General restorative dentistry

General restorative dentistry may be necessary for teeth that have become decayed or damaged. The idea is to restore the teeth to a stable and healthy state while also restoring their form and function.

Fillings

Dental fillings are used to restore areas of a tooth lost as a result of wear, erosion or decay. It used to be that the only restorative material available was dental amalgam (silver fillings) and while it has stood the test of time, it is not aesthetic and we do not use any silver fillings at Eilertsen Dental Care. We used only composite resin material that are glued into the tooth and thus produce a long lasting and aesthetic result. While there are a variety of white filling materials on the market, at Eilertsen Dental Care we only use the most modern and best materials available.

If you have been told you need a filling you can expect the following protocol in surgery :-

1. The area to be anaesthetised.
2. A rubber sheet placed over the tooth if appropriate.
3. The portion of decayed tooth to be removed.
4. A special matrix and clamp to be applied if the filling extends between the tooth to allow a good contour to be formed.
5. An initial primer to be applied all over the cavity before washing it off and drying the tooth.
6. A second adhesive to be applied all over the cavity and then cured by a special light.

7. The white filling material to be placed in small increments and then cured by the light.
8. There are a variety of filling materials of differing density and lucency and we will do our best to select the best colour match to your tooth.
9. The filling will be contoured and polished to produce a natural finish.
10. We will check how your bite is coming together to ensure the restoration is comfortable adapts well in your existing dentition.In some cases, the extent of tooth loss is too great to be restored by a simple filling. In these cases we may need to either root treat the tooth initially (please see the root canal treatment section) or place an inlay, onlay or crown to recreate the missing tooth structure.

Inlays, onlays or crowns.

If the extent of decay or tooth loss is very great it could be that a simple restorative technique is not sufficient to restore the tooth form and function. In these cases we may prefer to use an inlay, onlay or crown to recreate the missing tooth substance. While simple fillings are placed immediately, Inlays, onlays or crowns are indirect and need a two step process.

If you have been offered an inlay, onlay or crown, you can expect the following protocol in surgery :-

Appointment 1:

1. The area to be anaesthetised.
2. A rubber sheet placed over the tooth if appropriate.
3. The portion of decayed tooth to be removed and the tooth prepared to the correct shape for the final restoration.
4. An impression taken and sent to the dental laboratory where the restoration is constructed to restore your tooth’s volume, form and function.

5. A temporary restoration placed in the cavity.

Appointment 2:

1. The area to be anaesthetised.
2. The temporary restoration removed.
3. The inlay, onlay or crown fit will be checked and if we are both happy with the way it looks it will be cemented.
4. We will remove any excess cement by flossing around the area.
5. We will check how your bite is coming together and that the new restoration is well adapted in your exisitng dentition.

Inlays, onlays and crowns can be made of a number of different materials including composite resin, porcelain, a mixture of matal and porcelain or just metal or gold. Whether we opt for an inlay, onlay or crown is dependant on how much tooth substance is missing and what is the most appropriate solution in each individual case.

If you have been given a treatment plan that involves any of the above solutions and are unsure about any aspect of waht is going to happen or why it is the best solution for you please do not hestitate to give one of our team a call.