Restorative dental services
Restorative dentistry is concerned with the repair of damaged tooth. For teeth that have had been chipped or require the removal of some tooth structure because of dental decay, a filling may be placed to restore the overall shape of strength of the tooth. Contour bonding is an extension of this where the cosmetic appearance of chipped, worn or damaged teeth is improved by layering composite resin onto the teeth. For teeth that have a limited amount of tooth structure and where a filling would not provide sufficient structural integrity then an inlay may be used. We can mill out a block of porcelain to produce a prosthetic (inlay) that fits perfectly into the missing tooth structure. Onlay is the term used when this type of restoration covers a cusp on the biting (occlusion) surface.
Dental crowns are used to treat a damaged or cracked teeth by completely covering them with a natural looking porcelain dental crown. Gaps between teeth can be filled by means of a bridge whereby the teeth either side of the gap are fitted with crowns fused together with one or more other crowns to fill in the gap. A veneer is a thin sliver pf porcelain that is used to fit over the surface of a tooth similar to the way that a false nail fits over a finger nail. Veneers can be used to cosmetically improve a tooth by changing its shade, shape and size and can also be used to fill in gaps between teeth or increase their length. A sealant is used to cover the biting surface of a tooth in order to protect it against normal wear and tear. Sealants are particularly suitable for protecting children's teeth especially in areas that do not have fluoridation.
Extractions are sometimes required when teeth fail, space is required for orthodontics or in preparation for the placement of implants. Minimally invasive treatment is both a philosophy and a series of techniques corncerned with minimising the amount of tooth removal in dental treatment.
