Summary:

Let’s face it: accidents are common! They can happen at any place or anywhere. 

However, things can take an ugly turn if you’ve lost, cracked, or chipped your teeth in one of those accidents. Such instances require you to undergo dental restoration procedures to fix your smile. 

Dental restorations are a great way to restore a smile to its original state. However, the presence of multiple restoration options often tends to confuse individuals about which approach they must take. 

Keeping the same in mind, this blog closely examines the different types of dental restoration for your smile. These topics include: 

• Dental Restorations – An Overview
• Choosing the Correct Dental Restoration for Your Smile
• Things to Consider Before Undergoing Oral Restoration
• Deciding the Best Procedure

So continue reading as we learn more about therapeutic options in the following sections. 

Dental Restorations – An Overview

A dental restoration is an oral procedure that restores a broken tooth’s health, look, and function. It is the best option for individuals who might have a broken or destroyed tooth due to poor oral hygiene or dental trauma. 

However, oral restorations aren’t limited to replacing lost or destroyed teeth. In rare circumstances, a dental restoration can be performed purely for cosmetic purposes.

Different Types of Dental Restorations

Every dental restoration is unique, and each serves a unique purpose and approach to replacing lost or broken teeth. 

Here are some of the most common options suggested by your restorative dentist:

• Porcelain veneers
• Dental bridges
• Dental fillings
• Dental implants
• Dental crowns
• Composite resin bonding
• Partial or complete dentures

Oral restorations are also a common option if you’ve undergone a restorative treatment recently (such as root canal therapy). In most cases, your restorations may need to be supported by dental implants or natural surrounding teeth when you need to replace one or more missing teeth. 

Let’s learn more about these options in the following section. 

Choosing the Correct Dental Restoration for Your Smile

Based on your unique requirements, here are some standard dental restoration options to fix your smile:  

1.Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are the most common option for replacing an unhealthy tooth. They serve as protective caps, preventing further injury to already injured teeth and improving their life and smile aesthetics. 

When creating a crown, a dental lab considers each tooth’s unique form and size. Most dental crowns are gold, ceramic, porcelain, or a metal alloy. Crowns made of metal or gold last longer but are more visible. Ceramic and porcelain crowns are recommended for natural-looking dental replacements since they are durable and unobtrusive.

2. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a standard restoration that may address various structural difficulties. The procedure uses a composite resin placed on the tooth and molded to the desired form. It is one of the most economical procedures most dentists in Grants perform. Bonding primarily treats discolored teeth, minor faults and abnormalities, crooked or malformed teeth, and small gaps between them.

If the patient requests it, the composite material can be made to match the color of their natural teeth. The application process is comparable to that of fillings, with the exception that the affected teeth must first be cleaned using an etching solution before the composite is placed. Your dentist will further use a special light to cure the composite material. The tooth is polished to a gloss to finish the procedure.

3. Dental Fillings

When a tooth has a minor issue that needs fixing, dentists in Grants frequently suggest dental fillings. Oral fillings can be completed quickly using dental cement to fill the cavity that remains after decayed tooth structures have been scraped. Additional deterioration is unlikely to occur after the tooth has been sealed up. 

Children require fillings more frequently than adults since cavities in their teeth are more common in this age group. Thanks to their surface area, molar teeth are the ones that dental fillings most frequently utilize. Furthermore, molars are used for crushing and chewing food, so they are more prone to damage.

4. Fillings

Next, we have fillings, another common option to treat smaller cavities in your teeth. A cavity is generally created when germs eat away at the enamel of your teeth, creating a hole. 

In this procedure, your dentist removes the decaying piece of your tooth, uses composite material, and covers the cavity with dental putty that matches your tooth color. This procedure stops tooth decay in its tracks and lowers the possibility of further damage to your oral cavity.

5. Bridges

A dental bridge can replace several lost teeth in a row or only one missing tooth. The appliance comes with dental crowns, which support prosthetic teeth on each side of the bridge. 

Under this procedure, your dentist will shave down a part of your enamel (on both sides of the gap) to bond with your natural teeth.  Once done, the prosthetic teeth fill in the spaces between your actual teeth and the crowns that cover them.

6. Dental Implant Restorations

Dental implants are an excellent alternative for individuals seeking permanent solutions for missing teeth. As the name suggests, implants are placed directly into the jawbone, acting as an artificial tooth root in the oral cavity. 

Implants are an excellent option for regenerating and repairing a damaged tooth. What’s more? Implants are frequently combined with bridges or dentures to add to restorative procedures. Since the implants act as anchors, a restorative prosthesis supported by dental implants offers more security and stability.

7. Inlays and Onlays

A cavity may occasionally be too tiny for a crown yet too large for a filling. In this situation, your restorative dentist in Grants, NM, may suggest an onlay or inlay. These one-of-a-kind restorations slide like jigsaw pieces into your original tooth structure. 

An onlay covers at least one cusp of your teeth, whereas an inlay fills the space between the cusps. These oral appliances are cemented in place permanently by your dental professional. 

Things to Consider Before Undergoing Oral Restoration

When deciding between different dental restorations, it is essential to consider individual options and how the procedure works. Some dental restorations, such as implants, take significant time and patience. 

It is critical to consider each area while determining how to prepare for your restoration. Additionally, patients should think about their aims. Some may desire a more attractive grin, while others seek improved functioning. 

Outlining each aim can assist in choosing the optimum sort of dental repair. Gold dental crowns, for example, may be considered due to their longevity, but individuals seeking a more inconspicuous treatment option may prefer a composite-resin crown. 

Deciding the Best Procedure

Finally, it is up to the patient to determine which dental repair is appropriate for them. However, during the procedure, it is critical to consult a dentist with expertise in replacing damaged teeth. Dentists can provide patients with appropriate schedules and expectations regarding dental crowns and fillings.

Takeaway

• Dental restorations are a great way to restore your smile to its original state. 
• It is an oral procedure that restores a broken tooth’s health, looks, and function.
• It is critical to consider each area while determining how to prepare for your restoration.
• A dental bridge can replace several lost teeth in a row or only one missing tooth.
• Still confused about what’s the best option for your smile? Connect with our experts at Sundance Dental Care of Grants today!