Dental Blog

Common Kinds of Teeth Restoration Techniques

May 272012

When a tooth gets infected, it must be treated. Tooth infection unfortunately is one the most common problems people suffer, yet continues to occur. The extent of tooth decay associated with infection can greatly vary, depending on how long the infection last and how deep into the tooth it has spread. It is this extent which determines what kind of restoration is most suitable for the decayed tooth.

Following are some of the most common teeth restoration techniques in modern dentistry:

Dental Filling

A dental filling is used to restore teeth with cavities. Amalgam and composite resin fillings are the two most common types of filling materials. Mostly, tooth colored composite restorations are done in areas more visible when a person speaks and smiles, while silver amalgam fillings are used in the posterior teeth where esthetics is not a concern, but function is.

Bonding

Bonding involves using tooth colored composite resin material to build up and fill teeth. They are indicated in a variety of dental problems such as chipped teeth, discoloration, abnormal tooth shape, gaps with teeth and are even used as cements for bonding orthodontic brackets upon the teeth for orthodontic treatment.

Dental Crown

A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy requires further aid in its restoration through a crown. A dental crown is like a cap placed upon the treated tooth to enhance its stability and strength. Teeth which have undergone root canal therapy, those that are cracked or extensively broken require the use of a dental crown to restore their function. Dental crowns may also be used to improve esthetics of teeth damaged in the anterior portion of the face, such as those which extreme discoloration or a large gap or chip.

Dental Bridge

For the replacement of a lost tooth or multiple teeth, dental bridge may be used. This is a prosthesis resembling a multiple crowns fused together, taking their support from adjacent teeth to the missing tooth region. In essence, the bridge consists of a prosthetic tooth called a “pontic”, attached to two crowns which act as anchors for the crown, known as “abutments”.

Dental implant

Dental implants are permanent replacements for missing roots of teeth, used to give superior retention to dental prosthesis such as a crown, a bridge and dentures. Dental implants in essence are Titanium metal screws which are drilled into the bone where a previous tooth existed, to replace its root. It is then used to give retention to a dental restoration.

Dentures

Dentures are acrylic replacements for lost teeth. They consist of a denture base which resembles the color of the gums, and acrylic teeth to replace the lost teeth. They rely on the saliva and bone for their retention in the mouth, sometimes even a clasp which attached onto an adjacent tooth if present.

Full mouth reconstruction

The process of simultaneously rebuilding and restoring all the teeth of the upper and lower jaws both is known as full mouth reconstruction. It involves the use of multiple tooth restoration techniques to achieve the desired and ideal result.

Dental Bridges – Overview

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May 162012

Missing teeth can have a negative impact on the esthetics of one’s smile and function of the teeth during speech and chewing. Missing teeth can cause drifting of the adjacent teeth, changes in the occlusion or bite of the individual, Temporo- Mandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder and speech impairment.

For the replacement of missing teeth, dental bridges are a common option as a restorative technique along with dentures and implants.

Types of Dental bridges

Dental bridges are not removable and are of three types, namely:

Conventional fixed bridge
Cantilever bridge
Resin- bonded bridge

Conventional and cantilever fixed bridges normally require cutting and shaping of the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth region, for support of the bridge by crowns. These supporting teeth are known as “abutment” teeth whereas the crown replacing the missing tooth itself is called a “pontic”.

Resin- bonded bridges require less tooth cutting of the adjacent teeth, protecting healthy and sound tooth substance. These are normally used for the replacement of anterior teeth as esthetics is a crucial factor in this region.

Procedure for a Dental bridge

It is essential to have healthy gums and sound abutment teeth structure before a dental bridge is indicated. If the adjacent abutment teeth are decayed, they may first need to be restored in order to be prepared for receiving a crown.

The dental bridge procedure may take up to 2- 3 appointments involving crown cutting, bridge fabrication and trial and placement of the bridge.

Once the oral health status has been assessed, a local anesthetic is administered to reduce pain and sensitivity during cutting and preparation of the abutment teeth. Once the crown preparation is complete, an impression using putty- like material is taken of the prepared teeth and missing tooth region to make a model, upon which fabrication of the dental bridge by a dental lab technician is done. While the model is at the dental lab for the bridge fabrication, a temporary bridge may be placed upon the prepared teeth to maintain tooth function, protect them from damage and to prevent an unsightly appearance while waiting for the bridge to be completed.

Fabrication of the dental bridge must be done extremely accurately to ensure success of the bridge in the oral cavity, without any later complications such as an ill- fitting bridge or a bulky bridge with undercuts which may lead to plaque accumulation and infection of the abutment teeth. If this occurs, the bridge will be a failure.

When the fabrication of the bridge is complete, it may be placed on a trial basis over the prepared teeth to ensure a precise fit. Once this is achieved, the bridge is then permanently cemented over the abutment teeth, replacing the missing tooth. The function and esthetics of the missing tooth as well as the prepared teeth is restored with the help of the bridge.

Dental bridges may also be additionally anchored by a dental implant, should the adjacent abutment teeth not be sufficient for its support and retention.

Dental Filling – An Overview

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Apr 122012

Tooth decay is a common problem that results in the formation of cavities in the teeth. The bacterial breakdown of tooth structure can lead to weakening of the affected tooth surface which then leads to loss of tooth substance and the eventual formation of a crater-like lesion on the tooth surface. Once a cavity has formed, it cannot be reversed and permanent loss of tooth structure has occurred. If left untreated, a cavity with active tooth decay will progress and continue to grow and go deeper within the tooth structure, eventually causing infection of the tooth and its sequelae.

What is a dental filling?

To treat a decayed tooth with a cavity, a dentist uses biocompatible materials to fill in the cavity formed by the decay process. This is known as a dental filling, and is usually performed by a Restorative or Operative dentist, though a General dentist also performs fillings.

Dental fillings can be done to fill in cavities and can also be performed to repair cracked teeth or to build up lost tooth structure as well.

What is the dental filling procedure?

When preparing a tooth for a filling, it is crucial to always first remove the decayed areas of the tooth before placing the filling or the filling will fail its purpose of restoring the tooth’s natural structure and function. Removal of a decayed area of a tooth may be painful or make the tooth highly sensitive, so a local anesthesia is usually administered around the tooth bearing area prior to its removal.

After administering the local anesthetic, the dentist will then remove the decayed tooth substance with the help of a handpiece or “drill” as it is more commonly known. Modern technology allows for decayed tooth substance to be removed with the help of water and laser powered machines, eliminating the use of the drill altogether and making the experience more comfortable for the patient.

After removal of decay, the area is the checked for any remaining decay with a probe, then it is lined with a material to ensure prevention of sensitivity in the tooth pulp after the treatment. The material of choice is then filled within the cavity and is finished and polished to follow the natural anatomy of the tooth.

What filling materials are commonly used?

Although there are numerous materials used for fillings in teeth, the most commonly used are as follows:

Silver fillings (Amalgam): The most widely used and conventional filling material available, made of silver and other metal alloys and is of superior strength and durability.
Composite resin filling material: Tooth-colored durable filling material used to build up and restore teeth with a more esthetic result as compared to silver fillings.
Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) filling: Tooth-colored filling material which bonds naturally to tooth structure and has the ability to incorporate fluoride within its structure and release it into the tooth.

Porcelain/ ceramics:these are mostly used for inlays and onlays, and used to make dental crowns and veneers.