Odontology is treatment to save your natural teeth so that they don’t have to be taken out; no artificial implant is better than the teeth you were born with.
The most common tooth-preserving treatments are fillings and reconstructions.
Filling or obturation
Fillings are mainly used to repair damage caused by tooth decay.
The damaged area is cleaned without affecting the rest of the tooth; the area is then sealed with an artificial filling to prevent future damage due to tooth decay. After treatment, your tooth will look and function perfectly.
Fillings are made with composite resins in different shades designed to match your natural teeth as much as possible.
Reconstructions
When a tooth has been very badly damaged it will require reconstruction, such as in the case of a tooth broken by a knock. Reconstruction is also the method used to correct cavities from which one or several tooth walls are missing.
In the event of reconstruction being insufficient or impossible, the solution will be a crown.
To reconstruct a tooth we use a hugely innovative material known as composite which acquires a hardness similar to the human tooth in contact with ultraviolet light. It comes in several shades to match the colour of the tooth to be reconstructed and can last for up to 10 years, or in some cases for much longer; however, this will depend on the patient and their habits. For instance, the colour of your reconstruction may be affected if you smoke or regularly eat or drink very dark-coloured food, like coffee.
Both fillings and reconstructions are carried out with local anaesthetic meaning that the patient feels no pain.
It is advisable to visit your dentist at least once a year, or more often if a filling starts bothering you or you notice any changes in either your filling or your reconstruction.
