Dental restoration
There are a number of ways teeth can become damaged and in need of restorative dental treatment. During
your regular check-ups your dentist will identify any decay, cracks, chips or oral health diseases. Dental
restoration fixes these problems. Treatment may be as simple as getting preventative advice regarding
brushing and flossing techniques to reverse early damage. Or it can mean getting a filling or crown.
The great thing about dental restoration is that it means keeping and fixing up your natural teeth, so they
continue to be part of your smile.
Materials used for dental
restoration
Dentistry has changed a lot over the years. As a result the number of effective
materials used for fillings and crowns, has increased.
Should you need this type of in-chair treatment, your dentist will discuss what
options are available in order to restore your teeth to fully-functioning health. Some
materials used by dentists include: gold, amalgam (silver), and ceramics (porcelain).
However, tooth coloured fillings, made from a composite resin material, and ceramic
crowns are generally the preferred option.
Getting a composite filling
Lyndsey, a dentist at Keppel Dental, says:
“Modern dentistry is all about treating oral health problems with as
little impact as possible. It’s therefore important to use materials that
allow the teeth to function as they should, but also look and feel
natural within the mouth.
Composite fillings and ceramic crowns are perfect examples of modern dental
materials that tick all the boxes. They both have the advantage of looking natural in
the mouth and can be colour matched. The choice of whether to use one or the other
often depends on the size of the filling needed.
- Composite fillings are ideal for smaller repairs,but generally don’t last as long as
ceramic crowns. This is why they have a lower initial cost. - Ceramic crowns are stronger and harder wearing.They last longer than
composite fillings, so are used when the tooth needs larger restorative treatment. - For both crowns and fillings, treatment begins by applying an anaesthetic gel.
This numbs the area we’re working on. Your dentist then prepares the teeth by
removing any decay or weakened tooth structure.
If getting a filling, the next step is to fill the hole with the colour-matched composite
filling and bond it to your tooth. And that’s it.
Getting a crown, on the other hand, requires two appointments. The first involves
preparing the tooth (as explained above) andtaking a 3D scan of your mouth. A
natural-looking temporary crown is placed on your tooth to protect it. After the
appointment the images from your 3D scan are sent to a lab where a technician
builds your custom-made crown.
Once we’ve got this back, we’ll schedule the second appointment so we can remove
the temporary crown and fit the permanent one.”
How long do fillings last?
On average, a composite filling can last around five to seven years.
Taking action like practising good oral hygiene at home, maintaining a
low sugar diet, and having regular dental check-ups can help them last
even longer.
Need to book an appointment
to discuss dental restoration?
If you think you have a decaying tooth or gum disease that needs attention, book an
appointment with a dentist. At Keppel Dental our dentists will help uncover
the problem and discuss all dental restoration options available to you.
