Tooth structure can be missing due to decay, deterioration of a previously placed restoration, or fracture of a tooth. Examples of restorative procedures include the following:
- Fillings are the most common type of dental restoration. Teeth can be filled with gold, amalgam, or as done most commonly these days – tooth coloured plastic and glass materials called composite resin fillings. Fillings can be placed due to chips, cracks, wear and tear and most commonly due to tooth decay. Typically placed under local anaesthetic the tooth id first cleaned of the decay, before being restored with resin material. It is important to keep the tooth dry throughout this time so that the tooth coloured plastic filling sticks. An alternative to the tooth coloured plastic filling is a ceramic filling. These although more expensive are longer lasting permanent alternative. Commonly placed over 2 appointments they, together with gold fillings are the gold standard restorative material. Ceramic fillings are also called inlays and or inlays.
- Crowns are tooth-shaped “caps” that are placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, appearance and to hold a bridge in place or to cover a dental implant. They are also commonly placed over teeth that have been root canal’d or teeth that have been heavily filled.
- Bridges are false teeth that are designed to “bridge” the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Bridges can be anchored on either side by crowns and cemented permanently into place.
- Implants are replacement tooth roots with crowns placed over them. Implants are actually small posts made of metal that are placed or screwed into the bone socket where teeth are missing. The implant is then covered with a replacement tooth called a crown.
- Dentures are a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. They are made of acrylic resin sometimes combined with metal attachments. Complete dentures replace all the teeth; partial dentures are considered when some natural teeth remain and are retained by metal clasps attached to the natural teeth. Many different materials and denture types exist.
- Implant supported overdentures where number of implants are used to stabilise the denture. Over dentures are great solutions if you struggle to keep your dentures secure, particularly on the lower jaw. This type of denture is able to be taken out each night to clean it. Other benefits may include no gum irritation issue, taste food better and better digestion due to exposed palate
- Veneers are thin layer of tooth-colored ceramic or composite resin. There are placed over your tooth to improve its shape, size or color. These restorations usually do not require any removal of your tooth structure and are ideal for covering chips, breaks or stains, or filling minor gaps between your teeth.