tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by acids produced by oral bacteria. These germs convert leftover food particles into enamel-damaging acids. These acids eat away at enamel, eventually creating small holes called cavities.

If left unaddressed, a cavity will continue to grow in size and it can lead to more severe issues like an infection or the loss of a tooth.

The application of fillings is a quick procedure that usually takes less than an hour for each tooth. The oral professional removes decayed matter and directly inserts the filling into the patient's tooth. The material has a putty-like consistency when applied, but it hardens under a curing light or when exposed to the right conditions. Materials like amalgam (silver fillings) and composite resin are some of the many options for filling dental cavities.

2. Dental bonding

Here is another popular restoration that can be used to address a variety of issues. It involves applying a composite resin directly to a tooth and molding it as desired. It is one of the more affordable procedures performed by dentists and it can be used to deal with issues like:

• Discolored teeth

• Minor chips and breaks

• Deformed teeth

• Small gaps between teeth

• Unresponsive stains

The composite used can be matched with the patient's teeth. Applying it is a lot like fillings, but an etching solution is used to prepare the affected teeth before the composite is added to them. Once the composite has been molded into shape, the dentist hardens it with a special light. The composite is then polished to finish up the procedure.

3. Crowns

Crowns are the most commonly used restorations. These prosthetics have many uses in dentistry:

• They are used to cover teeth that have been seriously damaged by tooth decay or trauma

• A crown can also be used to hide a severely deformed tooth

• Crowns are combined with other prosthetics like bridges and implants

• A crown can be used to hide a discolored tooth that cannot be whitened with bleaching agents

• Crowns can be used to cover up chipped and fractured teeth

• Crowns are used to protect teeth after a root canal has been performed

During the application of a crown, the dentist might remove some enamel to ensure a good fit. When placed, the crown covers the entire visible section of the tooth.

Explore your options with us

Stop by our Tucson clinic and learn more about these and any other dental restoration that can be used to improve the health of your teeth.

Request an appointment here: https://www.casasadobesdentistry.com or call Casas Adobes Dentistry at (520) 365-0559 for an appointment in our Tucson office.

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