Written By Lizzie Weakley / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

When a toothache or related symptoms start interfering with your daily activities, it's time to contact a dentist for an exam. You might have temporary discomfort from biting a hard food, like a cherry pit, or you may be developing a more significant problem that needs prompt attention. Here are some of the common treatments used to manage dental issues.

Fillings

A cavity occurs when your tooth develops a fissure or an area of decay stemming from acidic or sugary foods. As the enamel wears down, bacteria can invade the tooth and make the problem worse. You will then need to get a tooth filling to seal the eroded area and prevent further deterioration of the tooth. A filling can be done in a regular dental visit when the surrounding area is numbed, and the damaged tooth receives a filling.

Crowns

When teeth become severely decayed but the roots remain intact, you may be eligible for dental crowns, which preserve the basic tooth structure. The top part of the tooth is drilled out to make room for an artificial crown replacement that looks like a regular tooth. It is permanently secured and feels like a normal tooth, allowing you to eat and speak as you did before.

Braces

Orthodontic braces may be recommended if you have teeth that are tilted, twisted, or missing. Braces can be fitted to move your teeth into the correct dental position. The brackets and wires are placed by an orthodontist in a separate practice that your dentist refers to you.

Treatment with braces usually takes several months or between one and two years on average. During this time, you might need to see your dentist more often than twice a year to keep your teeth healthy and professionally cleaned to avoid cavities.

Implants

Dental implants are similar to crowns except that the entire tooth is removed. The gum tissue may be built up to support an implanted artificial tooth, which takes a few months. A metal stud is surgically implanted into the jawbone and given time to heal. Then the top or visible part of the tooth, the artificial crown, is secured to the implanted stud. Implants are permanent and work as well as your natural teeth.

Whatever your dental problems might be, there are several treatments to restore or replace your teeth. Talk to your dentist about any concerns you have and get regular dental checkups to keep your teeth healthy.

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Written By:

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.

Reviewed By:    

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.