In a perfect world, each of your cherished teeth would stay healthy, strong, and brilliantly white throughout your life. The truth is, however, that most Michigan men and women will need to restore a tooth at some point.
A tooth can be compromised by tooth decay, enamel erosion, a chip or crack, gum disease, or injury. Sometimes old restorations break and need to be replaced or root canals performed decades ago develop an abscess.
Here are 7 different options for repairing a damaged tooth:
Dental Bonding
Bonding, officially called direct composite veneers, is used to fix minor cosmetic issues – small chips, cracks, discoloration, and spaces between teeth. A skilled cosmetic dentist applies moldable tooth-colored composite resin and shapes as desired. The resin is then cured with a special light to harden and adhere tightly to the tooth. Composite bonding is typically the most affordable option for improving healthy teeth with minor cosmetic issues.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin tooth-shaped fronts that are permanently bonded to your natural teeth. They are used when the underlying tooth is structurally sound and free of cavities. A beautiful veneer can cover a chip or crack or correct the alignment of a tooth that appears slightly off-kilter as compared to surrounding teeth.
Fillings
Modern white fillings are strong and inconspicuous. A minimally invasive filling at Gustafson Morningstar Dentistry leaves you with more of nature’s optimal dental material — your own enamel and dentin. We can also replace old amalgam fillings with white fillings. This makes your teeth look a lot better every time you open your mouth. Get rid of all that metal!
Inlays and Onlays
A traditional filling is shaped and molded after it is applied to the tooth. Because inlays and onlays are constructed in a dental lab, they are frequently called indirect fillings. A less invasive inlay or onlay may be used instead of a traditional filling or, in some cases, a crown. Inlays are applied to just the center of the biting surface of a tooth (not to a cusp or point) and are typically smaller than onlays. An onlay restores one or more cusps of a tooth.
Crowns
A crown replaces the entire visible portion of the tooth, restoring appearance, durability, and function. A crown is typically necessary for a tooth that has had a root canal, a tooth with acute decay, or as the replacement tooth in a dental bridge. Attaching a crown to the abutment is the final step of a tooth implant procedure. Crowns can be made of all metal (such as gold), porcelain-fused-to-metal, all ceramic, or all resin.
Soft Tissue Grafts
Gum recession puts teeth and underlying bones at risk. Soft tissue grafting can cover the exposed root of a tooth to prohibit further damage. Gum surgery is also performed for cosmetic reasons such as reshaping a gumline to eliminate a “gummy” smile.
Dental Implants
What if a tooth has to be extracted because it is beyond saving? For many Gustafson Morningstar Dentistry patients, a dental implant anchored into the bone is the proper solution. A tooth implant consists of a strong metal post (artificial root), abutment (connecting piece), and beautiful crown. A dental implant has many advantages over a dental bridge. They are stronger, provide virtually natural function, restrict bone recession, and do not impact the surrounding teeth. For patients with numerous missing teeth, individually-constructed implant-anchored dentures can be created in any configuration needed.
For more specifics about any of these procedures, call Gustafson Morningstar Dentistry at 248-541-8770. Thanks for visiting the Gustafson Morningstar Dentistry blog. We appreciate your interest in our Royal Oak dental practice.
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