Happy Dental Treatment Consent (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

D. ______ Restoration of Cavities on Broken Teeth with White Fillings (Composite) 

Procedure: Always used when ﬁlling is needed in the front area of the mouth. Can also be used

in the back of the mouth. Any decay is removed and the tooth-colored material is placed as a

ﬁlling.

Goals: To remove decay in order to prevent it from spreading to the nerve and to place a ﬁlling to

restore lost tooth structure. Used when no nerve damage in the tooth has occurred.

Alternatives: Silver ﬁllings (amalgam). If cavity is too large, stainless steel or zirconia crowns.

Risk: They are chemically bonded and bond can fail, causing ﬁlling to fall out. They are more

difﬁcult to do in the back of the mouth. They are technique sensitive. They can leak, causing

yellow stain lines where tooth meets ﬁlling material.

E. ______ Restoration of Cavities, Broken Fillings or Back Teeth with Stainless Steel Crowns 

Procedure: Usually placed on back teeth in the mouth. A pre-fabricated crown is placed on a

tooth to hold the tooth together and to prevent leakage and breakage of a tooth with a signiﬁcant

amount of decay or with a pulpotomy.

Goals: To preserve a tooth until natural exfoliation (falling out on it’s own —in the case of baby

teeth). To prevent a tooth from getting recurrent decay (new cavity). This is a long lasting

restoration.

Alternatives: White Zirconia crowns, or do a very large ﬁlling (which will be more likely to leak or

break). Extraction or no treatment which risks infection, pain and/or premature loss of tooth.

Risk: Although this is one of the most successful restorations in dentistry, sometimes they can

come off or even fail. At times, if there is not enough tooth remaining once decay is removed,

these cannot be done and tooth must be extracted.

F. ______ Restoration of Cavities, Broken Fillings or Teeth, with Zirconia (White) Crowns 

Procedure: Usually placed on teeth in the front of the mouth, where there is extensive decay or

where a pulpotomy is necessary. We will try not put a silver crown in the front teeth, so either a

zirconia crown or a stainless steel crown with a white facing is indicated in order to cover the

tooth.

Goals: To preserve a tooth until natural exfoliation (falling out on it’s own). To preserve natural

aesthetics and speech patters. To restore a beautiful smile.

Alternatives: Stainless steel crowns, or large white colored ﬁllings (will not last long if it is too

large), or extraction.

Risk: These are more difﬁcult to do, and can still fail, They can come off as they are chemically

bonded to the tooth. Sometimes, if there is not enough tooth remaining once decay is removed,

these cannot be done and tooth must be extracted.

G. ______ Pulpotomies (“baby root canals”) to prevent pain or infection 

Procedure: The upper portion of the nerve of a baby tooth is removed. Permanent medication is

placed in the pulp chamber and a crown is ultimately placed on the tooth.

Goals: To gain time and preserve a tooth until the permanent (adult) tooth erupts. To prevent

dental infections or abscess.

Alternatives: To extract the tooth which may require the placement of a space maintainer in

order to prevent the teeth from shifting, which causes a loss of space for permanent teeth and

abnormal development and eruption.

Risk: Unfortunately, even when correctly done, there is a chance of failure, and the tooth will

need to be removed and a space maintainer will need to be placed.

Happy Dental Treatment Consent Page 2