What Are The Types of Dental Treatment?

Other than oral examinations and general cleaning, there are many different dental treatments that your dentist can provide you with. It’s crucial to understand the treatment service offered to know your requirements and estimates before visiting a reliable and proficient dentist service such as Fain Dental Arts of North Miami: Sylvan Fain DDS. The following are some of the dental treatments commonly offered by many dentists. 

Braces

These are specifically a type of orthodontic treatment used to straighten or move the patient’s teeth to improve their appearance and function. They can either be removable or fixed braces. Removable braces can be taken out and cleaned. However, fixed braces are stuck to your teeth, and therefore, cannot be extracted without the dentist’s aid. Braces can be made of metal, plastic, or even ceramic with invisible braces made of clear plastic. This type of treatment is available for children and adults depending on their clinical needs.  

Crowns & Caps

Crowns are a type of cap that covers the entire tooth. Artificial crowns installed by dentists are usually made of either metal or a mixture of porcelain and metal. These crowns can be installed where your tooth is damaged, broken, or decayed. They can even be fitted to make your tooth look better. The old tooth would be drilled down for a crown to be installed, and the crown fixed onto it.  

Root Canal Treatment

This type of treatment is also known as endodontics and is used to fight infections located at the root canal system teeth. Whenever a tooth is damaged or decayed, the dentist would open it up and clean out the infectious tissue situated at the center. The root canal is then filled, and the tooth is sealed using a crown or filling to prevent future infections.  

Teeth Whitening

With age, your teeth tend to stain naturally. Such stains can be caused by different foods and beverages like coffee or tea. Smoking is also a habit that is known to stain teeth along with other drugs such as tetracycline. This treatment option involves teeth bleaching to give them a lighter and whiter color. The procedure is usually cosmetic and, therefore, available privately.  

Dental Veneers

These are solid and thin pieces of porcelain fitted onto teeth to repair damaged, decayed or stained parts of the tooth. They also help to close the gap between teeth. They can also be used to slightly correct overlapping or crowded teeth. To install a veneer, the affected part of the tooth is drilled away, and the piece of porcelain is fitted onto space. The procedure works similarly to installing fake fingernails and is generally available privately since it’s also a cosmetic treatment.  

Fillings

Fillings use restorative materials to repair holes in teeth that may have been affected by cavities. Amalgam is one of the most common types of fillings and combines different metals such as silver, copper, zinc, mercury, and tin. Depending on your clinical needs, your dentist can determine the most suitable type of filling for you.  

Bridges

When you have a missing tooth or teeth, your dentist might recommend bridges or implants. Bridges are termed as false teeth that are held in place by neighboring teeth. Your dentist would usually take an impression of the surrounding teeth supposed to anchor the false tooth and create the bridge out of it. 

Dental Implants

Instead of removable dentures, patients can opt for dental implants as a fixed alternative. However, these implants can only be considered when the loss of teeth has forced your mouth to shrink, making it unable to support dentures. Implants can even be used to replace several teeth, and their installation takes time. During the fitting of these dental implants, titanium screws are usually drilled into your jaw bone to anchor a crown or bridge.  

Dentures

They are also known as false teeth and are used in natural teeth that may have fallen off. When you have lost a single tooth, your dentist can use a partial set of dentures to replace it. However, when all the natural teeth have fallen off, a complete set is customized to replace them all. Dentures are commonly used by the elderly and are removable for easy cleaning. This treatment option helps those affected to chew their food and prevents facial muscles from sagging.  

Bonding

Bonding is another treatment option used to whiten discolored teeth, repair decayed or damaged teeth, and reduce gaps between teeth. During this procedure, the dentist would mix composite resin, a type of plastic, into a paste and apply the mixture to your teeth for whitening. The procedure is available for all ages and makes teeth look younger.  

Extractions

Sometimes teeth can be severely damaged and, therefore, need to be removed. Extraction is the process through which teeth are removed for orthodontic treatment.  

Sealants

These are typically applied to molars and premolars’ chewing surfaces to create a barrier against cavity-causing bacteria.  

Do You Have a Tooth Problem?

If you happen to notice any problem with your teeth, it would be best to visit a dentist to determine the problem accurately. Never ignore any tooth or mouth problem that requires expert assistance because the situation might worsen. Thus, choose a dental plan and get the treatment.