HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury

Fixing teeth

Whakatika niho

Dentists use a variety of methods to fix teeth problems.

These include the following.

Fillings, crowns and root canals

Fillings, crowns and root canal fillings are used to repair tooth damage by decay. There are different techniques used by dentists to perform fillings. The links below provide information about fillings and root canal fillings.

Dental implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth, bridge or denture. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth.

Fissure sealants

Sealants are a protective plastic coating applied to back teeth to prevent decay. The sealant performs a protective layer that keeps food and bacteria from getting stuck in the tiny grooves of the teeth and causing decay.

Tooth whitening

You may wish to have your teeth whitened to improve the look of your teeth if they have become stained or discoloured over time.

Whitening rinses and chewing gums do not appear to have any whitening effect, but further research is required.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Consumer NZ – Teeth whiteners

  Independent review of whitening toothpastes, DIY bleaching products and treatments from your dentist.

• New Zealand Dental Association – Fissure sealants

  Sealants can protect your children's back teeth so they may never need to have a filling.

• The Oral Health Foundation (note: the phone numbers listed aren't available in New Zealand)
  • Crowns

    Find out why crowns are an ideal way to repair teeth that have been broken or weakened by tooth decay or a very large filling.

  • Dental implants

    Find out more about dental implants and how they work.

  • Different filling materials

    Learn about the materials used in fillings.

  • Root canal treatment

    Root canal treatment is needed when the blood or nerve supply of a tooth (called the pulp) is infected through decay or injury.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2022.

Page reference: 75380

Review key: HIFRC-74899