Common Dental Procedures And What To Expect
Braces – The purpose of braces are to correct teeth positioning by moving them into proper position within the mouth. Your dentist may also suggest braces if you have a Malocclusion, which simply means you have an underbite (lower jaw bigger than upper jaw) or overbite (upper jaw bigger than lower jaw). If you dentist notice that you have crowded, crooked teeth or a malocculusin, they will refer you to a specialist called a “orthodontist”. Braces can be constructed using metal, ceramic or synthetic materials. They are usually held in place with wires. Now days you can even get clear braces or braces that closely match the color of your teeth, especially nice for the fashion conscience teen. Braces are usually put on at the earliest at age 10. Your orthodontist will schedule multiple appointments to readjust or reposition your braces. Make sure you let your orthodontist know if you experience different from what you have been told to expect. Should you require a little extra help, your orthodontist may ask you to wear a head. A normal length of time to wear braces is about 2 years. You will usually need to wear a retainer to make sure your teeth do not decide to go back to their original locations. You may have to wear your retainer all day or all night for up to 2 years. Your orthodontist will let you know how much and for how long you will have to wear your retainer. This will depend on your teeth and is not the same for everyone.
Bridge – A bridge is used when you have missing teeth. The bridge is placed between the teeth that are on either side of your “gap”. The bridge is “false teeth”. The purpose of the bridge is to give you good chewing ability and to prevent your other teeth from shifting into the gap which might lead to gum disease or a poor bite. The bridge can also improve your speech ability.
Crown – This is not the kind that royalty wear, it is what is used to replace part of the tooth that is visible above the gum, when the tooth is broken or decayed or to strengthen a tooth. A crown (tooth cap) can be made of metal, porcelain, resin or a combination of metal and porcelain. The crown is usually cemented into place.
Dentures – There are two types of dentures, partial and complete. Dentures are false teeth. Partials are similar to bridges and are used when you have only a few teeth that have been lost. A partial is used instead of a bridge when there are no teeth in the back of your mouth to support a bridge. Complete dentures are used when all of either the top or bottom teeth are lost.
Filling – A filling is a common procedure when a cavity is discovered. A silver filling can contain mercury, silver, tin, or copper. First your dentist will remove any decay from your tooth. Then the dentist fills the hole with silver amalgam (an alloy consisting mainly of silver mixed with mercury and other various metals). A filling’s purpose is to restore the function of the tooth and to prevent further decay or infection in that tooth.
No matter what dental procedure your dentist or hygienist is thinking of using; remember to ask questions before they start. Knowledge is power. Understanding why the procedure is necessary and what exactly will be done, will help to put you at ease.
