Everyone wants a bright, beautiful, healthy smile. But, not everyone is blessed with one. While some may naturally have an unhealthy jaw with crooked or misaligned teeth, many people lose the structure, function, and aesthetics of their teeth due to poor oral hygiene and accidents. If you’re one of them, know that there are ways to get your teeth back to their past glory. These are called dental restorations, and the treatments fall under the category of ‘restorative dentistry’.

Let’s look at some of the most common types of dental restorations available today to develop a better understanding of restorative dentistry:

1.     Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are the first line of action to treat cavities that billions around the world suffer from. The procedure for dental fillings is simple and can be completed in one visit. The dentist first removes the decayed part of the tooth during the treatment and then fills in the cavity.

There are different types of dental filling materials available. These include composite resin (the most preferred option), silver amalgam, glass ionomer, and resin-modified glass ionomer.

The most significant advantages of this tooth restoration procedure are that it is minimally invasive, quick, and retains most of the tooth’s structure.

2.     Dental Crowns

Crowns serve multiple functions. But, essentially, they are used to protect your severely damaged natural teeth and/or restore their function, structure, and appearance.

When used for protection, dental crowns are typically opted for weak, cracked, or worn down teeth and those with large cavities that fillings can’t fix. Another common use of dental crowns is after a root canal to protect the remaining natural tooth and improve its structure and functionality.

Dental crowns are also used to replace missing teeth. They are an integral part of the implant process and are also used to anchor dental bridges.

3.     Dental Bridges

Also called fixed partial denture, a dental bridge is basically a fake tooth structure that combines multiple crowns. An option for replacing missing teeth, a dental bridge usually contains three or four crowns and goes over the healthy teeth on both sides of the missing teeth for support.

There are multiple different types of dental bridges available, including traditional, implant-supported, cantilever, and Maryland. Your dentist will choose the right type for you according to the number and location of missing teeth.

Porcelain dental bridges are commonly used, as they offer a great match to the natural color of the teeth, but in some cases, they may have metal underneath.

4.     Veneers

Dental veneers are known as one of the best cosmetic dental procedures to improve the shape, size, and appearance of damaged teeth. These are commonly used for fixing tooth discoloration, stains, chips, and cracks, but they also work great for resolving minor spacing issues and misalignments. For this reason, they are also often regarded as ‘instant orthodontics.’ Veneers are also a great solution for increasing the size and appearance of small teeth.

The Sum Up

Dental restoration procedures are a great way to retain or improve the structure and function of decayed and damaged teeth. But, some can also be used to replace missing teeth, while others primarily serve cosmetic purposes. Your dentist will help you find the right solution for your dental needs. Get in touch with one of the best dentists in Turkey to determine what type of dental restoration can fix your teeth issues.