Your smile is one of your most unique and distinguishing features. If it’s not perfect, it can make even the most confident individual self-conscious about the way they look. Our teeth are meant to last as long we do, but it’s possible that some won’t survive throughout our lifetime. Perhaps you break one eating something hard or you lose a tooth as a result of a fall or accident. It’s okay – there are many different options for restoring a missing or damaged tooth; you don’t have to live with a gap or crack in your smile.
The type of repair you get will sometimes depend on the severity of the damage to the tooth in question. If you lose it altogether then repair isn’t really an option so much as replacement, but you have some choices there as well. With so many advancements in dentistry today, just about any tooth that has suffered decay or some form of trauma can be fixed and your smile restored to its original luster. Don’t live with that cracked or missing tooth any longer, visit any one of your local dentists in Birmingham, AL to fix any damaged teeth.
Fillings
Cavities. We all get them, but some are easier to repair than others. Fillings have long been the most common form of simple tooth repair. Many foods and drinks can promote tooth decay and ruin enamel. This can result in a cavity which needs to be fixed to prevent it from getting any worse and causing significant pain.
If you’re filling a tooth, then you have some choices as to the type of material you can receive. Silver amalgam is strong and lasts a long time, it’s also inexpensive and easy to use. However, many patients don’t like the way the silver looks in their teeth, so they opt for resin or porcelain fillings instead. They look more natural with the tooth, but they do lack the strength of silver amalgam.
Bonding
A broken or chipped tooth can usually be repaired with simple dental bonding, a process where a composite resin is used to basically glue the tooth back together. Bonding is often the best choice for a tooth that has been broken but the patient has the piece that broke off. This is a good choice for filling in cracks or chips as well.
Bonding is easy to do and typically takes just one visit for treatment. There are no follow-up applications needed, making this a one-time procedure with your local Birmingham dentist.
Veneers
A veneer is a cover that is applied over your existing tooth in order to change its appearance. They are chosen for a number of reasons, but the preparation and application process can take somewhat longer than other procedures. Veneers are designed to last for decades.
The original tooth is usually filed down and then impressions are taken to create the veneers. Temporary covers are applied while your permanent versions are crafted, which takes some manufacturing time in a dental lab. Once they’re ready, you’ll go back for another appointment where the new veneers will be bonded to your teeth.
Crowns
Much like veneers, crowns can provide a similar function to repairing a tooth. They’re a good choice when the tooth is badly cracked or chipped resulting in pain when you eat or drink. Like the name suggests, a crown goes over the top of the tooth, essentially acting as a cap.
A crown can be made out of tooth-colored resin or porcelain and it is made to fit firmly over the tooth so no one will even notice it. Just like with veneers, the tooth in question will be prepped and an impression made. A temporary crown will be affixed while your custom version is made. When the permanent version is ready, you’ll return to the office and have your dentist apply it to the damaged tooth.
Implants
Implants are often the best choice when a tooth is beyond repair and you need you dentist in Birmingham, AL to extract it, or you lost it all on your own. Titanium screws are drilled into the jawbone to act as the root of your new tooth and, roughly three to four months after the initial installation, an artificial crown will be crafted and installed.
Dentures are a viable alternative to implants which can replace one or many teeth at the same time. The big difference between the two options is that dentures are not designed to be attached in your mouth permanently. Rather, they are meant to be removed. This can make dentures less durable and slightly less comfortable as they might move around in your mouth. Implants won’t have that problem.