Most people know that a general dentist can treat basic dental problems like cavities and tartar buildup and help you keep your smile healthy. However, besides cleanings, checkups, and other treatments, these professionals also offer smile repair services. If missing teeth, cracked teeth, or dental stains affect how you feel about your smile, a general dentist can help.
A general dentist uses restorative dentistry to repair or replace damaged or missing teeth. When teeth are damaged, they are more susceptible to tooth decay and more likely to injure surrounding soft tissue. In addition, minor damage to teeth can worsen quickly due to biting forces and general wear and tear. Missing teeth can cause similar problems and upset the alignment of a person's smile as the remaining teeth shift to fill the spaces left by missing teeth. Therefore, restorative dentistry is crucial to oral health and how the smile looks and functions.
Dentists can address a range of dental damage with the following restorative dental treatments.
Composite or dental bonding repairs chips, cracks, stains, and other minor tooth imperfections. The dentist places this tooth-colored composite resin on the damaged tooth and shapes it to restore its structure. The dentist hardens the bonding using a special light, completing the restoration. Bonding is carefully matched to the color of the patient's enamel for a flawless and natural look.
For more extensively damaged teeth, a dentist may recommend a dental crown. These tooth-shaped caps are cemented over the damaged tooth to restore its appearance, form, and function. Dental crowns offer a solution for severely decayed or damaged teeth that cannot be remedied by composite bonding or dental fillings. Crowns are also an important part of many tooth replacement options.
The typical dental bridge has two crowns with a pontic or false tooth in the middle. If a patient is missing a tooth, the crowns are cemented to the teeth on either side of the space, and the crown fills or bridges the space between those teeth. Dental bridges can fill the gaps in one's smile left by one or a few missing teeth.
Dental implants are one of the leading tooth replacement options. They are screwlike metal posts implanted into the jawbone, where they can support dental crowns to replace single teeth or dental bridges to replace multiple teeth. Dental implants replace the tooth roots and tend to function more like natural teeth than other tooth replacement options. In addition, dental implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing the bone loss that comes with missing teeth.
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Repairing damaged teeth is not only important for the appearance of the smile but also for dental health and function. If you are holding back your smile due to stains, missing teeth, or cracked or chipped teeth, a general dentist can help. Call us today to learn more about your smile repair options.
Request an appointment or call Mark W. Johnson, DDS at 505-933-6764 for an appointment in our Albuquerque office.
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