Having dental work done can be an expensive undertaking. Between the costs of insurance premiums and regular preventative visits, you are already paying a hefty sum for care. Add in a restorative procedure and your budget can start to feel the strain.
Fillings
When a tooth has decay, it is generally removed and the void left behind filled in with a filling. You may recognize the silver appearance of traditional fillings, but they don’t all look like that today. Take a few minutes to learn about the dental filling materials names and how each one is relevant to your decision. Which one you choose can affect both the appearance and cost of your dental work.
Crowns
In some cases, your teeth may be too damaged to use a filling. In these instances, a crown will often be recommended. Crowns are covers that are applied over a metal post or a filed down portion of the tooth. They can be made of metal, resin composite, porcelain or ceramic. Your budget and where the affected tooth is located plays a large part in determining which material will work best.
Veneers
These wafer-thin covers are glued or bonded to the front surfaces of teeth to change their appearance. They are an excellent option when you want to make cosmetic changes to teeth that are primarily sound and can be used to cover cracks, chips and misshapen teeth. Veneers can be made from a resin composite or porcelain material. Porcelain is more difficult to work with and costlier, but it tends to last longer once it is in place.
Implants
When you are missing one or more teeth, your dentist may suggest implants. They provide a long-term and natural-looking solution to tooth loss. A small metal post is implanted into the jaw to serve as an artificial root. Crowns are then attached to this post to complete the procedure.
Once you know your options, you can work with your dentist to make an informed decision about which procedure is right for your situation.
