Dental problems can occur due to accidents, decay, deterioration, fractures, and injuries. In these instances, tooth restoration procedures can help you fix your teeth’ structure damage.
Different types of tooth restoration can help revamp your dentition. The best part is these procedures can work for a single tooth or your entire teeth depending on your restoration.
Plus, dental restoration comes with other benefits. Tooth restoration procedures help you prevent future dental discomfort. A great dental restoration job can improve the aesthetics of your dentition.
The only question here is what type of tooth restoration do I need? The correct answer here depends on the extent of your dental problems and the solutions you have in mind.
But we can provide direction by discussing five of the best tooth restoration procedures to consider. This information will help you the next time you speak to your dental restoration dentist.
The Types of Tooth Restoration You Need to Know
Regardless of the type of tooth restoration you decide on, hygiene is still an important part of your treatment. Your teeth needs to be totally clean before a dental restoration job. And you can ensure such hygiene by brushing and flossing before the procedure.
With that out of the way, here are five types of tooth restoration to consider for your tooth or teeth problems.
1. Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are one of the best teeth restoration methods. They also come in varieties too including gold, silver, glass, tooth colour composite, and porcelain fillings.
Dental fillings aren’t as invasive as the other teeth restoration methods in this blog. And that’s because they don’t require you to remove a noticeable amount of your tooth structure.
This tooth restoration option is for fixing teeth experiencing decay or developing cavities. Here, the dentist first removes the tooth or teeth parts with the issue. Afterwards, there’ll be a bonding of the dental filling with the tooth/teeth.
Additionally, the dental filling procedure doesn’t require so much preparation. Usually, you can complete it in a single appointment.
Advantages
- Dental fillings like gold can last up to 15 years. And you’ll particularly enjoy a gold filling if you’re a lover of abstract fashion.
- Fillings like silver also last up to 15 years. Additionally, they’re less expensive too.
- You can get your exact tooth colour with tooth-coloured composite fillings. They require you to remove only very little of your existing tooth structure.
- Dental fillings like porcelain are stain-resistant.
- They also release fluoride because their application is below the gum line.
Disadvantages
- Dental fillings like gold can be pretty expensive. Additionally, you may have to visit the dentist more than once for this filling procedure.
- Dental fillings don’t require you to remove most of your tooth structure. But silver fillings stylishly need you to remove a large chunk of your tooth structure to accommodate it.
- You’re at risk of tooth fractures and cracks due to contraction and expansion possibilities.
- You could experience tooth chipping with dental fillings like tooth-coloured composite.
- Porcelain fillings are pretty scarce and expensive too.
- Unlike the other dental fillings, glass dental filling is weak. Therefore, it’s most suitable for children.
2. Dental Crowns
A dentist will likely suggest this type of dental restoration procedure if you have significant tooth structure damage. This suggestion is because dental crowns are one of the types of dental restoration that best protects your tooth.
Another name for dental crowns is “tooth caps.” This alias is because dental crowns cover the teeth perfectly up to the gum line.
Typically, you’ll need to visit the dentist twice to fix your dentition with dental crowns. Dental crowns require significantly trimming the tooth or teeth in question. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely you’ll complete a dental crown procedure in one day.
Advantages
- Dental crowns comprise porcelain. Therefore, their installation in your teeth gives you a natural look. They’d look gorgeous, especially if they’re for front teeth.
- Dental crowns are incredible for you, especially if you want to keep your tooth restoration type a secret. Porcelain materials are usually white like natural teeth. Therefore, it’s almost impossible for anyone to tell the difference.
- You are subject to zero allergies with a porcelain dental crown thanks to the material’s biocompatibility.
Even if you’re super sensitive to allergens, you don’t have to worry about possible allergies with dental crowns.
Disadvantages
- Porcelain dental crowns can be pretty fragile. As such, you can’t afford to chew too hard with them. Biting too hard with a dental crown can crack or chip them.
- You can use dental crowns for teeth mainly meant for chewing. But, you’ll be setting yourself up for a need to be extremely careful when chewing.
- A dental crown requires the dentist to grind away a considerable chunk of your existing tooth.
- You may become extra sensitive to the hot and cold substances you consume. This reaction is due to the grinding off of a considerable part of the tooth structure.
Related Article: Dental Fillings: Materials – Gold, Ceramic, Amalgam, and More
3. Dental Bridges
This repair is one of the types of tooth restoration that shares some similarities with a dental crown. A dental bridge is a merger of multiple dental crowns. And this combination can be up to four.
Dental bridges are most helpful in filling or covering gaps left by missing teeth. As you know, a typical bridge is for connecting different ends. In the same way, a dental bridge connects to healthy teeth or implants on its sides.
Dental bridges are great. But as much as they have their perks, they also possess their downsides.
Advantages
- You don’t need dental surgery for this restoration. The only reason you may need surgery for this dentition restoration is if you have an implant-supported bridge in place already.
- Likewise, dental bridges are straightforward to administer and take a short time to heal.
