What Are Tooth Restorations?

There are times when teeth need to be replaced or restored, and such ways to return teeth to their undamaged state are tooth restorations. In restoring teeth, the dentist can repair missing portions of the tooth’s structure or replace missing teeth.

Some of the causes of missing tooth structure are tooth fracture, tooth decay, or deterioration of a tooth restoration that was previously worked on. Some tooth restoration examples include:

1. Dentures are a detachable replacement for missing teeth, and their nearby tissues. Dentures are made out of acrylic resin, and they may also be made with metal attachments. Partial dentures are done when there are still some teeth left. Here, the partial dentures are held in place by metal clasps that are attached to existing teeth.

2. Dental implants are tooth root replacements. A tooth implant is a small metal post that is placed in the bone socket where there are no teeth. The implant is then covered with a crown, which is a replacement tooth. Click here to read more about dental implants.

3. Bridges are false teeth that are meant to connect the gap, which is a result of one or more missing teeth. Crowns anchor the bridges on either side, and the bridges are permanently cemented into place.

4. Crowns are caps that are made to resemble teeth. They are placed over a tooth to restore its size, shape, appearance, and strength. Crowns also cover a dental implant or hold a bridge in its place.

5. Fillings are perhaps the most implemented types of tooth restoration. Teeth can be filled with silver amalgam, gold, or tooth-colored materials made out of plastic, which are called composite resin fillings.

Tooth Preparation

What are tooth restorations and how is tooth preparation important in the restoration process?

Restoring a tooth to good function and form involves two steps. These are:

a. Preparing the tooth for the positioning of restorative materials and

b. Positioning of the restorative materials.

The preparation process normally entails using special dental burrs to cut the tooth. This is done to provide space for the restorative materials. Cutting the tooth is also aimed to remove decaying teeth or tooth portions that are structurally unsound.

If it is impossible to immediately carry out permanent restoration after preparing the teeth, the dentist may perform temporary restoration. Tooth preparations may be intracoronal or extracoronal.

In tooth preparation, various factors will be considered to determine the extent and type of the preparation. Tooth decay is considered the most important factor, wherein the state of decay will define the preparation’s extent. In turn, the subsequent restoration materials and restoration method are considered.

Another factor to consider is unsupported tooth structure. When preparing the tooth for restoration, enamel that is unsupported is taken away to allow for a restoration that is predictable. While enamel is the human bodys hardest substance, enamel is especially brittle. This means unsupported enamel is easily fractured.

What are tooth restorations, and how can they contribute to one’s confidence?

When done properly, tooth restorations can increase a person’s quality of life, making him/her more confident in his/her interactions with other people.

Categories: Dental