A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available -- complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. How are Dentures made? The denture development process takes a few weeks and several appointments. Once your dentist determines what type of appliance is best for you, the general steps are to: Make a series

If you have missing teeth, your dentist can close — or bridge — the gaps in your smile with dental bridges. A dental bridge is a false tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by the abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Although pontics can be made from a variety of materials such as gold, typically they’re made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth. There are

A crown is a cap used to protect and strengthen a damaged or weakened tooth. It can be made from a variety of materials, including metal or porcelain. Several factors are important to consider when choosing a crown, including: cost strength durability A natural appearance that doesn’t detract from your smile may also be a priority for you. Your dentist can discuss the various options and help you to figure out what best meets

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells that dentists can place on the front of the teeth to improve their appearance. Veneers can hide stained, chipped, and uneven teeth. There are two types of veneers: porcelain and resin-based composite. Porcelain veneers are a strong, thin cap that a dentist can place on the tops and sides of the teeth. To attach them, your dentist will remove some enamel from the tooth before placing them. Porcelain

Usually, fillings are used to fill in small cavities, while crowns are used when a larger surface needs to be covered up. There may be situations when a filling is not enough, and a crown is too much to protect dental decay…that’s when dental inlays and onlays are used to fill in those gaps. But what is the difference between the two? At their most basic definitions, an inlay fills in cavities and hollows in

Fillings are used to treat a cavity, repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse (such as from nail-biting or tooth grinding). Today, several dental filling materials are available: Gold Porcelain Composite Resin (tooth-colored) Silver Amalgam (which consists of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper) Plastic Glass ionomer How does my dentist choose what material to use? The location and extent of the decay, or reason for the restoration