Natural-Looking
Tooth-coloured Fillings
When decay forms it is necessary to stop the spread and to regain the strength of your original tooth. If left, decay can cause further structural problems such as an uneven bite or decay to surrounding teeth.
Our Dentists and Oral Health Therapist will be able to assess all your teeth for possible cavities or signs of decay. We can do this by X-raying your mouth on all sides, as well as using our dental mirror and tools to assess each individual tooth.
While pain is an indicator that you may need a restoration, it is just as likely that you will have no signs of pain associated with early stages of decay. Therefore, it is important to have your teeth checked regularly.
A filling procedure is simple and effective; we simply remove the decayed area of the tooth with special tools, clean the area and flush out any bacteria, and then fill the hole with a safe, tooth-coloured material made from composite resin.
Most cases are considered to be pain-free and there is no real downtime afterwards.
Direct Tooth Restoration
Direct tooth restorations are those that can be done in one procedure in one dentist office visit, the most common are fillings for cavities.
- Fillings – a filling is a malleable substance that is placed into a prepared and cleaned cavity. The substance is then hardened to restore the structure (and sometimes appearance) of the damaged tooth. Fillings are one of the more traditional ways to repair a tooth and is the least invasive.
- Bonding – is used to repair cracks, reshape teeth, or reduce gaps between teeth. The bonding agent is shaped and tinted to match the optimal aesthetic of the tooth and then dried in the mouth with a curing lamp.
- Fissures - Fissure sealants are commonly used to coat the fissures of the back teeth to prevent decay. Our back teeth have natural grooves and pits known as fissures. Food can get stuck in the fissures and they are harder to clean when brushing. This can increase the risk of tooth decay.
Indirect Restoration
Indirect restoration, the fabrication occurs outside of the mouth.
- Veneers – Porcelain Veneers consist of a layer of composite or dental porcelain material placed over the front surfaces of teeth to replicate a natural look of teeth. They act as a shell that covers the external layer of your teeth to improve appearance or to defend the tooth’s surface from impairment. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discoloured, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked.
- Implants – Implants are a great choice if you are missing one or more than teeth. Missing teeth can drastically affect your appearance but dental implants can prevent this. Dental implants are artificial roots that are placed into the gum line so that replacement teeth can be supported providing a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
- Crowns & Bridges – Crowns Sometimes known as ‘caps’. Crowns are permanently fixed onto existing teeth or implants for restorations either cosmetic, to strengthen fractured teeth or act as a replacement for large fillings. Porcelain crowns are matched to the natural colour of your teeth so they blend in perfectly.
- Bridges – Bridges are primarily used to replace one or more missing teeth. Like crowns, bridges are a great choice because unlike a partial denture they are permanently cemented in place and can be colour matched to the colour of existing teeth.
Call to schedule an appointment and get a healthy gorgeous smile at Mawson Dental Care.
