There are many causes of tooth damage, such as cavities, trauma, or simple aging. A dental procedure known as tooth repair helps you with the restoration of fracture or broken, chipped, or worn-down teeth as well as decaying teeth. Dentists have many ways, and with the help of various materials, restore the shape, strength, and functionality of your teeth. Tooth restoration restores the beauty of your smile and ensures that your oral health is not damaged any further. This blog will explain what tooth repairs are, their importance, and how the dentists at Bel Air MD Dentist restore your good smile.
What is Tooth Repair?
Tooth restoration is used to restore the teeth in cases where they are chipped, cracked, decayed, worn down or broken. It helps in the recovery of natural appearance, strength and shape of the tooth. Dentists perform several procedures to restore damaged teeth using fillings, crowns, bonding, and veneers. Tooth repair not only makes your smile better but also prevents many tooth complications such as pain, infection or even losing a tooth. Visit Bel Air MD Dentist to get budget friendly tooth repairs by top professionals.
Types of Tooth Repairs
The following are the types of tooth repairs:
Dental Fillings
The most widespread type of tooth repair is associated with filling to prevent cavities. Dentists clean out the rotten part of the tooth, and replace it with material such as tooth, resin, and amalgam. This helps regain the natural tooth aesthetics and functionality.
Dental Crowns
A crown is a cap that covers cracked, broken or weakened teeth. By covering all the visible areas of the tooth, they make them strain-free and guard them against further damage. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or a combination of both materials.
Dental Bonding
Bonding is used to repair small chips, cracks or spaces in natural teeth. A tooth colored resin is placed on the damaged portion by the dentist and molded and fixed using a special light. It enhances the teeth appearance.
Veneers
Veneers are sleek sheets, normally compressed porcelain, that are placed on the front of the teeth. They help in correcting dingy, chipped and slightly misplaced teeth to have a more appealing smile.
Root Canal Treatment
Severe tooth decay that extends to the inner pulp may require root canal therapy. This procedure eliminates infected tissue, cleans the tooth internally and seals it. It helps restore natural teeth instead of their removal.
Inlays and Onlays
These are made specifically to fit into larger cavities that cannot be filled with ordinary fillings. Inlays go inside the tooth, whereas on lays cover one to more cusps. They are both effective and long lasting solutions.
Common Sign and Symptoms
Following are the common sign and symptoms:
- Visible chips or cracks in teeth
- Pain when chewing food
- Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks
- Tooth discoloration or dark spots
- Uneven edges of teeth
- Changes in tooth shape or size
- Swelling or discomfort around the tooth
- Gaps created between teeth
Procedure of Tooth Repair
Detailed steps of dental repairs are given below:
Examination and Diagnosis
The dentists will first of all examine the teeth and look for any destruction, decay or cavity. They can use X-rays to determine the exact condition of the tooth and to determine the best repair procedure.
Cleaning and Preparation
This step involves the cleaning of the broken or rotten root of the tooth. This ensures that no bacteria remain inside the tooth. The dentist may also reshape the tooth when placing a filling, crown, or veneer.
Repair or Restoration
Depending on the nature of the damage, the dentist works around restoring the tooth by using composite resin or porcelain or metal. This may involve the filling of small holes, bonding of minor chips or placement of a crown in case of large cracks.
Finishing and Polishing
Once the dentist has completed the repair procedure, they will shape and polish the restoration to match your natural teeth. This helps restore the tooth’s appearance and ensures it can function properly for biting and chewing.
Final Check
Finally the dentist checks your bite and makes adjustments. This ensures your treated tooth feels normal and functions properly.
Preventive Measures
Following are the preventive measures by which an individual can maintain his/her oral health:
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Clean your teeth using fluoride-enriched toothpaste twice a day and floss your teeth every day. This is effective in removing plaque and ensures the health of the teeth.
Regular Dental Checkups
Visit your dentist regularly every 6 months to have a complete dental check up and cleaning. Early diagnosis of minor teeth damages may avoid expensive treatments in future.
Wear Mouth guards
Wear a mouth guard when you are playing contact sports or grind teeth at night. It protects the teeth against chips, cracks and wears.
Healthy Diet
Limit foods and beverages that are high in sugar, and acidic drinks which reduce the strength of tooth enamel and lead to cavity formation. A balanced diet will help you have stronger teeth.
Avoid Bad Habits
Avoid habits such as nail biting, using your teeth to open bottle caps, or chewing ice, as these can increase the risk of cracks and chips.
Stay Hydrated
Wash away food particles and bacteria by drinking plenty of water. Fluoride water also serves to strengthen the enamel of the teeth.
FAQs
What is tooth repair?
Tooth repair is a dental procedure used to fix damaged, decayed, chipped, or broken teeth. It helps restore the tooth’s natural shape, strength and function.
Does tooth repair hurt?
The majority of teeth repair treatment procedures are painless as they do not involve any pain due to numbness of the infection site using a local anesthetic.It may cause mild discomfort that typically subsides over time.
How long does a tooth repair last?
This depends on the type of repair you would like to have and the way you take care of your teeth. Bonding or fillings can last for several years and crowns and veneers can last 10-15 years or more when taken care of.
Can all broken teeth be repaired?
Yes, the small chips, cracks and cavities can be repaired by dentists. But, when one is badly damaged below the gum line, it can require the removal of a tooth and replace it.
Is tooth repair expensive?
This can depend on the type of repair and on the material used. Simple fillings tend to be less expensive whereas crowns, veneers or inlays/onlays are expensive.
How can I prevent tooth damage?
You can prevent tooth damage by adopting good oral hygiene habits, regular visits to your dentist, wearing mouth guards where necessary, and avoiding habits such as nail-biting.
