Dental Decay
Dental Decay is the most common of dental diseases. Through the use of Fluoride, Sealants, dental education and regular professional care the number of school age children with decay has decreased in the U.S.. However, the frequency of decay in adults is on the rise.
So what causes decay?
It is a combination of factors. Starting with the bacteria in our mouths which convert refined carbohydates into acid which damages the surface of the tooth and allows the bacteria to enter and continue their distructive path. The earlier the treatment the better the chance of saving the tooth and avoiding pain, extensive treatment or loss of the tooth.
Let’s take a look at the various restorations we can use to protect and restore decayed or missing teeth.
Composite Fillings
The clear alternative to traditional mercury fillings to maintain a white, beautiful smile.
After tooth decay is removed, this tooth colored material is layered into the tooth. Each layer is hardened or cured with highly intense visible light, and the final surface is shaped and polished to match the tooth. The final restoration is virtually invisible.
Composite fillings are more than just attractive. They are environmentally non-toxic because they use no mercury. They are stronger because they bond directly to the surface of the tooth.
Inlays/Onlays
In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are the only alternative. These restorations preserve the remaining tooth structure and provide a strong restoration which reduces the possiblity of the tooth fracturing.
Onlays and inlays are considered:
- For a long-term, durable restoration
- To limit the amount of healthy tooth structure removed
- When you need to strengthen and reinforce tooth
An inlay covers only one or two surfaces of the tooth and is used to restore a small amount of decay. An onlay actually covers one or more cusps (the bumps on the tooth.)
Inlays and onlays require the removal of only decayed areas of the tooth, leaving more healthy tooth structure intact.
In cases of extensive decay or fracture, crowns are the only alternative.
Crowns
Crowns are needed when there are:
- Badly decayed teeth
- Fractured teeth
- Need to protect and strengthen remaining tooth structure
A crown (often called a cap) covers and strengthens a weak tooth and restores it to its original shape and size. A crown is a conservative treatment that can save a tooth from the risk of fracture, root canal therapy, or extraction. Saving a tooth with a crown is easier and less expensive than trying to replace it after it is lost.
With Blue-Ray technology we are able to create ceramic inlays, onlays and crowns in a single visit. After the tooth is prepared it is imaged with CEREC CAD/CAM technology and a ceramic restoration is milled in a few minutes while you relax. Alternately, the image can be sent over the internet to a lab. The conventional method is to take an impression of the teeth, send that out to a lab, make a temporary crown and have the patient back in 2 to 3 weeks to remove the temporary and insert the final restoration. Clearly the new technology makes it easier, faster and more comfortable for the patient.
In the event that a tooth is so decayed or fractured that it needs to be removed, the best alternatives to a crown are bridges and implants that replace the missing tooth.
Fixed Bridges
Fixed bridges are used to:
- Replace a missing tooth or teeth
- Alleviate potential bite and jaw joint problems from teeth shifting to fill the space
- Alter the “sunken face” look associated with missing teeth
- Improve chewing ability
- Provide a more permanent solution than dentures
A fixed Bridge is a nonremovable appliance that replace a missing tooth or teeth. Usually the teeth either side of the space are prepared for crowns, the missing tooth is replaced by a pontic and you now have three teeth hooked together and cemented or bonded in place.
Unlike dentures, a fixed bridge is never removed. It is stable in the mouth and works very similar to natural teeth. By filling the gap and stopping the movement of other teeth, a fixed bridge is an excellent investment, providing better chewing ability, heading off jaw joint problems and saving money that might otherwise be spent on future dental treatment.
An alternative to a bridge may be a Dental Implant.
Dental Implants
Dental Implants have the distinct advantage over fixed or removable prosthetics by preserving bone and saving the adjacent teeth from unnessasary crowns. An implant supported crown replaces the missing tooth, preserves the jaw bone and is easier to clean than a bridge. Implants can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or all the teeth. Implants can but an end to loose dentures.