When you have cavities, tooth decay, or dental infections, your natural teeth are at risk of damage. To treat them, your dentist will recommend getting dental restorations. Here are some different dental restorations to be aware of.

Fillings

The first type of restorative dental procedure you should be aware of is the filling. This is the more typical procedure you will get if you have a cavity in your tooth. If you catch a cavity early enough, a filling is all you will need. However, if you let the cavity go too long, you might need a root canal and crown, or a tooth extraction in more severe cases. There are different types of fillings to choose from, including amalgam fillings, porcelain fillings, and gold fillings. The one you choose depend son your budget, what your insurance covers, and how you want the tooth to look after getting the filling. Fillings are typically covered by dental insurance, but are also one of the less expensive dental restorations even if you don't have insurance.

Crowns

If a tooth becomes susceptible to cracking and breaking, it is often given a crown. This is a type of cap that is bonded over the top of the tooth to protect it. Similar to fillings, there are different materials of crowns, including porcelain, gold, and other materials. Many dental issues require a crown, such as if you have a tooth that has a severe crack or fracture, which means the crack could worsen and break part of the tooth. If you have a root canal, the tooth is then dead, which causes it to become brittle and susceptible to breaking. You may also need a crown for a tooth with a very deep cavity that can't be fixed with just a filling. Crowns tend to cost a little more and require more than one visit to the dentist to complete it.

Bridges

Dental bridges are required for replacing missing teeth, and are used along with crowns. The dental bridge can replace one or multiple teeth. It has artificial teeth in the middle where the missing teeth are. The natural teeth that are adjacent to the missing teeth are prepared and covered with crowns, which is what the bridge is attached to. This secures the artificial teeth in place. Dental bridges are used when you want an alternative to a partial denture. It is fixed to your mouth and can't be removed like partials can. Bridges require multiple visits to the dentist to prepare the natural teeth for the crowns, get impressions done, and prepare the artificial teeth for the bridge.