CONSERVATIVE DENTISTRY

Tooth coloured filling

Most of us have had amalgam fillings (silver) or gold filling restorations. Some amalgam fillings were what we have called mercury fillings, as some amalgam fillings contained mercury. Metal fillings were effective, but very conspicuous and tended to blacken in color over time. Composite resin dental fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal dental fillings. Tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth are known as composite resin dental fillings, are made of a plastic dental resin. Composite fillings are strong, durable, and make for a very natural looking smile.

Dental Sealing

Dental sealants can play an important role in helping to prevent cavities. The dentist bonds a plastic coating into the pits and fissures of the tooth, having a smoother tooth surface that is less likely to trap food and plaque and which is easier to clean with the toothbrush.

Dental crowns

If a tooth has been broken, or weakened by a lot of decay or a large filling, a crown (or cap) can be fitted to strengthen it. An X-ray may be taken to check the tooth. Crowns are shaped like natural teeth. For teeth near the front of the mouth, crowns are usually made of zirconium or full porcelain material for the most aesthetic result. Crowns on back teeth may be made of porcelain fused to metal. A local anaesthetic injection may be given to numb the tooth. Your dentist shapes the tooth so that there is room for the new crown. A mould is taken in a putty-like material so that the laboratory can make a crown that fits the tooth precisely. The laboratory work may take two or three days, so a temporary crown is fitted until the second appointment. At the second appointment, your dentist will take off the temporary crown and cement the zirconium or porcelain crown in place.

Types of Dental Crowns:

Dental crowns are made of metal, ceramic, or porcelain fused to metal. The type of crown utilized during your dental crown procedure will depend on your unique needs and goals, as well as the recommendation of your dentist.

Porcelain fused to metal crowns

Dental crowns made of porcelain fused to metal are stronger than all-ceramic versions and more aesthetically pleasing than those made of metal. However, their metal shell gives porcelain fused to metal crowns an opaque appearance. Because they lack the reflective quality of natural teeth, porcelain fused to metal crowns are not as discreet as all ceramic crowns. Additionally, over time, a thin metal band may be visible along the gum line with this type of crown.

All-ceramic crowns

All-ceramic crowns (Procera) combines excellent and profound strength with beautiful esthetics. The material consists of 99.5 % pure aluminum oxide and is biocompatible, thereby ensuring excellent long-term esthetics. It is translucent, giving the tooth a natural appearance. At the same time it is excellent for concealing underlying surfaces, such as amalgam and root fillings. With the strength in the core material, it is recommended for prosthetic reconstructions anywhere in the mouth. More and more patients are asking for constructions made of material not containing metal or other alloys.

Zirconium crowns

Zirconium crowns are zirconium. They create an extremely natural-looking appearance and are typically used on front teeth. The tooth-colored zirconium material is translucent, like the enamel of your natural teeth, and size and shade can be carefully matched to complement the rest of your smile.

Dental inlays and onlays

Dental inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair rear teeth that have a mild to moderate amount of decay. They can also be used to restore teeth that are cracked or fractured if the damage is not severe enough to require a dental crown. Inlays and onlays are usually made from porcelain, composite resin, and sometimes even from gold. Because they can be created from tooth-colored materials, inlays and onlays are often used to replace metal fillings for patients who desire a more natural looking smile. Read on to find out about how inlays and onlays may be able to enhance your smile's health and appearance. Since dental inlays and onlays can be made from durable, tooth-colored porcelain, they offer much more enduring and natural-looking results than metal fillings. In addition, their customized nature allows dentists to securely bond them to the tooth surface, adding structural integrity and preventing bacteria from entering and forming cavities.
Like dental inlays, onlays can be created from tooth-colored material, which makes them virtually undetectable to the naked eye. Onlays also help to conserve more tooth structure because their use requires minimal removal a tooth's surface. Perhaps their most important benefit, however, is that, in saving damaged teeth, onlays help patients avoid the eventual need for more extensive treatment with dental crowns, dental bridges, or dental implants.

Root fillings

There are tiny canals within your tooth that may become infected. This leads to the pulp inside your tooth also becoming infected as well. Either your dentist or an endodontist to remove any infection performs the root canal procedure. The canals are cleaned and then filled and the tooth receives either a filling or a crown. An injection of local anaesthetic can be used to numb the area. Then your dentist will remove any decay using a drill. A rubber dam will be placed over the tooth to keep it dry. Disinfectant and thin instruments are used to remove bacteria and dead cells from the root canals. There can be as up to four root canals in each tooth, and they all need to be cleaned out in this way. Root fillings are complicated to perform, and may take two or more appointments to complete. A number of X-rays need to be taken during root canal treatment. When completed, a root filling should feel no different to an ordinary filling.

Dental veneers

Porcelain veneers are very thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are routinely used by dentists as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are discolored, worn, chipped, or misaligned. On the first visit, you may have a local anaesthetic injection to numb the tooth, but this isn't always necessary. The surface of the tooth may be filed down slightly to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. The dentist will also take a mould of the tooth in a putty like material. This is sent to a laboratory where the veneer is made. The laboratory work often takes two or three days so, while the veneer is being made, you may have a slightly roughened, sensitive tooth. On the second visit, the dentist cements the veneer onto the front of the tooth. Veneers can last for several years but they can be damaged just like normal teeth due to a break or chip. The edge of a veneer may be fragile, so you should try to be careful with the use of them.