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Composite material is sometimes called “white” filling material because of the natural colour of the resin, which is made in different shades of white so that the dentist can pick the right shade to match your smile. Hard plastic that bonds to the tooth, composite fillings are quite durable and used in front teeth and molars alike. At MunjalCarere Dental, we use a composite material that is particularly quick-curing. This cuts down on the time you spend in the chair. Unlike inlays and onlays that are crafted in an outside lab, composite fillings can be done on-site and completed in only one office visit.
* Both metal and composite fillings are durable.
* Composites require far less drilling and removal of healthy tooth structures than metal fillings.
* Metal amalgams and gold expand and contract when exposed to heat and cold. This movement weakens the tooth wall and can cause fractures. It also allows bacteria to enter and cause decay.
* Where metal fillings only serve to fill up the holes, composite materials are applied with bonding techniques and thus become more nearly part of the teeth.
* Amalgam is a mixture of metals, including mercury, a toxic element. The amount of mercury that is released from amalgams and the long-term effects on health are subjects of current controversy.
* Composites are tooth-colored, and therefore more natural-looking than metal fillings.
* Composites do not cause the sensitivity that is often associated with metal fillings.
* Some people are allergic to metal fillings, but not to composite fillings.
* When decay extends below the gum margin and maintaining a dry field for composite restorations is not possible, amalgam may be the material of choice.
A dental inlay or onlay is a very large dental filling, used to strengthen and repair decayed, cracked or fractured teeth.
An inlay (as its name suggests) is applied to a tooth; an onlay is placed on a tooth.
MADE IN A DENTAL LABORATORY.
The difference between these and fillings is that inlays and onlays are crafted in a dental laboratory, just like crowns.
In a case where more than half the grinding surface of a molar needs to be filled or repaired, an inlay or onlay may be a better choice than a filling – stronger and longer-lasting. They are generally used when more than a filling, but less than a crown, is needed.
MATERIALS
At MunjalCarere Dental, the material used for inlays and onlays is either gold or ceramic. Gold has the advantage of strength. Ceramic has the advantage of being tooth-coloured.
For all your dental queries, please call us for a consultation, and our staff will be glad to explain everything in detail.
CROWNS AND BRIDGES
Crowns are synthetic tooth caps, made of ceramic/porcelain, or metal fused to porcelain. A crown forms an artificial replacement for the upper part of a tooth and covers the original tooth.
WHAT ARE CROWNS USED FOR?
Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance when the underlying original tooth can no longer do so. Crowns are needed:
* Following a restorative procedure such as a root canal.
* When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed and the remaining tooth structure is not able to hold the filling material.
* To prevent a cracked or damaged tooth from getting worse.
* When extensive cosmetic repair is needed or to whiten, reshape and realign existing teeth.
* To provide attachment points for bridges.
* To cover implants.
PROCEDURE FOR PLACING A CROWN
The final size of the crown will be the same as the original tooth. Therefore, the tooth must be reduced in size to accommodate the crown. After crown preparation, an impression is made and sent to the laboratory where technicians create a custom-designed crown. In the intervening period, a temporary crown is made and fixed at the same appointment to protect the tooth until the permanent crown is ready.
When the permanent crown arrives from the lab, it will be permanently cemented into place.
CARING FOR YOUR CROWNS
With proper care, a good quality dental crown may last eight years or so. It is very important to floss on both sides of the crown to remove plaque and debris. Remember, it is still possible for your tooth to decay around the base if debris works its way under the edge of the crown. This won’t happen if you keep the area very clean. A dental Waterpik may help with this hygiene. To extend the life of your crown, avoid eating nuts, ice, or hard candy. Also, avoid clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth. If you do tend to clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, ask us about a Night Guard. A regular recall with the dentist is the key to long-term success with crowns, as with any other dental procedure.
CROWN MATERIAL
Here at MunjalCarere Dental, the material used for crowns is either gold-fused-to-porcelain or all-ceramic with a layer of porcelain on the exterior. Porcelain is a type of ceramic, but a very strong one. Ask us which the best choice is for you. Every case is different. As an experienced cosmetic dentist, we have the knowledge to evaluate your teeth and recommend the best crown material.
DENTAL BRIDGES
Missing teeth are the cause of unsightly gaps in your smile. They also may make it more difficult to speak clearly and make some foods difficult or impossible to eat. Even more serious where your health is concerned, it is a situation that can contribute to gum disease, and thereby to bone loss.
Modern methods and materials have changed the way dentures look and feel, so they are much like your own teeth.
Missing teeth can be replaced by a dental appliance called a bridge (so named because the adjacent teeth act like pillars of a bridge to support the missing tooth or teeth). A bridge is one or more artificial teeth, bracketed on either side by healthy, natural teeth with crowns. The two crowned teeth form anchor points for the bridge.
A bridge may also be referred to as a fixed partial denture. A denture is a set of false teeth, and a bridge is fixed by being cemented to the crowns on either side. It is not removable by the patient, as are some other types of dentures.
