If you could use some dental work, don’t feel alone. Many people have at least one issue that needs attention from a dentist. While many are minor, others are already advanced enough to need a specific course of action before things get worse. The good news is that a dentist can perform procedures ranging from simple extractions to all on four procedures by North York Smile Centre that improve the quality and health of your teeth. Here are six of the most common procedures dentists perform today.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings make it possible to save teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted. By removing the decayed portion of the tooth, it’s possible to determine if there is any damage to the nerve. If so, you may need to undergo a root canal treatment. Once that part of the work is done, a filling restores the appearance of the tooth and minimizing the potential for more tooth decay. Depending on how things go with your teeth in the future, that filling could easily provide a decade or more of service.
Individual Dental Implants
When the tooth is too far gone to save, extracting it and replacing the lost tooth with a dental implant makes sense. The body of the implant fits into the socket recently vacated by the tooth. It’s then capped using a crown that is custom designed to be the ideal size and shape. When the work is done, no one will know that the tooth isn’t real unless you choose to tell them.
All on Four Implants
There are times when you have to replace multiple teeth due to an accident, a chronic health issue, or many years of not practicing proper dental hygiene. When this happens, expect the dentist to recommend All on Four procedures by North York Smile Centre. This involves inserting four implants along the jaw and then attaching a dental plate to them. As with individual implants, the plate is customized to be the perfect fit and scale. Expect this solution to last for years.
Root Canals
A root canal treatment makes it possible to remove infected tooth pulp and hopefully save the tooth itself. It’s not uncommon when a cavity is particularly deep and there’s some chance that the nerve is damaged. Once the root canal is done and the dentist verifies that the infected portion is completely removed, it’s possible to use a filling and possibly veneers and crowns to restore the appearance and strength of the tooth.
Dental Veneers and Crowns
A combination of dental veneers and crowns can be used in conjunction with procedures like a root canal and filling, or they can be used to cover discolored teeth, or add strength to teeth that are cracked or chipped. This combination may also be used if you have natural gaps between the teeth. In all instances, you end up with teeth that are more attractive and also more durable.
Tooth Extractions
There was a time when a tooth extraction was the most common way to deal with tooth decay. Advances in dentistry make it possible to save many teeth that would need to be extracted in decades past. Today, the dentist is likely to consider the idea of removing the decayed portion, possibly conduct a root canal treatment, then fill the tooth and cover it with a crown.
If the tooth is too far gone, extraction is the only logical course of action. Once that’s done, you can consider a dental bridge or an individual implant to fill in the gap.
What sort of dental procedure would help the look of your teeth while also improving your dental health? The only way to know for sure is to see your dentist. From procedures designed to save a damaged tooth to considering All on Four procedures to replace several missing teeth or all of your natural teeth, there is a solution. Weigh your options carefully and ask all the questions that come to mind. Doing so ensures that you and your dentist settle on the procedure that’s right for you.
