What are Common Types of Dental Work?

By Susan Braden

Common Dental Procedures

• Fillings
• Crowns
• Root Canals
• Extractions

Obviously, the exact dental work you'll need at the dental office will depend on the condition of your teeth. There are a number of different problems which can cause a toothache that requires work. The first work that any dentist will do is an oral examination and a complete set of dental x-rays. The oral examination is where the mouth of the patient is looked over to visually see what the problem is. After that, a complete set of x-rays, which show a picture of the inside of the teeth, will be taken. After these two dental procedures, the dentist will sit down with the patient and discuss exactly what type of dental work needs to be done.

Fillings

There are a few types of dental work which are very common at the dentist office. The first common work performed is a called a filling. If you have a simple cavity on the surface caused by decay, a dentist will fill the hole with a silver metal or white composite material. The material seals the tooth off and prevents the cavity from growing. This is one of the most common fixes for a sore or sensitive tooth.

Crowns

Another very common area of dental work is crowns. A crown, also called a cap, is a permanent covering which is glued onto the existing tooth. A dental crown is used if the tooth is severely decayed, chipped, or broken. Crowns are also commonly used after a root canal procedure to help strengthen the tooth. Before a crown is put in place, the dentist will grind down the existing tooth and then place the crown over it. Crowns are usually made of either metal, porcelain, or a combination of the two.

Root Canals

One of the other most common dental procedures is a root canal. A root canal is normally performed if one of your teeth is decayed down to the roots. In the work of a root canal, a hole is drilled through the middle of the tooth in order to gain access to the roots and pulp material inside of it. The dentist then cleans out all of the roots and pulp material under the tooth, and fills it back in with a permanent filling. Often, it is recommend to place a crown over the top of a tooth with a root canal, since the remaining tooth has been weakened due to the root canal work.

Extractions

The final common type of dental work is an extraction. If one of your teeth is so far decayed or broken that a dentist cannot repair it, the only other option is to remove it entirely. Extractions often cost less than a root canal or crown as well, and sometimes they are the only option on a tight budget. However, this type of dental work is not typically recommended if the tooth can be saved.

Visit the Dentist

Along with what is mentioned here, there are many other types of dental work. This is just a listing of some of the most common types dental procedures. If you are experiencing pain, the next step would be to get into a dentist’s office so that you can get the x-rays and examination done. From there, he can advise what type of dental work needs to be done in order to get the teeth fixed.