General dentists can handle a wide variety of dental issues, but if you are visiting one for the first time due to needing a restoration, you may need to shore up your knowledge before your first consultation. So to help you out, here are the most common types of restorations that general dentists perform:
Implants -- Dental implants are used to replace teeth that have been pulled out due to injury or some other type of damage. Implants are titanium posts that are inserted into the hole where your tooth used to be, and are designed to become the anchor for your new tooth. A general dentist will first examine the area around the missing tooth to ensure that you have enough bone for the procedure to work.
If the bone is sufficient, your dentist will insert the implant into your jaw, and instruct you to wait several months for the implant to set, and for the bone to grow around the implant. If you don't have sufficient bone, your dentist may need to perform a bone graft that involves taking bone from another part of your body and grafting in into your mouth.
Once the implant sets, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and make an artificial tooth, known as a crown, that is placed on top of the implant. The entire process takes between four to six months.
Root Canal -- A root canal is a restoration in which bacteria is removed from an affected tooth. The procedure is done inside the root of your tooth where infection settles and often causes pain and discomfort as it travels down the nerve. Root canals are performed to ensure that the infection doesn't spread and require your dentist to pull the tooth. The infection and bacteria are removed through drilling away the areas that are compromised.
As a result of this drilling, you will need a half or full crown after a root canal. A half crown is needed when only a smaller portion of your tooth was infected and removed. A full crown is needed when a major portion of your tooth was infected.
Fillings -- General dentists use fillings when they repair cavities in your teeth. Cavities are caused by bacteria that eats away at the enamel and underlying structure of your teeth, and if left unchecked, can destroy an entire tooth. Dentists remove the bacteria in your cavity, then fill in the decayed area with material that is made from porcelain, composite or silver amalgam.
Most dentists, however, use either porcelain or composite, because silver is so noticeable, and can mar your smile. Fillings are also used when your dentist repairs a small crack or chip in your tooth. The advantage of porcelain and composite fillings on front teeth is that they are matched to the existing shade of your teeth, which makes them difficult to detect.
Contact a company such as Complete Dental Care to learn more.