Restorative Dentistry in Atascadero, CA

Generally dental treatment should be done after every six months; however, it is occasionally recommended beyond a particular routine cleaning. Your dentist in Atascadero may recommend you to take up a treatment plan so as to restore teeth that have discolored, cracked, chipped, decayed or even gone missing. Any tooth that is affected by the above trauma-related or developmental defects meets the requirements for restorative care. It can be a bridge, implant, crown, or a filling, there are numerous options which are available, and this depends on need.

The Dental Visit

Your dentist will examine your oral health condition in the course of a routine visit with the use of radiographic, mechanical and visual techniques so as to study the surfaces of your teeth. Some of the restorative dentistry procedures are minimally invasive and can be carried out by your dentist after making an appointment. The more sophisticated dental treatment procedures may need multiple dental visits. Some of the dental procedures may need the skills of a dental specialist, for instance, maxillofacial surgeon, prosthodontist, and endodontist.

There have been several advances recently in the field of aesthetic dental care, and your dentist in Atascadero can discuss with you some of the alternatives that can enhance the effectiveness of your treatment, and what you can expect after the procedure. Your dentist may be forced to use several types of anesthesia or sedation as well, this will allow you to stay free of anxiety or discomfort throughout the procedure.

Restorative Materials

There are 4 main types of dental materials that are used for restoring your teeth. They include:

• Gold
• Composite resin
• Dental amalgam
• Porcelain

The composite resin includes plastic or ceramic compounds which can be utilized with other materials such as glass ionomers. There are also several other products both non-precious and precious metals that are similar to gold, and are almost as durable. You will have to talk to your dentist with regards to the presence of mercury, which is harmless in a majority of restorations.

Fillings

In all the above materials, there are several treatment options that are designed to reinstate the surface of teeth or to replace any missing teeth. Fillings, for instance, usually use amalgam with an aim of restoring the surface of a tooth, and they are generally put on posterior or teeth that are positioned at the back of the mouth. The amalgam fillings are an alloy that does consist of mercury. The composite fillings, on the other hand, are the resins that are used in tooth-colored restorations, and they are used in both back and front teeth. A majority of individuals prefer them as they are not easy to identify when in the mouth.

Veneers

Veneers refer to a layer of material (composite or porcelain) and are tooth-colored similar to the composite fillings. They are cemented or bonded to the surfaces of one or more teeth, majorly those in lower and upper front teeth (incisors). They assist in improving the general appearance of the teeth which are uneven, cracked, or chipped.

Bridges and Crowns

Crowns refer to a type of restoration that covers the whole portion of a tooth which has been cracked, chipped, and damaged, or subject to broad restoration which threatens the entire tooth. They can be created from porcelain, gold, or any other ceramic material. The bridges, however, can be seen as a prosthetic replacement of either one or more natural teeth. They include crowns that are next to space with the replacement tooth connected to the crowns.

Other Restorations

For each condition in between, there is always a restorative measure that can cure it. They include:

• Bonding. It is usually referred to as composite bonding. This type of treatment can aid in lengthening or re-shaping your front central teeth.
• Onlay. This is the cemented restoration which is intended to restore the chewing surface and some parts of the surface together with the sides of the teeth which are positioned at the back of the mouth. It is similar to inlay and can be created from porcelain, gold, or any other ceramic substance.
• Inlay. This is a cemented restoration that is designed to reestablish up to three surfaces of a tooth. It can created from porcelain, gold or any other ceramic materials.
• Implant. This is a tooth replacement where a titanium screw is put in the jaw bone, and then a crown is linked to the implant. It provides a more natural appearance.