If you require a filling in your tooth, a cosmetic option would be to choose a white filling material that matches the shade of your surrounding natural teeth. The other option is to have a traditional ‘amalgam’ filling in the back teeth. Your dentist will discuss the options and costs with you.
A crown is a cap that is placed over a tooth and held in place by dental adhesive or cement. The dentist will prepare the tooth, take an impression or a scan which is sent to the laboratory. A dental technician will then make the crown. In the meantime the patient will have a temporary crown, before they return to have it fitted.
Crowns are used for several reasons:
- as a protective cover for badly decayed teeth or fractured teeth
- as a permanent restoration for teeth with large fillings
- As a protective cover after a tooth has had root canal treatment
Crowns are made from either non precious metal, precious metal, metal bonded to porcelain, or entirely porcelain. An entirely porcelain crown achieves a very natural result, and allows the crown to blend in with the patient’s natural teeth.
If you have a missing tooth, a bridge may be an option for you to restore the gap. The tooth or teeth either side will need to be prepared for a crown, which acts as the support for the tooth over the gap. Another option may be to have a metal wing placed on the back of the adjacent tooth, which is less destructive technique.
Inlays or onlays can be made from a number of strong materials such as metals, ceramic or composite.
An inlay is a small filling that fits into the biting surface of a tooth. An onlay covers a larger area of the tooth and is better suited to bigger cavities, and can also be placed as an alternative to a crown after root canal treatment.
A denture is a removable prosthesis used to replace missing teeth. Commonly referred to as ‘false teeth’, a denture is usually made of acrylic or a combination of acrylic and metal. A partial denture is fitted to replace some missing teeth whilst a complete denture is indicated when all natural teeth are missing. A good set of dentures helps you to eat, speak, function, and often improves a person’s appearance.
Depending on the complexity of each case, the duration of the treatment will vary. After the initial visit of examination and diagnosis, the subsequent visits will include taking impressions of the mouth, bite registration, try-in of the denture, fitting and review.