A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay or fracture back to its normal function and shape. When Dr Tran gives you a filling, he first removes the decayed or fractured tooth, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cavity with a filling material. This method involves bonding the filling to the tooth. Therefore we can remove less of the tooth, which is always our goal.
Most people have fillings of one sort or another in their mouths. Many people are more conscious of the way they look, so they don't want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile. Tooth coloured fillings solve this issue.
Tooth coloured fillings are mainly made of glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient. Dr Tran can give you more information about the particular material he uses in your case.
A crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth, either partially or fully covering a tooth, restoring its shape, size, strength an also improving its appearance.
There is many reasons a crown is recommended:
1. To protect a tooth from breaking or to hold together a cracked tooth.
2. To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down.
3. To cover and support a tooth with a large filling.
4. To hold a dental bridge in place.
5. To cover misshapen or severely discoloured teeth.
6. To cover a dental implant.
7. To make a cosmetic modification.
There are many different materials that can be used to make a crown. Some of these materials are stainless steel, all metal (such as gold or another alloy), porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin, or all ceramic.
Preparing a tooth for a crown usually requires two visits. At the first visit, Dr Tran will examine and prepare the tooth. In some cases, an x-ray will be taken. A temporary crown will be placed at this visit until the permanent crown is made. At the second visit, the permanent crown will be cemented.
Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two or more crowns. A dental bridge could be an option to replace missing teeth if you still have some natural teeth remaining for support. Placing a dental bridge is less complex than having dental implants, and a fixed bridge may be preferred over removable dentures.
There are many different materials that can be used to make a bridge. Some of these materials are stainless steel, all metal (such as gold or another alloy), porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin, or all ceramic.
Preparing a tooth for a bridge usually requires two visits. At the first visit, Dr Tran will examine and prepare the tooth or teeth. In some cases, an x-ray will be taken. A temporary bridge will be placed at this visit until the permanent bridge is made. At the second visit, the permanent bridge will be cemented.
If Dr Tran has advised you to consider dentures as one of your tooth/teeth replacement options, you are not alone. Many people wear dentures, helping them to eat, speak and smile with confidence everyday.
Dr Tran will guide and support you through this process and there are multiple visits required. The steps can involve some or all of the following: Impressions, wax bite moulds, teeth model try in, fitting and extractions (if needed). This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending upon your case. Once your denture is fitted, it may feel strange at first, but this is normal and your mouth, tongue and facial muscles will get used to it. Everyday tasks such as eating and speaking, may take a little practice but take it slow and you'll be back to yourself in no time.
Dental implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jaw bone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them. A dental implant is a titanium post (like a tooth root) that is surgically placed. A healthy implant fuses with the bone and forms the structure to rebuild a tooth or teeth. A crown or bridge is placed onto the implant to replace the missing tooth or teeth.
If you are considering dental implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. If your bone is too thin or soft and unable to support an implant, you may require a bone graft. If there is not enough bone height in the upper jaw, other procedures may be required prior to implant placement. You may require treatment by a dental specialist prior to proceeding with an implant.
A balanced bite is very important, because if it is off, it usually results in pain, discomfort and can even cause damage to the teeth.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the only double sided joint in the body, the fulcrum which is how the mouth opens and closes. The chewing and grinding force exerted by adults on the back teeth (the molars) is over 100 lbs per square inch, and some have registered even more.
So an imbalanced bite can result in jaw pain as well as tooth pain. These problems can have any of the following causes:
It is more common than you think, because most of the time it happens at night when you aren’t aware you are doing it
A partial or full mouth bite reconstruction can be performed to correct these issues.
For example, your left bite may be unprotected because you have worn your lower left canine tooth away from grinding at night. This tooth may need a composite resin overlay, or buildup, porcelain veneer or a crown to create a left protective bite.
Full mouth bite reconstruction usually involves building up all the teeth because most of the teeth have worn down too much with age. When the worn out teeth are built up a variety of restorative materials can be used. This includes composite resin overlays or buildups, Porcelain veneers, Crowns and bridges, Implants and dentures.
This building up process will increase the facial height (nose to chin distance) of the patient and is called increased vertical dimension.
A Root Canal Treatment is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or has become infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
