Dental Restoration Guide

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Teeth that are decayed and damaged and needs to be extracted can frequently be saved by dental restorations. This includes fillings, inlays and onlays, veneer, crowns, implants, bridges and dentures. This can be made from a number of different materials.Dental restoration procedure begins when a dentist examines the patient and dental history. The tooth is first prepared for restoration, any tooth decay is removed and the tooth will be reshaped. Adjustments can take place as needed and do not usually cause discomfort. The patient’s dental hygiene depends on the longevity of a dental restoration and on other factors as well like the type of restoration used, material and the location in the mouth. In general, dental restoration requires the same care as natural teeth.

Perhaps when a blogger named dental spas as “the hottest trend” early last year, the declaration was premature. There still aren’t many places where you can have your nails done with your crown. But more and more dental spas are cropping up in cities all over America. Massage, pedicures and aromatherapy: they’re the perfect antithesis to nerve-wracking surgeries and procedures. Certainly not a few have installed zen-themed waterfalls and lighting. Dental clinics have distanced themselves from the scary dentists’ offices of the past with their strong chemical smell and have morphed into pleasant places, and all for the better.

Glass ionomers are used in areas not subject to heavy chewing pressure since they have quite a low resistance to fracture. This material is best applicable in small non-load bearing fillings i.e. areas between the teeth and the roots of the teeth. Dentists remove less of the tooth structure when preparing the tooth for a glass ionomer and therefore needs only smaller filling compared to that of an amalgam.

Glass ionomers can be described as translucent tooth-colored materials. It is a mixture of acrylic acid and fine glass powders. These materials are able to release small amounts of fluoride to lessen the possibility of tooth decay in high-risk patients. Although there have been reports of patients succumbing to allergic reactions when in contact with glass ionomers, these incidences are quite few and glass ionomers can be considered as safe for the majority of dental patients.

Source: Mainstreet Dental

Like any other cosmetic procedure, cosmetic dental treatments also have limited life span yet may have long-term consequences. Teeth that have been bleached do not stay white forever. You may have to come back to your dentist for future treatments but the decision to do so is your prerogative. Good thing that this procedure does not involve structural changes so it becomes optional. On the other hand, having veneers or dental crowns also means regular veneering or dental crown replacement when the originals break or deteriorate. This also applies to dental bonding. It is best to always ask your dentist about long term maintenance.