Types of Dental Problems

When you don’t like your smile, you can improve it with modern dentistry. First, you must visit a dentist to determine if you have any dental problems. Some of the most common dental problems:

• Cavities
• Gingivitis
• Chips
• Stains
• Cracks
• Missing teeth

After the dentist looks at your teeth and collects medical images, it is possible to see a projected smile makeover that is made with computer software. You may need one or more procedures that occur over several weeks or months to change your smile.

Repairing Your Cavities

It is essential to eliminate infection first, so a dentist will fill tiny cavities with color-matching fillings. This process requires only a few minutes, and you seldom need any anesthesia. However, if you have larger cavities, then a dentist may sedate you or inject a numbing medication into your gums. It is possible to repair larger cavities with bigger fillings, but for a deep cavity, you may need a root canal.

Root Canal Procedures

Root canals are a type of surgical procedure that requires a dentist to drill into the top of the damaged or decayed tooth to remove its pulp. The pulp of a tooth contains blood vessels and nerves that are often contaminated with bacteria. After these substances are removed, the dentist reaches deeper into the tooth to pull out the roots that extend into your gum tissue. Removing the roots of the tooth will stop the pain from the infection, but after the pulp is removed, the shell of the tooth isn’t stable.

To improve the condition of this tooth, the dentist will fill the shell with a malleable waterproof substance that will dry in only a few minutes. While this will strengthen the tooth’s shell, you will also need a customized dental crown. A dental crown is made to match the other teeth in your mouth, and it covers all of the exposed sides of the repaired tooth to protect it while you chew food and talk.

Fixing Small Chips

If you have small chips on your teeth, then a dentist can repair the problem with a bonding material that is mixed to match the color of the tooth. After the bonding substance dries, a dentist can use polishing tools to create a natural-looking tooth. When bonding material wears away, a dentist can fix it again in one office visit. Before mixing the bonding material, your dentist may recommend whitening your teeth so that the substance matches the other teeth in your mouth.

Whitening Teeth

A professional teeth-whitening procedure in a dentist’s office is a simple process. A dentist can apply a hydrogen peroxide solution to the surfaces of your teeth, and when water is added to your mouth, a chemical reaction occurs. As the whitening solution bubbles in your mouth, the stains from smoking cigarettes or eating brightly colored foods will disappear. In less than an hour, you will have teeth that are whiter, creating a more attractive smile.

Dental Bridges and Implants

When you have missing teeth, a dentist can repair the problem with a dental bridge that is made from metal and plastic. This dental appliance will support full-size crowns that fit between the remaining natural teeth. Some dental bridges will hold several crowns, but it is possible that you will need more than one of these appliances. Most dental bridges are made to remain inside your mouth until a dentist removes the item to make a repair.

If you don’t want to wear a dental bridge, then you can request implants instead. Dental implants are surgically implanted in the gums, and the items are often more comfortable than a bridge. When you are requesting implants, you are sedated so that a dentist can insert the metal posts in your gums and alveolar bones. A screw is attached to a post, and a full-size dental crown is attached to the screw.

Aligners to Straighten Your Teeth

When you have dental malocclusions such as wide gaps, you can have your teeth straightened. Today, many adults visit an orthodonist Invisalign expert who can collect molds of their mouths to make a series of aligners that will repair their misaligned teeth.