Tooth – Shaped Caps Dental Crowns are tooth – shaped " caps " used to repair and beautify cracked , damaged , or discolored teeth. Your dentist will make a molded impression of the tooth or teeth to be treated and will send it to a dental lab. There , a custom – fitted crown will be created.

Dental crowns can be fabricated using a variety of materials , including

• Metal
• Porcelain fused to metal
• All – resin
• All – ceramic or all – porcelain

Each material comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Metal crowns are the most durable , but they don’t match the color of your natural teeth . Porcelain fused to metal , all – porcelain , and all – ceramic crowns can be color – matched to your natural teeth , but are more prone to wear down or fracture over time.
While your crown is being crafted , you will be fitted with a temporary crown that will protect the cracked or damaged tooth. After the final crown is ready , the temporary crown will be removed and replaced with the final product . Crowns last an average of 5 to 15 years before needing replacement.

If you have chipped , cracked , or broken teeth , bonding can improve their appearance. Bonding also can let you say bye-bye to stained teeth or gaps in your smile. For minimal flaws , bonding may be all you need to beautify your smile. In other cases , bonding may be used in addition to crowns and other procedures to create a more gorgeous grin.
With bonding , a dental material that looks like tooth enamel is affixed to the surface of a tooth . The dentist then shapes and polishes the material to make the crack , chip , or imperfection invisible. Dentists can employ any number of techniques to perform bonding .Some of the more advanced techniques may cost more . One advantage of bonding is that it is a one – step procedure that can be accomplished in a single visit to the dentist.

Veneers are thin shells made of a ceramic material that looks like real teeth. Each veneer is custom designed to cover a wide problems , including chipped , stained , cracked , crooked , or otherwise unsightly teeth.
Veneers are typically fashioned from either porcelain or composite resin . Porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 15 years , which is longer than composite resin veneers that last about five to seven years . That explains why porcelain veneers come with a much higher price tag.
Before either type of veneer can be found onto teeth , the existing teeth must be contoured , a process that permanently alters the shape of your teeth . A small device called a bur is used to gently shape the teeth so the veneer can fit over them.

Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure performed in the United States. It can be an ideal way to brighten your smile if you have mildly discolored teeth. Although teeth whitening can be performed at home with store – bought products , having it done in a dentist's office produces more immediate and often more dramatic results.
When performed in a dentist's office , a whitening gel is applied to the teeth , and a special lamp is used to activate the gel. To protect your lips and gums from the potent gel , a guard is placed in your mouth.

A dental implant is a titanium screw that is implanted into the jawbone and then covered with a crown to replace a lost tooth. This method is touted as being the most effective and long – lasting remedy for missing teeth . In fact , implants are considered to be a permanent solution for missing teeth. In some cases , implants may be used in conjunction with bridges or crowns.
Dental implants are usually performed as a two- step procedure . The first step is a surgical procedure to insert the implant into the jawbone. During this procedure , a small hole is drilled into the area of the missing tooth. The implants is placed into the hole and sealed with protective covering.
After the implant is inserted , you need to wait approximately three to six months for osseointegration ( occurs when bone in the jaw grows around a dental implant and secures it in place. Osseointegration must occur before a crown can be placed over the implant) , in which the implant root anchors to the jaw bone. After successful osseointegration , a second procedure takes place in which a permanent crown is attached to the implant.

Bridges are dental devices used to replace missing teeth. Unlike implants , which typically treat only the missing tooth , bridges involve the use of crowns on the adjacent teeth as well. These crowns are connected to a central replica tooth , or false tooth , that replaces the missing one . The false tooth can be made from porcelain , gold , alloys , or some combination thereof.

Several types of bridges are available , including :

• Conventional or traditional bridges , used when teeth are present on both sides of the missing tooth.
• Cantilever bridges , used when teeth are present on only one side of the missing tooth.
• Resin – bonded bridges , made of plastic teeth and gums with a metal framework attached to existing teeth.

Your dentist will determine which type of bridge is right for you , but often it depends on the location of the missing tooth . For instance , resin – bonded bridges are more likely to be used to replace missing front teeth.
Like many dental procedures ,bridge placement is a staged procedure . During your first visit , the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are prepared . This usually involves gently shaving them down with a bur . After the neighboring teeth have been prepared , a putty – like material is used to create an impression of your teeth . The impression is sent off to a dental lab where the bridge is made . In the meantime , you are fitted with a temporary bridge.

In some case , you may not have enough jaw bone to accommodate a dental implant. When this occurs , a bone graft may be necessary before the implant can be inserted . Bone grafts usually involve one of the following materials:

• Bone from another area of the patient's body
• Cadaver bone
• Bovine bone
• Synthetic bone

Bone that comes from the patient's own body is the preferred technique and boasts the highest success rate . This type of bone graft involves a surgical procedure in which small pieces of bone , commonly taken from another part of the jaw , are placed in the jaw . This way , the surgical procedure and all of the incision are confined to the mouth. When bone is taken from different area of the body , such as the pelvis , it requires and additional surgical incision and leaves a visible scar.
When bone grafting is necessary , it significantly lengthens the amount of time it takes to complete the implant procedure because it can take four to six months for the jaw to heal following bone grafting. Only after you 're healed can the implant be inserted , and then you need to wait for osseointegration before the final crown is secured in place . That means it might take up to a year before the entire process is completed.

A root canal may be recommended to treat a tooth that has become infected or that is decayed , usually because tissue or the nerve inside the tooth has become damaged or diseased , causing bacteria to grow within the tooth and causing infection . In the past , an infected tooth would have been pulled , but root canal may save a tooth from extraction. During a root canal , the dentist will drill a hole into the tooth and then use special instruments to clean out the interior of the tooth . The dentist will remove the tooth's nerve along with the dental pulp ( The soft area within a tooth is called dental pulp) and any bacteria from inside the tooth .
The next step involves filling the interior of the tooth with special dental materials and closing the access hole with a filling. This portion of the process may take place on the same day as your root canal or may occur during a follow –up appointment within a few weeks.

Teeth may need to be extracted for variety of reasons :

• Injury
• Severe decay
• Severe infection
• Severe gum disease
• Extra teeth blocking others from coming in
• In preparation for orthodontic work.

Wisdom teeth usually come in when you're in your late teens or early twenties. Reasons why you may need your wisdom teeth removed include the following :
1. Impacted wisdom teeth : occur when the teeth are unable to break through the gums because the jaw is too small.
2. Partially impacted wisdom teeth : occur when only a portion of the teeth breaks through the gums.
3. Angled wisdom teeth : occur when the teeth grow in at abnormal angles.

Tooth extractions usually are categorized as either a simple extraction or a surgical extraction . A simple extraction is usually performed when a tooth is visible in the mouth. For this procedure , forceps are used to grasp and loosen the tooth until it can be gently removed. When this technique is used , the area is numbed with a local anesthetic.
Surgical extraction is advised when teeth are impacted or aren't easily visible in the mouth. For surgical extraction of a single tooth , a local anesthetic may be used to numb the area. If several teeth are being surgically removed , the patient will likely be given some form of anesthesia to prevent the patient from feeling pain and to male him or her sleep through the procedure.