Dental Restoration 101

Diastema is a dental condition wherein the two upper incisors (normally), have a gap in between them. This has been called as a “celebrity” dental condition since most of the popular and well-known individuals from the entertainment world have this (i.e. Madonna etc.). In some cultures too, like Nigeria, this dental condition is regarded as something beautiful and attractive.

There are numerous ways to fix diastema but most orthodontics prefer braces. Whether these braces are full (both upper and lower teeth), or placed just on the affected area (normally the upper incisors), braces surely have been proven effective to fix this dental condition. A retainer is given after your local orthodontist removes your braces as this will continue the “repair process” of your teeth.

Photo taken from http://www.snaponsmile.com

Image from Smilebuilderz

Tooth bonding can be used for cosmetic purposes. A veneering of dental bonding can enhance the appearance of a tooth that is partly stained or discolored. Bonding can also used to close teeth gaps and to reshape and re-align teeth that have little imperfection such as chipping and misalignment.

Another use of tooth bonding is for creating composite fillings. The restorative used in tooth bonding, or the dental composite, is also the material used for making natural tooth-colored fillings. This is a good alternative to silver fillings because the former is less noticeable.

Source: My New Smile

Many materials we now use and take fore granted in our everyday lives can be found inside your mouth where dentists use them to restore your smile. From composite materials, high strength ceramics, plastics, veneers and varnishes, they are all result of research into space age materials needed for outer space. Lighter yet stronger than steel and even natural bone(the strongest bone in the human body), they adorn our mouths quietly as we smile our way through the day.
Adhesives that bond indefinitely with the use of UV light, drills and diagnostic machines that offer safer and faster results in no time. Dental restoration used to take a lot of visits but with high-tech imaging machines, they can be documented and explained in detail without the guesswork. Powerful computers process digital x-rays allowing them to be stored for review anytime lessening the exposure to x-rays.

Having a complete set of teeth is truly something to proud of but this doesn’t mean your teeth are sparkling white. Many factors can influence the overall look and appearance of teeth such as color, alignment and even the overall bite that can be influenced by disease or trauma. A sudden blow to your jaw can knock a tooth loose or several of them in more extreme cases along with certain diseases young in life that can leave your pearly whites not as white as you would want them to be.
Badly decayed teeth can be fixed with a root canal and depending on the stability of the offending tooth, either be pulled out and replaced by implants or repaired with a jacket or crown. Discolored teeth can be made white by applying veneers that are ceramic compounds stuck onto the teeth that can be made to look whiter that your original teeth. Bleaching is said to be more of a continuing process if one wants to maintain the whiteness of their teeth so veneers and sealants do a better job. One simply has to get in touch with a dental restoration specialist(a fancy name for a cosmetic dentist) so you can get the full picture on how to bring the smile back to those pearly whites you so need everyday.

There are certain people with braces who have “rubber bands” either forming an X across the maxilla and the mandible, or just a single rubber band pulling both the maxilla and mandible together. Those rubber bands have a purpose, and that is to help people who have “over bites” or “under bites” correct their jaw alignment. Although some have other reasons why they attach rubber bands to their braces (i.e. to pull a hidden tooth inside the gum), over bites and under bites are the most common concerns addressed by these elastics. What these orthodontic rubber bands do is they pull both the maxilla and mandible towards the other direction.

Photo taken from http://library.thinkquest.org

Braces are important for those who need to correct their teeth. It seems cute when little kids wear them, but the problem starts if you’re already 30 and still need to correct yours. Would you go for that?

Now, you have an option of whether you would something that’s “seen”, like the traditional metal braces, or you would want to settle for something “invisible”.

Woah. Invisible braces? Is that for real?

Oh yes. Invisalign is a terrific breakthrough in the dental industry. It is clear, almost invisible, yet it has this strong means of straightening your crooked teeth. You have to be warned though: you might spend a fortune for this type of braces, but users say it’s worth the penny!

Photo taken from http://www.drlanducci.com