Prosthodontics

• What are dental crowns?

A dental crown is a restoration that covers a tooth with significant damage to its visible part, preserving it both cosmetically and functionally.

A crown can help you keep your tooth for longer. Depending on the material, your oral care and other factors, it can last 20 years or more. A filling placed on a tooth in the same condition will not last as long.

A crown not only improves the look of a damaged tooth, it also extends its life.

• What do dental crowns do?

• Restore the look of your smile;
• Restore function and proper chewing;
• Preserve correct speech;
• Provide strength for a long time.

• What are the steps?

• All decayed tissue is removed from the damaged teeth.
• The dentist then carefully cleans and prepares the teeth to make room for the crown.
• This is done carefully and minimally invasively, to keep as much of the natural tooth as possible.
• The technical team receives and processes your digital impression or digital photographs.
• The laboratory also receives information about the colour, shape and size of your teeth, so the final result matches your wishes.
• At our clinic we use digital smile design to plan the shape and size of the crowns according to your facial features.
• Next, the work made by the dental technician is checked and adjusted. When the patient is happy with the result, the crowns are cemented in place.

• How long do dental crowns last?

There is no fixed time after which a crown must be replaced. It needs changing if the crown or the surrounding tissues (the supporting teeth or the gum) deteriorate.

Poor oral care is the most common cause of damage to the teeth and gums around a crown.

That is why it is essential for the patient to visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and professional cleanings, and for the dentist to check and, if needed, correct the patient's home hygiene habits.

Crowns are mostly damaged by excessive forces: accidents or very strong chewing forces, for example biting on very hard objects, or habits such as teeth grinding (bruxism).

Damage to crowns can be caused either by accidents or by strong chewing forces, such as biting very hard objects, or by habits such as teeth grinding (bruxism).

The dentist should detect and treat bruxism or other habits that wear down the teeth or damage dental restorations.

CAD/CAM technology is a forward-looking, constantly evolving technique with many advantages for both technicians and dentists. Dental and prosthetic treatments have become increasingly popular with patients who want pain-free options that restore or improve both the look and the function of their teeth.

• How a restoration is made with CAD/CAM technology at the clinic

• First, the tooth is prepared for the restoration. Local anaesthesia plays an essential role, keeping the patient comfortable.
• The second step is the optical impression, which takes only a few seconds: the scanning camera automatically captures clear, professional images of the prepared tooth.
• The milling unit uses diamond tools to precisely mill a block of the chosen material, following the data from the computer. This step is very fast.
• The last step is fitting the restoration.

Dentures are unique medical devices, custom-made for each patient, that replace lost teeth with artificial teeth. A denture has two parts: the base and the artificial teeth.

• When are dentures recommended?

A denture is an excellent option for people who have lost several teeth and no longer have enough to support a fixed restoration, as well as for those who have lost all their teeth.

Like natural teeth, dentures need care. Different cleaning and maintenance routines are needed depending on the material they are made of. Your dentist will advise you on how to clean and maintain them so your mouth stays healthy.

• What types of dentures are there?

Veneers are thin sheets of dental ceramic bonded to the surface of the teeth, perfectly imitating their natural look. The technique is minimally invasive and requires little or no reduction of the enamel – which makes veneers an excellent option for people who want a more beautiful smile without the discomfort associated with other treatments.

• Ceramic veneers are the ideal solution for a "Hollywood smile" and have become very popular as more and more film stars have chosen this treatment.
• Once bonded, ceramic veneers are practically invisible and highly resistant to stains from coffee, black tea or smoking. They are minimally invasive, as tooth preparation is minimal. In most cases the preparation is done without anaesthesia, precisely because the treatment is not painful.
• Ceramic veneers have the most natural look of all dental restorations.

The purpose of ceramic veneers is to replace the enamel layer on teeth that are chipped, misaligned or have enamel defects. Like tooth enamel, ceramic is translucent, letting light pass through and reflect off the inner structure of the tooth. By imitating the way enamel reflects light, ceramic veneers look natural and give you a charming smile.

• Are ceramic veneers the right choice for you?

Ceramic veneers can offer significant advantages over other restorations, but that does not mean they are the right solution for every case. A consultation with your dentist is essential before deciding whether veneers are right for you. If they are not, don't worry! You will be guided towards another cosmetic solution that suits your situation.

A dental bridge is a fixed restoration used to replace missing teeth in your dental arch, or to protect and reshape teeth that have been severely damaged.

A bridge is an excellent way to replace missing teeth and fill gaps. It gives your smile stability and restores chewing and appearance.

• Main advantages of a dental bridge

• Restoration: an effective way to regain full use of your teeth;
• Keeping teeth in the right position: when a tooth is missing, the gap allows the other teeth to shift over time;
• A bridge fills this gap and stops the teeth from moving, avoiding later positioning problems;
• Preserving the structure of the face;
• A better bite: missing teeth can cause jaw pain and crooked, misaligned teeth (malocclusion). A bridge is an effective treatment for keeping a normal bite on both sides of the mouth.