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Dental treatment is a medical procedure that may involve artificially modifying dentition. Many of us are overwhelmed by this terminology and don’t really understand what it means. Common dental procedures like fillings and repairs, braces, crowns and caps, root canals, and veneers will be explained one by one below for us to understand what these procedures are.
Filings and Repairs
Fillings are used to repair a hole in a tooth caused by decay and cavity. It can also be caused by tooth trauma that is caused by cracked or broken teeth, teeth that are worn out from unusual use such as nail biting, tooth grinding and using the teeth to open up things. Different materials can be used to repair teeth. The most common is composite fillings made from a tooth-colored resin which looks and feels like natural teeth. Another common type of filling is an amalgam which is made from a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin, copper and zinc.
Braces
Braces are devices used to straighten or moving the teeth to improve the appearance and how they work. They also used to correct the alignment of the teeth and bite-related problems, including underbite and overbite. They do straighten the teeth by exerting steady pressure on the teeth.
Braces can also be removable, so it can be taken out and be cleaned. They can be made of metal, ceramic or even plastic. There are also invisible braces which are made of clear plastic.
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Crowns and Caps
Crowns are dental restoration that protects damaged, broken or cracked teeth. Dental crowns, also known as caps, sit over the entire part of the tooth that lies above the gum line. They are made from porcelain, metal or combination of the two. They are used to cover cracked, severely damaged and stained or chipped teeth to hold dental bridges in place.
For the crown to be fit on the tooth, the old tooth will need to be drilled down so it is like a small peg the crown will be fixed onto.
Root Canals
Root canal treatment, also called endodontics tackles infection at the center of a tooth, or the root canal system. It treats diseases or absessed teeth. Once the tooth is injured, decayed or cracked, it is necessary to open the tooth and clean out the infected tissue in the center. This space is to be filled and the tooth is sealed with a filling or crown to stop it from becoming infected again. Root canal treatment requires two or three visits to your dentist.
Veneers
Veneers are strong, thin pieces of resin material or ceramic that are bonded to the teeth. They are used to repair, chipped, decayed or stained teeth. Veneers help in closing gaps between teeth.
To fit a veneer, the front of tooth is drilled away a little. An impression is taken and a thin layer or porcelain is fitted over the front of the tooth. Generally, veneers are only available on private, unless you can show a clinical need for them.
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