Dental Restoration for Damaged or Decayed Teeth

Nothing looks and feels quite like natural teeth. Therefore, if your tooth becomes decayed or damaged, a dentist will try to repair or save the tooth with a dental restoration. Most people who have been to the dentist have had some type of restoration. They range from simple filings for cavities to crowns for more severely damaged teeth. This article examines the various types of dental restorations and how they can preserve the function and appearance of your natural teeth.

What is a dental restoration?

Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing or replacing teeth with the main goal of improved oral function. Though dental restorations can help the smile look better after decay or damage, their goals are oral health-related. Restorations can range from simple fillings for cavities to dental implants or dentures for teeth replacement. Here, we will focus on the restorations aimed at saving teeth so they do not need replacing.

Fillings

Cavities are small holes in tooth enamel caused by bacteria. If the cavity has not progressed too far, a filling can repair it. The dentist removes the decayed portion of the tooth and fills the hole with filling material, such as silver amalgam or composite resin.

Root canal

This procedure is necessary if the decay reaches the pulp chamber, also known as the living portion of the tooth. Cavities that go this far can be painful, leading to the loss of a tooth or other oral health problems. A dentist will remove the decayed portion of the enamel and the pulp, then fill the tooth. Sometimes, a root canal-treated tooth needs a crown for reinforcement.

Crown

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are cemented over natural teeth. They can consist of porcelain, metal, composite resin, or a combination of materials. These dental restorations serve a variety of purposes, including the reinforcement of root canal-treated and badly damaged teeth.

Inlays and onlays

Dentists use these restorations to repair teeth that need more than just a filling but do not require a dental crown. Think of these as larger fillings crafted outside the mouth to replace large parts of tooth structure. For example, an onlay covers one or more of the tooth’s cusps; an inlay fills the space between cusps.

Bonding

Though largely associated with cosmetic dentistry, bonding can restore teeth with minor chips or cracks. The dentist uses composite resin to fill a chip or crack, then hardens it with a special light.

With these tools at their disposal, a dentist has a variety of ways to save natural teeth. If you have damaged or decayed teeth, the sooner you get them treated, the better.