What can be fixed with restoration?
A chipped cutting edge, a gap between the front teeth, discoloration of one tooth, an uneven edge, an old darkened filling - all this can be solved in one visit without grinding for a crown. The doctor selects several shades of the composite: more opaque for dentin replacement and transparent for the enamel layer. The result depends on polishing: it is this that gives a “living” shine, indistinguishable from enamel.
What is tooth restoration
Restoration is the restoration of the shape, function and appearance of a tooth using composite materials directly in the oral cavity, in one visit. Unlike a crown, it does not require grinding of the entire tooth and preserves a maximum of its own tissues.
A separate task is the restoration of the stump: when only the walls or the root remain of the tooth, the doctor creates a foundation on which a crown is subsequently placed.
How to restore the stump
- composite without support - when strong tooth walls are preserved
- anchor pin with composite - a metal pin in the channel as a support
- fiberglass pin with composite - elasticity is close to the tooth tissue, the risk of root splitting is lower
- cast stump inlay - in case of significant destruction, manufactured in the laboratory
Materials
Light-curing composites provide better aesthetics and strength, while glass ionomer cements provide chemical adhesion to dentin and fluoride release. Glass ionomer is often used as a spacer under a composite, for cervical defects and in pediatric practice.