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 CA – California men and women will need to restore a tooth at some point.
A tooth can be compromised by 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 repair minor cosmetic problems – 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 commonly the most cost-effective 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 repair 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 Mirelez Wellness Dental leaves you with more of nature’s optimal dental material — your 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 produced in a dental lab, they are usually 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 generally 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, strength, and function. A crown is generally 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 restrict 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 Mirelez Wellness Dental patients, a dental implant anchored into the bone is the optimal solution. A tooth implant consists of a strong metal post (artificial root), abutment (connecting piece), and a beautiful crown. A dental implant has many advantages over a dental bridge. They are stronger, provide virtually natural function, prohibit bone recession, and do not affect the surrounding teeth. For patients with many missing teeth, tailor-made implant-anchored dentures can be designed in any configuration necessary.
For more details about any of these procedures, call Mirelez Wellness Dental at 559-435-3113. Thanks for visiting the Mirelez Wellness Dental blog. We appreciate your interest in our Fresno dental practice.
CONTACT MIRELEZ WELLNESS DENTAL:
559-241-8424
LOCATION (TAP TO OPEN IN GOOGLE MAPS):
5492 N Palm Ave Ste B
Fresno, CA – California
93704
