There is more than one way to fix a tooth. In this post from Pinnacle Dental Associates in Albany, we look at six restoration procedures that are used to repair a damaged tooth:
1. Dental Bonding
Bonding, officially called direct composite veneers, is used to fix chips, cracks, stains, and make teeth longer. It is also sometimes used to fill cavities. A skilled cosmetic dentist applies pliable composite resin and molds it to the specific shape required. The resin is then hardened with a special curing light.
2. A Porcelain Veneer
These wafer-thin covers can hide a chip or crack or correct the alignment of a tooth that is slightly crooked.
3. A Filling (Inlay or Onlay)
A traditional filling is shaped and molded after it is applied to the tooth. Because inlays and onlays are constructed in a dental lab, they are often called indirect fillings. Inlays are applied to just the center of the biting surface of a tooth (not to a cusp or point) and are generally smaller than onlays. An onlay restores one or more cusps of a tooth. If you have old silver amalgam fillings, you can replace them with white fillings.
4. A Dental Crown
A crown replaces the entire visible portion of the tooth, restoring appearance, strength, and function. Crowns are used for teeth that have had a root canal, teeth with extreme decay, the replacement tooth in a dental bridge, and the visible portion of a dental implant. Crowns can be made of all metal (such as gold), porcelain-fused-to-metal, all ceramic, or all resin.
5. Dental Implants
A dental implant is often a great restoration for a tooth that has been extracted. It restores the entire tooth—both root and crown. Most dental implant recipients report that the implant is indistinguishable from a natural tooth. Dental implants are used in a variety of applications such as anchoring dentures and dental bridges.
For more details about any of these procedures, call Pinnacle Dental Associates in Albany to schedule an appointment.