A dental restoration or a dental filling is a way to restore a tooth which has been damaged by decay or external trauma back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist performs a filling, he/she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.
A root canal treatment/therapy (RCT) is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the inflamed or infected pulp. The inside of the tooth and roots is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with a rubber-like material. Afterwards, the tooth is restored with a filling or crown for protection. Success rates vary between approximately 70 and 90 percent depending on a number of factors.
Inlays and onlays are two methods of restoring normal tooth structure after decay or other damage. Inlays and onlays are known as indirect restorations because they are fabricated in a dental lab and are then fitted and bonded to the surface tooth by the dentist during a second visit.
Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth. They can also be described as thin porcelain facings that cover the front side of teeth. Veneers are used to repair chipped, decayed or deeply stained teeth and may help in closing gaps between teeth.Also used cosmetically to change the length, colour and shape of teeth.
Crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented onto existing teeth. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. Crowns can be made of many different types of materials.
A dental bridge is a natural-looking, custom-built, fixed prosthetic device anchored to neighbouring teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. Most bridges will require some reduction of the neighbouring teeth.