Dental Services Explained

Dental work is the care of teeth and gums by a dentist or other health professionals. It can be extremely expensive, which is why it's important to keep up with regular visits and preventive services (such as cleanings and x-rays) to minimize the need for costly restorative procedures.

Dental services can be broken down into three main categories: Major, Basic and Preventive/Diagnostic. Knowing how your insurance classifies these services can help you avoid surprises at the dentist and make it easier to navigate your coverage options.

Tooth Repair

West Hills Dentist is to restore the function of a damaged tooth while improving its appearance and helping you feel better about your smile. Common procedures include fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures. The type of treatment you need depends on the extent of damage to your teeth and whether or not you have other oral health issues, like gum disease or mouth cancer.

A tooth can be damaged by decay, a cracked or chipped tooth, an impact to the mouth or jaw, or from misuse and wear. To restore a damaged tooth, the dentist may need to remove decayed material and then fill the tooth. They may also add a crown, which protects the damaged tooth from further damage.

In addition to repairing damaged teeth, restorative dentistry can also include a wide range of cosmetic treatments. For example, veneers are used to improve the appearance of a damaged tooth by covering it with a tooth-colored resin. This procedure is typically less costly than a full-coverage dental crown, and it provides the same results.

Dental x-rays are a critical diagnostic tool that can detect problems, such as decay between teeth or bone loss. They are usually recommended during routine dental visits, and they are also sometimes required for certain restorative procedures. Your insurance may cover the cost of x-rays as often as twice per year or every 6 months. Bite-wing x-rays and full-mouth x-rays are normally covered only once per year.

A full or partial denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Dentures can be complete (when all the natural teeth are missing) or partial (when some natural teeth remain). The first step in making a denture is taking impressions of your jaw for measurements. Wax or plastic models will be made that you can try for fit, and then the final denture will be cast. Dental bonding is a common way to repair a cracked front tooth, as it can seal and fill the crack while matching the color of your natural teeth.