- Compared to implants, bridges are more affordable. Many people take steps back regarding the types of tooth restoration upon cost confirmation. But dental bridges ensure you don’t spend too much. You can quickly work towards undergoing this procedure if you find it best for you.
- Unlike dentures, dental bridges prove more secure. For example, patients return to complain about unstable/shaking dentures. Some even complain that their dentures fall out while speaking or eating. But dental bridges promise more stability because they connect to other teeth and not your gum.
- Dental bridges get the nod ahead of other types of tooth restorations like dentures. This preference stands because bridges give a more realistic look. Dental bridges feel and appear like natural teeth.
Disadvantages
- Most times, cantilever and traditional bridges may require you to alter your healthy teeth. This assertion is proven by the need for dentists to extract a bit of enamel from healthy teeth to ensure the dental bridges properly fit. Unfortunately, the extraction may cause problems in those teeth in the future.
- Bridges don’t treat bone losses. For example, when a patient misses a tooth or more, the jawbone in the hollow areas begins to degenerate. This degeneration causes face sagging, tooth movement, and more tooth loss. In addition, dental bridges sit above gum lines. Therefore, the deterioration is inevitable. For this reason, it’s advisable to replace the tooth root with a dental implant. The implant won’t just prevent bone resorption. But it’ll also ensure the re-growth of the bone tissue.
- Unlike implants, bridges have shorter longevity. For example, dental implants can last as long as 25 years. But the lifespan of dental bridges peaks at 15.
4. Inlays and Onlays
This dental revamp is more popular than other dental restorations. Inlays and onlays are dental lab creations made to fix teeth with damage too critical for dental fillings. They are perfect for intact tooth cusps.
Advantages
- Compared to fillings, onlays and inlays provide better protection for your teeth.
- Inlays and outlays provide you with an array of colours. And this feature makes it possible to match the colour of each tooth.
- You’re in for a long ride with inlays and onlays if you take proper care of them. They’ll last way longer than fillings and other types of tooth restoration.
- Also, they’re most unlikely to trigger a sensitivity even in cases when the tooth damage is close to the tooth nerve.
Disadvantages
- You’ll need a dental lab to forge this dental restoration which makes it quite expensive.
- You’ll likely spend more time in your dentist’s chair due to the time it takes to create and affix this dental restoration. As a result, you may need up to 2 or more appointments with your dentist.
5. Dental Implants
Dental implants give the closest feeling to natural teeth. This dental restoration type uses implants to restore tooth roots. Therefore, it ensures dental alignment and preserves bone health.
Dental implants can substitute up to your entire dentition. This possibility is due to their ability to support different types of tooth restoration, including crowns and bridges.
Advantages
- Permanent tooth replacement
- Feel and look natural
- Bone loss prevention
- You can eat anything
- You can easily maintain it
Disadvantages
- Not everyone can use it
- You’ll need more than one appointment
- They’re quite expensive.
- They require surgery to affix.
- You’re at risk of complications.
Other Things To Know After Dental Restoration
There are different things you may experience after a dental restoration procedure. And you may need to carefully watch your consumption for the first 24 hours following your restoration.
Your dentist may ask you to:
- Eat tender foods
- Eat lukewarm foods
- Take warm soups
Also, after any dental restoration, you need to continue flossing and brushing your teeth daily. Ensure to ask your dentist how to brush and floss too. This inquiry is essential, so you don’t mistakenly remove a temporary restoration.
Risks or Complications of Dental Restorations
After any common teeth restoration procedures, you may experience sensitivity or the usual discomfort of post-dental restorations.
You may also develop an infection or allergy to the materials used for the procedure. However, this development is a rarity.
Also, dental restorations like glass crowns or porcelains can chip or crack just immediately after you fix them. But, again, this reaction is because they’re very fragile.
But, if you have deep tooth hollows and tarry in filling them, you can develop tooth issues. Therefore, you should speak to your dentist if you currently have problems with your dentition needing restoration.
What is the Recovery Time?
After 24 hours of the procedure, you may remain a bit sensitive. Therefore, you may need to stay off specific foods and take certain ones.
It may take a while to adjust to the affixation/repair in your dentition. But, it won’t be a noticeable length of time. Before you know it, you’ve forgotten you had a procedure.
Care After Dental Restoration
After going through any tooth restoration procedure, you need to be careful. This care will ensure your new repair or replacement lasts as long as possible.
Below are things you can do:
- You’ll need to brush and floss to care for your faux teeth as much as you would your natural dentition. Use good toothpaste and soft brushes too.
- Clean your teeth every day.
- Also, visit your dentist for proper routine checks and cleaning.
- Don’t just clean your teeth. But also remember to rinse your toothbrush after usage. You don’t want the bristles amassing debris or bacteria.
Related Article: How Long Before You Can Eat After a Filling?
Summary
The info on the different types of tooth restoration above should provide a game plan for your treatment. Now, answering the question “which teeth restoration method should I pick?” should be a lot easier.
If you still have any queries, our resident dentist can answer them. Here at Osmine Denture, we provide varied tooth restoration procedures depending on your dental condition. Call 647-294-3310 today to book an appointment.