What Is Dental Aesthetics?

If problems in your oral and dental health bother you both aesthetically and functionally, the branch of dentistry that will restore them from this perspective and bring them as close as possible to their original state is aesthetic dentistry. Aesthetic dental treatments aim to rebuild the teeth and focus on returning damaged teeth as closely as possible to their original state, even if not exactly the same. The methods used during aesthetic dentistry treatments vary entirely according to the difficulty of the procedure and the nature of the dental problem in question. While treatments such as crowns, veneers, fillings and bridges can offer a solution for some oral and dental problems, in some cases aesthetic dental treatments alone are sufficient and enough to satisfy the patient. In the world of aesthetic dental treatment, also called restorative dental treatment, everything depends on the nature of the problem in the patient’s teeth and the root cause of the problem.

When Is Aesthetic Dental Treatment Performed?

The situations in which aesthetic dental treatment is used vary depending on the specific complaint the patient has. That is why it is not really possible or sound to draw a clear framework as to exactly when restorative dental treatments will be needed. Restorative procedures may come into play in cases where orthodontic treatments are insufficient or ineffective, and orthodontic or surgical intervention may also be needed in a case where only restorative dental treatment was planned.

It is possible to narrow down the frequently performed restorative dental treatments. First among these is filling the gaps of missing teeth. Whatever the procedure, the aim is always to preserve the original and natural teeth as much as possible. Of course, there are situations where this is not always possible; restorative dental treatment methods offered as an alternative to natural teeth come into play at this point. The most common restorative dental methods can be listed as follows:

• Veneers
• Implants
• Aesthetic fillings
• Inlays and onlays
• Bridges
• Dental prostheses

These methods are among the most frequently used methods for filling the gap of a missing tooth. However, which method will be preferred will of course be chosen by an experienced dental restoration dentist who is an expert in the field.

Why Should I Have Restorative Dental Treatment?

Restorative dental treatments provide many advantages to the patient. One of them is that they can prevent dental problems that could become more serious. Restorative dental treatments are of great importance for oral and dental health in terms of filling gaps in the mouth and preventing unwanted decay. In addition, missing tooth gaps seriously affect a person’s chewing. Since there is not as much surface area in the mouth as there should be, the person applies more pressure to their other natural teeth than they normally should. This once again shows how important it is to fill missing tooth gaps.

How Are Restorative Dental Treatments Performed?

All restorative dental treatment methods, especially restorative dental fillings, can be performed in different ways depending on the structure of the tooth in question and the root problem. In this context, the answer to the question of how restorative dental treatment is performed actually depends on the individual patient’s problem. However, when deciding which method to choose, both financial and physical factors must be taken into account. Many dentists will try to preserve the natural tooth structure as much as they can before concluding that restorative dental treatment is the final solution. In some special cases, dental prostheses become a more effective option, while in others the most ideal method may be an aesthetic filling, an inlay or an onlay. With the development and progress of technology, it is possible to come across dozens of different dental restoration methods today. Methods that restore damaged, worn or missing teeth aim to give the person an aesthetic and healthy smile. These methods can be listed as follows:

Direct Dental Restoration Treatments

In directly applied restorative dental treatments, a filling is placed directly into the tooth cavity. The treatment is mostly completed in a single session and is known as a minimally painful process. The dentist chooses between different types of filling according to the tissue, the size of the cavity and the location of the area where the filling will be placed. For example, for teeth that are not under constant pressure from chewing, materials such as glass or resin ionomer may be preferred.

Indirect Dental Restoration Treatments

In restorative dental treatments that are not direct, that is, indirect ones, intermediary appliances are used. These intermediary appliances can be crowns, onlays or inlays. Each of these methods, known as personalised cavity-filling appliances, serves a different purpose. Crowns cover the entire chewing surface of the tooth. Inlays are located at the most pointed tip (cusp) of the tooth. When we look at onlays, we can say that these appliances are used to cover more than one cusp of the tooth, including the chewing surface. Unlike direct treatment methods, indirect restorative dental treatments usually require more than one visit to the dentist. The reason is that inlays and onlays are produced in a clinical laboratory and designed to custom measurements.

Different materials can be used in the production of crowns, onlays and inlays. While gold is still used in some inlays so that the patient can get maximum benefit, porcelain and similar composite materials are preferred for other types of appliances.