Crowns
A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. A crown is made to look like your tooth. Many people call it a cap. Crowns may be placed for several reasons. Usually the tooth has been broken or damaged a ... [... more]
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X-Rays
X-ray images, also called dental radiographs, are among the most valuable tools a dentist has for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy. X-rays are a form of energy that travels in waves. X-rays can enter solid objects, where they either are ... [... more]
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Osseous Surgery
Surgery can reshape bone to fill holes created by periodontal disease. Osseous surgery is a procedure that reshapes the bone that holds a tooth or teeth in place. Osseous surgery is a treatment for the gum disease called periodontitis. People ... [... more]
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Endodontic Abscess
An abscess is an area of pus that forms as part of the body's effort to fight a bacterial infection. The immune system sends white blood cells to the area to try to get rid of the bacteria. Pus contains both live and dead white blood cells. It ... [... more]
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Parts of Your Teeth and Gums
Like an iceberg, only a portion of your tooth is visible. So much more lies beneath the surface. Illustration created by Simple Steps designer Lynda Buchhalter A tooth is a bit like a tree - only part of it is visible, and the roots lie beneath ... [... more]
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New Technologies Find Tooth Decay Early
New technologies are helping dentists find decay earlier than in the past. Sometimes it's all too obvious that you have tooth decay: You're in pain or you can see a dark spot on your tooth. But in other cases, you may not even know there's a ... [... more]
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Apicoectomy
An apicoectomy may be required when an infection develops or persists after root-canal treatment. Your teeth are held in place by roots that extend into your jawbone. Front teeth usually have one root. Other teeth, such as your premolars and ... [... more]
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Fillings: The Basics
Do you need a filling? Or should an old filling be replaced. Find out how your dentist determines the answer and how fillings are done. Your dentist may use several methods to determine if you have tooth decay, including: Decay is not the only ... [... more]
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Hemisection
Hemisection is the process of cutting a tooth with two roots in half, creating a front half and a back half. It often is done by a periodontist, but any experienced dentist, endodontist or oral surgeon can do the procedure. Hemisection literally ... [... more]
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Inlays
A dental inlay or onlay is bigger than a filling and smaller than a crown. It is bonded or cemented into place. An inlay is similar to a filling, but it lies within the cusps (bumps) on the chewing surface of your tooth. An onlay is larger than ... [... more]
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Pins and Posts
Pins and posts are used to reinforce fillings and crowns when a large part of the tooth is decayed or missing. Pins and posts are aids used to reinforce fillings and crowns when a large part of the tooth is decayed or missing. Both pins and posts ... [... more]
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Extraction
Find out why a tooth may have to be extracted and learn more about the procedure. Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, your dentist will try to fix it with a ... [... more]
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