We're continuing our series of articles on cosmetic dentistry. Click here to read the previous article.
Dental Bonding
Bonding uses a strong plastic resin material that is employed to fix problems such as gap teeth, chips or cracks, cavities, exposed roots, and any other aesthetic purposes. After the material has been color-matched to the person's teeth, the dental practitioner may administer a conditioning liquid on the teeth which are being worked on. Next, the resin is bound to the teeth and modeled to bring about the preferred appearance. A special light hardens the resin, after which it is trimmed and polished so that the resin is flush with the original tooth.
Dental bonding is a fairly basic process that often takes about a half hour to an hour to complete. Furthermore, unlike crowns and veneers, the bonding material will not need to be sent to dental laboratories, making it a cheaper cosmetic dental process for patients. Sadly, the bonding ingredient is not as powerful as crowns or veneers, and the person must be cautious as the bonding component might break and become damaged.
Inlays & Onlays
Possible alternatives to dental crowns are onlays and inlays, which are a kind of filling. Known also as indirect fillings, inlays and onlays are made for teeth with decay or damage, and they are usually created from composite materials, porcelain, and sometimes gold. Gold inlays are the most durable (and expensive) kind of dental filling, the American Dental Association reports. These inlays can last over 20 years with daily dental hygiene.
An inlay is an indirect dental filling that is produced to fill the depressions in the center of the tooth. After the area has been numbed, Dr. Sachs eliminates the tooth decay. Then, If a patient is a candidate for CEREC restoration, she will take a 3D image of the surface of the tooth, then construct an inlay using the CEREC machine. If the patient isn't a candidate for CEREC restoration, she will create an impression of the area and send it away to a lab where the inlay will be manufactured. Generally, the inlays will be made of porcelain or composite resin and will fit the shape of the patient's natural teeth.
If the damage to a tooth is on the tip, an onlay can be used to solve the problem. The process is almost identical to receiving an inlay. Dr. Sachs cleans the contaminated part of the tooth and decides whether or not the CEREC machine can be used. If it can't, she will make a mold and ship it away to the dental laboratory. Then the tooth is matched with a temporary onlay until the long-term one arrives.
This series on cosmetic dentistry will return in the next blog post, so make sure to look for it. In the meantime, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Sachs by clicking here, and you can also follow us on social media!