Crowns

A crown is a dental cap which covers the real tooth. It can be fitted over decayed or damaged teeth or sometimes just as a cosmetic enhancement. A crown helps to restore the brilliant smile of people which could have been impaired due to discolored or stained teeth. It is also recommended by dentists to protect/strengthen a weak tooth.
People can choose from porcelain or metal, resin or stainless steel crowns or a combination of metal and porcelain crowns. To fit the crown, the old tooth is drilled down, so that it becomes the base for the new crown. Dentists will probably take the measurement of the tooth and make the new crown accordingly.

Bridges
Bridges are fixed replacements for missing teeth. They are made by attaching crowns on either side of the tooth, which supports the tooth. The anchoring teeth are known as abutment teeth which have the false teeth/tooth in between. The false teeth, called pontics are made from alloys, gold, porcelain and combination of the materials. Natural teeth can support bridges also.
Bridges help to restore the shape of face and prevents surrounding teeth to drift out of their position. There are four types of bridges – Traditional Dental Bridges, Cantilever Bridges, Maryland Bridges and Implant-supported Bridges.

Fillings
This is the most common type of dental procedure, and is used to repair holes in teeth caused by tooth decay. Tooth-colored fillings are recommended for front teeth, while silver or gold colored fillings are used for back teeth.
Usually, an amalgam of metals including silver, mercury, tin, zinc and copper is used as filling. There are different colored fillings which are recommended depending on the patient’s needs. Composite fillings are made from glass mixture and resin. The tooth colored fillings are made from powdered glass, which can form chemical bond with natural teeth.

Root Canal Treatment (RCT)
Root canal treatment treats the infection of teeth at the root of the teeth. If untreated, the infections might spread to the other teeth. Acute pain and swelling of the gums is a symptom of infection of the tooth. Sometimes, the infected tooth has to be taken out completely if the infection is too deep.
During root canal treatment, the infection is completely removed from the root canal of the tooth. Then the root canal is sealed with a crown or filling to stop any future infection. The treatment/procedure usually takes about 2-3 visits to the dentist.

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Dental Implants
Dental implants are the alternative to fixed dentures. Implants are used to replace single or many teeth. The first step in fitting an implant is that titanium screws have to be drilled into the patient’s jaw to support a denture, bridge or crown.
Replacement dentures take time to be prepared. The dentist will make a mold of the teeth/tooth and you will have to have to wear the mold and see if it fits perfectly. Any adjustments which need to be made are made at this stage. Once the mold is perfect then the implant is prepared and fixed.

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Cosmetic Dentistry
The cleaning of tartar (deposits which build on the teeth) and polishing the teeth are required to keep the teeth healthy and retaining their natural looks.
Whitening of teeth is another cosmetic treatment which dentists recommend for stained teeth. Dentists bleach the teeth to make the color of teeth lighter. It does not impart a brilliant white color to the teeth, but it does lighten yellowed teeth by quite a few shades. The entire process might take about two months or more. Laser whitening however, can be done in approximately one hour at the dentist’s clinic.
Braces are used to straighten the teeth to improve teeth’s appearance, as well as restore their function, and can be either fixed or removable. Braces these days are available in a number of materials, such as ceramic, plastic and metal. ‘Invisible’ braces are made out of clear plastic, and are popular among those who don’t like the steel braces traditionally used.

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Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are wafer-thin facings for teeth which are used to disguise teeth discoloration or damage. The dentist makes thin shells of tooth colored materials which are designed to cover the surface of the teeth/tooth. The shells, which are bonded to teeth, change the appearance of teeth, including the shape and size.
Veneers are made from resin composite or porcelain. To fit veneers, the front of your teeth will be drilled/shaved away a bit. Veneers are used a treatment for worn down or broken teeth, uneven/misaligned teeth, and teeth which have bulges and craters in them. Veneers are also used to cover the space between teeth (gap tooth).
Dental veneers needs at least three appointments to the dental clinic. One visit to consult the dentist, one to prepare the mold for the veneers and the third visit to apply the veneers. Veneers last anything between 7-15 years.