To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then “fill” the area on the tooth where the decayed material once lived.
Fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse (such as from nail-biting or tooth grinding).
First, the dentist will numb the area around the tooth with a local anaesthetic. Next, a drill, air abrasion instrument or laser will be used to remove the decayed area.
Once the decay has been removed, your dentist will prepare the space for the filling by cleaning the cavity of bacteria and debris. If the decay is near the root, your dentist may first put in a liner made of glass ionomer, composite resin, or other material to protect the nerve. Generally, after the filling is in, your dentist will finish and polish it.
Today, several dental filling materials are available. Teeth can be filled with gold; porcelain; silver amalgam or tooth-coloured, plastic and glass materials called composite resin fillings. The location and extent of the decay, cost of filling material, and your dentist’s recommendation assist in determining the type of filling that will best address your needs.
We are following mercury free practise and so the old amalgams are not done now a days. How ever we change the old amalgams to more aesthetic ceramic inlays and composite restorations. Please contact us for more details.
Indirect fillings are similar to composite or tooth-coloured fillings except that they are made in a dental laboratory and require two visits before being placed. Indirect fillings are considered when not enough tooth structure remains to support a filling but the tooth is not so severely damaged that it needs a crown.
During the first visit, decay or an old filling is removed. An impression is taken to record the shape of the tooth being repaired and the teeth around it. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory that will make the indirect filling. A temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth while your restoration is being made. During the second visit, the temporary filling is removed, and the dentist will check the fit of the indirect restoration. Provided the fit is acceptable, it will be permanently cemented into place.
There are two types of indirect fillings — inlays and onlays.
Inlays are similar to fillings but the entire work lies within the cusps (bumps) on the chewing surface of the tooth.
Onlays are more extensive than inlays, covering one or more cusps. Onlays are sometimes called partial crowns.
Inlays and onlays are more durable and last much longer than traditional fillings — up to 30 years. They can be made of tooth-coloured composite resin, porcelain.
Glass ionomer is made of acrylic and a specific type of glass material. This material is most commonly used for fillings below the gum line and for fillings in young children (drilling is still required). Glass ionomers release fluoride, which can help protect the tooth from further decay. However, this material is weaker than composite resin and is more susceptible to wear and prone to fracture. Glass ionomer generally lasts 5 years or less with costs comparable to composite resin.
Tooth fillings restore decayed or damaged teeth. We use aesthetic, tooth-colored materials like composite resin for a natural look, avoiding traditional mercury-based silver amalgams.
For larger restorations, we offer custom-made inlays and onlays. These are stronger than regular fillings and can last up to 30 years, ideal for long-term protection and function.
A good option for children or fillings below the gum line. These release fluoride for added cavity protection but are less durable than other materials.
Crowns cover and protect severely damaged teeth. Made from porcelain, zirconia, or metal-fused options, crowns restore both function and aesthetics with a natural look.
Dental Sealants are effective in preventing decay on the biting surfaces of your chewing teeth. Dental sealants are applied by a simple procedure in which a tooth-coloured “coating” is painted onto the surface of the tooth. This effectively “seals” the deep grooves, acting as a barrier and protecting enamel from plaque and acids.
Sealants protect the depressions and grooves of your teeth from food particles and plaque that brushing and flossing can’t reach.
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Easy to apply, sealants take only a few minutes to seal each tooth. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and can last several years before a reapplication is needed.
Children and adults can benefit from sealants in the fight against tooth decay.
Most dentistry looks like dentistry. Our goal is to provide dentistry that is undetectable. We replace existing crowns and fillings with restorations that look and feel like your natural teeth.
Where damage to a person’s teeth is extreme, and apparently beyond repair, we can use porcelain or porcelain fused to metal or Zirconia crowns to make the smile appear “as new”. This is an extremely reliable technique for repairing the most severe of dental problems, even permanently replacing missing teeth to offer a complete smile and a functional bite. How long does it take to fit a dental crown?
Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to our office. Initially, we will remove decay, shape the tooth, and fit it with a temporary crown of either plastic or metal.
On the subsequent visit we will remove the temporary crown, and then fit and adjust the final crown. Finally, we will cement the crown into place and you have a new beautiful looking tooth.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front surfaces of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility.
