5 Dental Treatments to Heal and Restore a Damaged Smile

If your oral health has suffered due to dental issues such as decay, a skilled and experienced dentist can help.

If you catch tooth decay in its early stages, a filling is often enough to treat the area. Once, unsightly amalgam or silver fillings were the most common filling material. But more dentists are beginning to use tooth-colored filling material instead. Because tooth-colored fillings are the same shade as tooth enamel, they provide protection without compromising the look of your teeth.

Tooth-colored fillings are ideal for tooth decay that has affected the teeth in the front of a patient's mouth. You can still eat, speak, and laugh comfortably with these fillings since they are durable and resemble your natural tooth structure.

Like tooth-colored fillings, dental crowns protect teeth that have suffered from tooth decay. They are also useful for saving badly damaged teeth. For instance, if tooth decay has destroyed much of a tooth's natural crown, a dental crown can restore the lost portion of the tooth. Dental crowns are usually made of porcelain or porcelain fused to metal, which makes them sturdier and longer lasting than fillings.

With the help of a ceramist, dentists take about two weeks to create crowns that look like your own teeth in shape, color, and size.

Sometimes, several teeth need treatment at the same time. You may then need to replace more than just one tooth. This can be costly. Fortunately, dental bridges, which consist of one or more crowns and pontics (artificial teeth), are an affordable and aesthetic option.

Dental bridges usually attach to a natural tooth with the help of a dental crown acting as an anchor. This provides stability for the pontic teeth while you chew your food. If you have a row of missing teeth, a dental bridge is an attractive and reliable way to replace those teeth.

One of the cheapest options for replacing missing or damaged teeth is a denture. Modern dentures are much more attractive than the dentures of old, which were easy to notice. And dentures are often a better option than keeping badly damaged teeth, which can cause discomfort and affect the quality of your smile.

Some patients opt to use a denture while they save up for a dental bridge or dental implants.

Dental implants have both a root and a crown, just as natural teeth do. The only downside to dental implants is that they are the most expensive option for decayed, damaged, or missing teeth. However, you can opt to combine dental implants with a dental bridge or a denture to save money when replacing several teeth at the same time.

By combining dental implants with dentures or a bridge, you conserve jawbone, improve the look of your smile, and save money.

If the function and appearance of your teeth has suffered due to decay or damage, call Calm Waters Dentistry today to schedule an appointment. We'll work with you to develop a treatment plan to suit your needs and budget. Whether you need fillings or dental crowns, we'll ensure that you leave our dental clinic with restored teeth that look and feel natural.