The types of cavity treatments fall into two different categories. Those categories are direct and indirect restorations. Direct forms of cavity treatment include options like fillings made from composite resin and amalgam. Indirect forms are crowns or onlay restorations.
Direct restoration can be completed without the need for work to be done with a dental laboratory. Indirect restoration has to be made using a dental laboratory and cannot be performed directly in the mouth the same way direct restoration can. An indirect restoration is typically used when the patient has extreme damage and tooth decay. Direct restoration is used to repair minor damage to the patient’s teeth.
Fillings are a common option for cavity treatment. It is accomplished by inserting material into a tooth in order to fill the cavity. Fillings can be made out of gold, porcelain, amalgam, ceramic, or composite resin. Depending on the type of fillings the patient is having done, the restoration can be done in one to two office visits. If the patient has a composite filling, the procedure can be done in one office visit. However, if the patient has ceramic or porcelain fillings, a second office visit is required. Fillings are used to fix small damaged areas of tooth decay. They are commonly used when there is minor damage to the tooth and can be easily remedied by using one of the above-listed materials.
Dental crowns are a type of dental restoration where the entire tooth is covered and is usually made of metal or ceramic materials. This type of dental restoration is used when fillings are not enough to fix an infected or damaged tooth. They are typically used to stop large cavities from destroying the health of the tooth. Essentially, crowns are used to give the tooth a restored look and provide an extra layer of strength. Although the tooth underneath is damaged, the appearance of the tooth on the outside of the crown is perfect.
Dental bridges are used to restore one or several missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth to other teeth or dental implants. This is done by using crowns and connecting them to cover several teeth that are damaged. Bridges are basically the same thing as a crown, but they are for multiple teeth and not just a single tooth. They are used to help fix the teeth and make it easier for one to do a daily task, like chewing, talking, or eating.
A dental implant includes the process of adding an artificial tooth is to the patient’s mouth by drilling a metal post into the jawbone and placing the fake tooth. This is the same procedure as denture implants but on a smaller level, for only a few teeth that once had cavities, instead of a full mouth of teeth.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating cavities. The dentist will evaluate the needs of the patient in order to create a customized plan. It is not uncommon for dentists to rely on several methods when treating numerous cavities.
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