how to become a dental assistant

6 Types of Dental Procedures

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It is extremely important to start practicing healthy dental habits at a young age as they can save you valuable time, money and energy in the future. If you are currently suffering from tooth pain, the pain may actually be caused by a build-up in your sinuses. If this is not the case, contact your doctor and they should take proactive steps in discovering what the issues are, solving the root of the problem and coming up with preventative solutions to stop this from reoccurring. To avoid having to make too many unnecessary journeys to the dentist, remember to implement basic dental hygiene practices into your daily life such as brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and attending regular checkups every six months so they can spot potential problems before they become a larger issue. These are just a few of the procedures dentists may have to perform if you are suffering from dental issues.

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning is also known as scaling and root planing. The dentist performs a thorough deep cleanse by removing plaque and tartar buildup around the teeth and pockets in the gums and smoothening out teeth roots and getting rid of bacterial toxins. This is not necessary for everyone to undergo. Your dentist will evaluate your plaque buildup and gums and if you need to have this deep cleaning, they will schedule an appointment as well as a follow-up. Unlike a regular dental cleaning that runs $50-100, this may cost between $140-300 per quadrant depending on the technology that is used, the location of the dentist and the type of dental coverage you have.

Bonding

Dental bonding is for those that may have a decayed, chipped or broken tooth that needs cosmetic attention. Essentially, a colored durable plastic material called resin is applied to your teeth which then hardens and bonds the teeth together if, for instance, you have a gap between your teeth. This is done to restore or improve your smile. The procedure itself only takes 30-60 minutes per tooth and rarely requires anesthesia.

Dental bonding is by far the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental procedure and costs between $100-400 per tooth. The length of time that it lasts depends on a number of factors such as the amount of bonding that was done and the patient's overall oral habits. On average though, they usually last three to ten years.

Fillings

Fillings are one of the most common restorative dentistry treatments patients receive. They are often performed on those who need to repair minimal tooth fractures, suffer from enamel loss which is a common part of tooth decay or those who have damaged tooth surfaces. The tooth filling materials include composite, which lasts from five to seven years and can cost anywhere from $135-240 per filling, and porcelain and silver amalgam, which do not need to be replaced for roughly 12 years and cost around $110-200 per filling. One of the benefits of only needing a filling is that it can be done immediately and performed with a local anesthetic.

Crowns

Crowns, commonly referred to as "caps", help preserve any damaged teeth that may be cracked, replace pre-existing crowns or help restore teeth that have excessive decay. Unlike the filling, the crown offers more support but comes at a costly price. Each crown will put you back between $1,000-3,500 but will last between 10-15 years. Similar to fillings, the cost for a tooth crown will depend on the material that is used. This can vary from porcelain–fused metal to all-ceramic to gold.

Bridges

Similar to implants and partial dentures, a tooth bridge essentially replaces missing teeth. Patients can choose from a variety of bridges that will be cemented into place after X-rays and impressions of the treatment area are taken. The price ranges from $700-1500 per tooth depending on the material that is used, the amount of preparation that is necessary and the insurance the patient has. These bridges last anywhere between 10 to 20 years.

Extraction

Tooth extraction is by far one of the least favorite things people like to go to their dental practitioner for. They essentially pull out the tooth from the socket in the jawbone, leaving the patient in pain for the next few days. This is commonly performed in situations where there may be severe tooth decay or damage, a tooth is non-functioning and does not have any opposing teeth to bite against, or if there are extra teeth that need to be removed for incoming ones. The most common reason for tooth extraction though is the incoming wisdom teeth taking up space. It not cheap to remove teeth and may cost between $130 to 400.