Various issues might plague your dental health time and again. Though they have different effects, a large portion causes damage to your tooth’s structure. Most people will assume that this damage only affects your appearance.
The truth is without proper dental care, the damage will affect your entire tooth’s structure and even the gums. This is because the damage provides an entry portal for bacteria into the inner layers of your teeth, the dental roots, and eventually, your systemic blood circulation. The presence of bacteria in the mouth has been linked to various heart conditions.
Cosmetic dentistry clinics in Meridian, Idaho and other locations in the U.S. have various solutions to avert these effects. These solutions are in the forms of direct and indirect restorations. Indirect restorations include dental veneers, crowns, implants, and bridges. A fitting is first done and then sent to a dental lab, which fabricates the restoration.
This customized restoration is then affixed to your damaged tooth or a supporting structure during a subsequent dental visit. They are used in instances when your tooth damage is extensive and cannot support a restoration. Direct restorations, on the other hand, are the repairs made in your mouth.
Here are the common direct dental restoration options:
1. Silver Amalgam Fillings
Silver amalgam tooth fillings comprise 50% mercury and 50% copper, zinc, tin, and silver. The primary advantages of silver amalgam fillings are low cost, exceptional durability and strength, and ease of installation. Unfortunately, the fillings are not as aesthetically pleasing and are prone to contraction and expansion depending on temperature variations. The movements might cause your teeth to crack or promote the trapping of food particles and bacteria, which increase your risk of tooth cavities.
2. Composite Fillings
These are made of synthetic resins and are extremely popular these days. This popularity is attributed to their ability to match your natural tooth color. However, composite fillings are more expensive than silver amalgam fillings and are less durable. That said, you should replace the fillings approximately every five years.
3. Glass Ionomer Fillings
These are made by mixing polyacrylic acid and silicate glass powder to create a cream-colored, hardened dental bonding agent. Glass ionomer fillings are moderately priced and will not contract or shift. They also contain fluoride-releasing compounds, which are essential for the prevention of tooth cavities and strengthening of your teeth. Unfortunately, the fillings are weak and primarily used only on non-biting dental surfaces and milk teeth.
4. Dental Bonding
In this procedure, a putty-like agent is bonded to your teeth to reshape them, reduce gaps, and repair cracks. Before its application, your teeth are filed to enhance the adherence of the bonding agent and improve the aesthetic impact of the procedure. The bonding agent will be tinted to match the color of your natural teeth, and then dried using a curing lamp.
These options are cheaper and faster to install compared to indirect restorations since their fabrication is inexpensive. Their maintenance requirements are also minimal. Unfortunately, these restorations will only work when handled by a certified cosmetic dentist.
Backstreet dental restorations might be cheaper, but using them can only lead to extensive dental issues that require expensive future treatments. Expert direct restorations will be far cheaper in the long run compared to other solutions.
