Tooth-Colored Fillings, Teeth Bonding, And Porcelain Onlays
Explore Different Methods For Repairing Damaged Teeth
Do you have damaged teeth? It might be time to consider cosmetic and restorative dentistry! There are multiple effective dental procedures that can repair your teeth, depending on the type and extent of damage.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
In the old days, dentists used metal amalgam fillings to cover up tiny cavities in teeth caused by tooth decay. However, metal fillings are slowly declining in use due to numerous disadvantages.
For one, they can actually fracture your teeth rather than strengthen them. In fact, the most common factor associated with incidences of fractured teeth are old amalgam fillings. When someone eats hot or cold food, the alternating temperatures can create gaps around the metal fillings which leads to cracks in the teeth. Food can make their way into these crevices, which then sits there and rots, weakening the tooth.
Their silvery metallic sheen is also unavoidably obvious, resulting in a less subtle and attractive filling. On top of that these dental amalgams actually contain mercury, which is being phased out in dentistry due to potential health concerns.
Thankfully, newer tooth-colored ceramic and composite resin fillings are safer and more natural-looking, and can help repair and strengthen your teeth!
Porcelain Onlays And Inlays
Onlays and inlays, also called partial crowns, are used as an alternative for when a larger filling won’t do. They’re able to cover a large area of damage, so if you have more extensive tooth decay or cracked teeth, onlays and inlays can repair the tooth while looking just like the real thing. They’re made of tough porcelain that is colored and carefully shaped to match your existing teeth, and are extremely hard and durable.
Onlays are used when there is damage on one of the biting surface cusps of a damaged tooth. Inlays repair the biting surface and inside the cusps of the teeth, filling in any nooks and crannies that could deteriorate the integrity of the tooth. In contrast to complete crowns, which require a large portion of the tooth surface to be trimmed, onlays and inlays only need the damaged part of the tooth to be trimmed.
An onlay or inlay can help conservatively preserve the healthy remainder of your tooth, as the decaying tooth material is removed and replaced with the onlay or inlay material as necessary.
Tooth Bonding
Whether you have a chipped or stained tooth, you can rely on tooth bonding to cover up small imperfections or treat areas of dental decay. A dentist applies a dentin bonding agent to your teeth, then custom shapes a special resin over it to cover up the area of concern. Finally, they’ll expose the resin to UV light to harden it.
The result? A durable, permanent covering that makes your teeth look naturally beautiful!
Repairing Your Smile
To select which procedure will meet your needs, you need a dentist with an experienced eye for restorative and cosmetic dentistry. And if you live in Bethlehem, PA, or the general Lehigh Valley Area, Always About Smiles can ensure that your teeth are brought back to tiptop shape! Our dentist, Dr. Lambert, has spent the years serving the local community, and he and the staff of our dental practice would be happy to be a part of your dental journey.
Contact us and schedule an appointment now!
"Dear Dr. Lambert,I cannot thank you enough for answering my call! You are truly an angel, then on top of it, my first visit was not bad at all! My fears I have of dentists - that I have had for many years due to my experiences that were not pleasant at all, are now better due to you. I thank you so very much! You are certainly a "10" in my book! You have got yourself a new patient! Thank you again for everything!"
Beth R.