5 Dental Restorations That Can Save Your Smile

Are you unhappy with your smile? You’re not alone. Many people dream of having a beautiful, healthy smile, but don’t know where to start. Fortunately, our experienced West Columbus dentist can evaluate your teeth and recommend different restorative dental procedures based on your specific needs to give you a new, gorgeous look.

Here are the most common types of dental restorations to help repair missing, damaged, or discolored teeth.

1. Dental Fillings

Any cavities found in your mouth will need to be drilled out and replaced with dental fillings. Many patients appreciate being able to use tooth-colored fillings though (also called composite resin fillings) for permanent teeth. With this option, no one has to know that you had fillings if it’s something you want to keep private.

Composite resin fillings are different from traditional metal fillings as they match the color of your natural tooth enamel. This type of filling also adheres right to the tooth structure, which helps to provide additional support and can be less invasive than other methods that require more extensive preparation and drilling.

2. Dental Implants

Dental implants are ideal for patients who want to replace a tooth with a restoration that feels and looks natural. Implants are titanium posts surgically inserted into your jawbone to mimic the function of natural tooth roots. Ideally, candidates will need to have a fully developed jawbone, good overall health, and no conditions that may interfere with proper healing.

For patients who lack sufficient bone density, Dr. Gibson can speak with you about the possibility of undergoing a dental bone graft procedure to build a strong foundation for the implant.

During a process called osseointegration, the dental implant will fuse to the jawbone over the course of several months. Afterward, Dr. Gibson will place an abutment (connector piece) and a dental crown over your implant to form your new artificial tooth.

3. Dental Bridges

If you have a few missing teeth in your smile but you’re not sold on implants, you may want to consider a dental bridge.

This restoration works by using the healthy teeth on either side of the gap where a tooth (or teeth) once were. During the dental bridge procedure, Dr. Gibson will place a false tooth in between two natural teeth or dental implants, if preferred. This process often requires us to file off a thin layer of your side teeth to fit the dental bridge over them.

Learn More → Dental Bridges: Types and Advantages

The natural teeth beside the gap are capped with dental crowns to properly secure the new artificial tooth, which is cemented in place. This process is highly popular among people with a tooth gap.

4. Dental Crowns

To hide the appearance of tooth decay, cracks, chips, or even discoloration, you may want to ask our dentist if a dental crown is right for you. Like the name suggests, dental crowns sit on top of your teeth and cover the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line.

During your first visit, Dr. Gibson will file down the teeth on all sides to make room for the new dental crown. Then, we will take impressions of your teeth and send them to a lab where your dental restoration will get made.

In the meantime, a temporary crown will be fitted over your tooth. During your second visit to our Hilliard, OH, dental office, the temporary crown will be replaced and the permanent version will be cemented into place.

5. Dentures

If you’ve had several teeth pulled out or are in need of removable replacement teeth, you may want to talk about dentures with Dr. Gibson.

Full or partial dentures are essentially false teeth that can help you eat and talk normally. While adjusting to dentures can take some time, they can help you maintain your quality of life after significant tooth loss. By using dental implants, there are also some options we offer in which we can make your dentures more secure in their place.

Dentures still need to be cleaned regularly too! This tooth replacement option is meant to act like real teeth and should be treated with the same amount of care.

Discuss Your Smile Restoration Options

Interested in getting your smile back on track in terms of functionality, appearance, and overall health? Our dentist serving Columbus, OH, would love to have a one-on-one consultation with you. Please call Gibson Dental today at (614) 878-9562 or contact us online to request an appointment.

This blog post has been updated.