Placing custom veneers requires a high degree of technical skill as well as attention to cosmetic detail. We place veneers routinely, and design each case individually to match and enhance the characteristics of each patient’s smile.
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options.
With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for well over a decade.
We will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.
Refraining from using your veneers as tools to open and cut things will prolong their life, and if accidental breakage or damage occurs, it is usually possible to replace only the veneer involved.
It’s safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any appointment if you would like to whiten your teeth. You can lighten only your upper teeth or both the upper and lower, depending on how much you show when you talk and smile.
Dental bleaching can be used to correct tooth discoloration. Discolorations can be caused by aging, staining or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest in bleaching technology, Herald Square Dental can offer a safe method for creating a beautiful “brilliant” smile. In cases of extreme tooth discoloration, crowns or veneers may be the only choice, but because of the low cost of bleaching treatments, bleaching is nearly always worth a solid try.
Imagine Smiling Confidently With a Brighter Smile!
KEY BENEFITS OF TEETH WHITENING
Corrects brown, yellow and spotted tooth staining
Works on people of any age
Is a near-permanent solution for a “dull” smile, restoring brightness and brings a smile alive
First, an impression is taken to make a specialized “mouth guard” or “stent” used in holding the whitening gel against the teeth. The material is used each night for 3 nights to 3 weeks and In many cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology allows us to promise improvements in yellowing, aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, e-max crowns or veneers may be more appropriate.
Over-the-counter bleaching agents are available for purchase at drug stores and pharmacies. However, since these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth, it’s better to use products that our practice recommends.
Inlays and onlays can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin. These pieces are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the cusp tips of the tooth. An onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth.
Traditionally, gold has been the material of choice for inlays and onlays. In recent years, however, porcelain has become increasingly popular due to its strength and colour, which can potentially match the natural color of your teeth.
Inlays and onlays require two appointments to complete the procedure. During the first visit, the filling being replaced or the damaged or decaying area of the tooth is removed, and the tooth is prepared for the inlay or onlay. To ensure proper fit and bite, an impression of the tooth is made by the dentist, and sent to a lab for fabrication. The dentist will then apply a temporary sealant on the tooth and schedule the next appointment.
At the second appointment, the temporary sealant is removed. If the fit is satisfactory, the inlay or onlay will be bonded to the tooth with a strong resin and polished to a smooth finish.
Considerations for inlays and onlays
Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50 percent. As an alternative, inlays and onlays, which are bonded directly onto the tooth using special high-strength resins, can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75 percent. As a result, they can last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases, where the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire crown, onlays can provide a very good alternative.
Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:
To repair cavities.
To repair chipped or broken teeth.
To change the colour of discoloured teeth.
To close gaps between front teeth.
To make teeth look longer.
As an alternative to silver fillings.
To protect the roots of teeth when gums recede.
Preparation. The area is then carefully isolated using gauze, cotton rolls or a dental dam.
The bonding process. The tooth surface is then roughened and any decay or discoloration is removed. Any old silver fillings are also removed. The surface of the tooth is treated with various products to help the bonding material stick to the tooth surface. The tooth-coloured, putty-like resin is then applied, moulded, and smoothed to the desired shape. A special light is then used to harden the material. After the material is hardened, we will further trim and shape it, and polish it to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.
How long does it take? We typically ask our patients to set aside 1-2 hours for their bonding appointment depending on the number of teeth being bonded.
Advantages: Dental bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Unlike veneers and crowns, which are customized tooth coverings that must be manufactured in a laboratory, bonding usually can be done in one office visit unless several teeth are involved. Another advantage, compared with veneers and crowns, is that the least amount of tooth enamel is removed.
Disadvantages: Because bonding is not as strong as other options such as crowns or veneers, our patients are advised to be very careful with their bonded teeth. Also, dental bonding typically has to be repaired or replaced every few years as it will chip and discolour easily. In some cases, the cavity or the broken area may be simply too big to repair with bonding alone.
Dental Designs, Kowdiar, Trivandrum, offers top-quality general, cosmetic, orthodontic, pediatric, restorative, and preventive dental care.
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