Composite Resin Restorations

Composite resin has a number of different purposes in dentistry. When it is used to restore a tooth with decay it is known as a composite resin restoration and when it is used to repair minor breaks, cracks, chips or other irregularities it is known as bonding.

Composite resin are unlike amalgam (silver) restorations and are made of a coloured plastic mixture with glass particles.

To place composite resin on a tooth it is prepared by conditioning it's surface with a desensitising agent. The surface is then painted with a bonding liquid that sets firmly when an ultra-violet light is shone on it. The composite resin material is moulded onto the tooth and shaped. The light is again used to harden it and, finally, the set resin is trimmed and polished.

Advantages of using composite resin:

• only one visit to the dentist is usually required for this type of restoration to be placed
• an excellent colour match can usually be made
• composite bonds with the tooth providing stability
• ability to retain more tooth structure and therefore making it stronger
• composite material insulates the tooth from excessive temperature changes
• composite resin can be easily repaired in the mouth and is easy to maintain

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Our dentists at York Lanes Dental can perform endodontics, also known as root canals. When the area of the tooth containing the nerves and blood supply becomes damaged or infected, you know it by the excruciating pain you feel in the diseased tooth. At our dental centre, endodontics is used to repair teeth damaged or diseased in this way.

Symptoms of nerve damage or infection that may require endodontics include severe tooth pain, darkening of the tooth, sensitivity to heat and cold, and swelling, tenderness, or recurring pimples on the gums. Sometimes, however, no symptoms appear, yet endodontics may still be essential to maintain the health of the mouth. Our experienced dentists can advise if endodontics is necessary for you. In addition to endodontics, our dentists also offer many oral surgery procedures. Removing wisdom teeth or extracting irreparably damaged or diseased teeth are two of the many procedures where oral surgery is used.

Crowns

If your tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown (also called a cap) can be used to cover the damaged part of your tooth. A crown protects your tooth from further damage.
Crowns can be made of different kinds of metals, porcelain or porcelain fused to metal. They are strong and last for about 10 years, if you take good care of them. Brush and floss your crown, just like you clean your natural teeth.

During the dental crown procedure, your dentist prepares the tooth and makes a molded impression of the teeth to send to a dental laboratory. A fitted, temporary crown is created during this visit to temporarily protect the tooth while the final restoration is being made in the dental laboratory. Once completed, the tooth crown is cemented or adhesively bonded at a later visit.

Recent technology, CAD/CAM technology (computer-aided design/manufacturing technology) has evolved to display a 3-D picture of the teeth. A restoration is then created through milling of a ceramic block. If this technology is located in the dental office (chair-side CAD/CAM), there will be no need for a temporary crown or return visit for the final cementation.

BRIDGES

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap – these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth – and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

Bridges can:

• Restore your smile
• Restore your ability to properly chew and speak
• Maintain the shape of your face
• Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
• Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position