Restoration of Carious Teeth
When teeth have become decayed they may require restoration in order to prevent them from becoming infected and requiring root canal therapy or extraction. Restoration of a tooth can be with a conventional filling material or by means of a crown.
|
|
|
Dental Caries
This is what dental caries looks like. Teeth are broken down and have a black and brown appearance. |
|
|
Silver (amalgam) Fillings
Amalgam has been used as a filling material for teeth for over 100 years. It is a strong filling material, however it is not as aesthetic as white (composite) fillings.
|
|
|
White (composite) fillings
Nowadays people are far more concerned about the appearance of their teeth and opt for white fillings. These composite fillings are ideal for back teeth and can be provided as part of private treatment. |
|
|
Crowns
Crowns (caps) are used to cover teeth which are heavily broken down and cannot be fixed by means of a filling alone. Crowns are very strong and can be made to match the colour of the other teeth.
|
|
|
Radiographs
Decay may not always be obvious in the mouth and on occasions radiographs (x-rays) may be required. Your dentist can use these radiographs to check under fillings and crowns for decay. This panoramic machine (pictured on left) can also take a radiograph of all the teeth on one film, which is useful for seeing the jaw joints and wisdom teeth. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
