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DENTAL RESTORATION « DENTAL CARE

Inlays / Onlays

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Dental Restoration  Dental Restoration
Inlays and onlays are a natural looking alternative to silver fillings. Usually made from porcelain, they are formed to fit and fill most types of cavities and are almost impossible to distinguish from the natural tooth.

They are custom designed, using a precise replica of your tooth. So only the damaged portion of your tooth needs to be removed unlike silver fillings, which require the removal of large amounts of healthy tooth. Inlay and onlay treatment will take a few appointments to complete. With regular brushing and flossing, they will last up to fifteen years.

Amalgam Fillings

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Amalgams are commonly known as silver fillings. They do contain some silver; however, they are a mixture (or alloy) of metals that are bound together, or in other words, amalgamated. Traditional amalgam fillings were bound together by using mercury; however, many of the newer amalgam materials do not use mercury.

Amalgam fillings have been used for many years and are often the preferred treatment for posterior fillings.

The average biting force in the posterior jaw is approximately 170 lb. of pressure. A dental restoration must be able to withstand such forces. Amalgam fillings do not change easily under stress and are soft, pliable and easily shaped into the prepared cavity. The amalgam then hardens quickly to form a very strong dental restoration able to endure the stress associated with chewing and biting. With specialised dental bonding systems, it is possible to create a bond between the amalgam and the tooth structure. This reduces the possibility of leakage or recurrent decay forming beneath the restoration.

Metals, as those used in amalgam restorations, are excellent thermal conductors. They rapidly transmit heat and cold through the tooth. Amalgam fillings help to protect the pulp against sudden temperature changes. The retention of this type of dental restoration is excellent and can last many years within the mouth.

Composite Resin Fillings (White)

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Dental Restoration  Dental Restoration
Composite restorations have a natural, tooth-like appearance and are used primarily on anterior teeth, although many patients now prefer to have composite fillings placed on posterior teeth.

A major advantage of this type of restoration is that they match the tooth colour and are aesthetically pleasing.

Composites are made of a mixture of plastic and acrylic materials such as polymer matrix, quartz and lithium aluminium silicate. Polymerisation is a process in which a resin material changes from a plastic state into a hardened restoration. They are also capable of bonding directly to the tooth structure reducing the possibility of leakage.

The length of time that it takes to perform a composite resin restoration depends on the size of the restoration. Some restorations will only involve one surface and may not require anaesthetic, so the appointment may only take 10 to 15 minutes. When the procedure involves more surfaces of the tooth, the procedure may take longer. A composite resin restoration will restore the tooth to its original function with an aesthetically pleasing result.

Root Canal Treatment

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can provide an effective means of saving a tooth that might otherwise require removal. The presence of the teeth and their root structures helps to maintain the overall structure of the jaw. Root canal treatment may be recommended if the pulp of the tooth becomes dead (non-vital).

The pulp is the main source of blood supply to the tooth and it receives its nourishment from vessels that pass through the roots of the tooth (root canals). If the pulp becomes non-vital, if there is irreversible inflammation present or if the tooth has suffered trauma through an injury, root canal treatment may be warranted. A tooth that is abscessed will show a localised pus formation at the root end of the tooth. If the abscess is left untreated you may experience severe discomfort and the infection could spread to the surrounding bone.

Root canal treatment may not be recommended if the tooth has a poor prognosis (can not be saved) or if the inflammation is reversible. A pre-existing health condition may also affect the decision as to whether or not the client should undergo root canal treatment. Your dentist will discuss all available treatment options.



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