Smile design

With the development of technology in the field of dentistry, aesthetics dentistry is now doing wonders! Our team has many years of experience in the cosmetic dentistry industry and can provide you with all the information you need. Together, we can design exactly what you want and discuss all the possible options available. Our vanguard is our laboratory, in which the materials used are of the highest quality and the staff is perfectly trained!

In general, there are many techniques that can be used, depending on the individual’s wishes. Examples of techniques that we have used for many years and manufactured in our own laboratory are inlays and onlays, dental crowns, partial or complete dentures, dental bridges and implants.

Inlays and onlays are a form of indirect restoration, which means they are made outside of the mouth as a single, solid piece that fits the specific size and shape of the cavity, and then cemented in place in the tooth. This is an alternative to a direct restoration, made out of composite, amalgam or glass ionomer, that is built up within the mouth.

Inlays are usually placed on the chewing surface of the tooth, while onlays may occupy a larger area.

They have a wonderful aesthetic result and great durability, depending on the material they are made of. Generally:

• Gold: has been replaced in recent years, mainly because of the poor aesthetic results it gives. However, it is considered by many experts to be perhaps the best material for inlays due to its high durability.
• Porcelain: has a very beautiful aesthetic result and generally good resistance to time. Now, it is used in combination with metal, so that it has higher strength.
• Resin: has an excellent aesthetic result and can be easily repaired or modified. But the manufacturer requires more skill and time.

The procedure is easy. Because inlays and onlays are made in the laboratory, at least two visits to the dentist’s office are required. On the first appointment, the dentist takes the patient’s medical history and performs a clinical examination. If necessary, x-rays are also taken. The dentist must inform the patient about the entire procedure that will be followed. Then, the oral cavity is cleaned, cavities are removed and any active periodontal disease is treated. The dentist then takes a dental impression so that the restoration can be manufactured precisely in the laboratory. It is important to place a temporary restoration until the next visit, so that the teeth do not wear down further. At the second visit, the temporary restoration is removed and the dentist bonds the inlay or onlay. If there is any discomfort in the following days, the patient should inform his dentist, who in turn should relieve the patient.

Dental crowns are a type of dental restoration that completely covers or surrounds a tooth or a dental implant. They are used to improve the strength or appearance of the teeth.

ADVANTAGES:

• Prevent caries
• Very good aesthetic result
• Permanent and stable

DISADVANTAGES:

• Invasive method
• Pain
• Potential Need for Further Repairs

MATERIALS:

Crowns can be metal, ceramic, a combination of these two materials, and metal acrylic.

Metallic:

A number of metals are available and the choice depends on various factors such as cost, biocompatibility etc.

One very common type of crowns, especially before 100 years, are gold crowns. Gold is not used in its pure form as it is too soft and has low mechanical strength. Other metals included are platinum, palladium, zinc, etc. Gold crowns are generally used on back teeth for aesthetic reasons. They require minimal tooth preparation and are easier to place.

Ceramics:

Ceramic crowns have a perfect aesthetic result, but poor durability.

Combination of ceramic and metal:

The combination of these materials has a very beautiful aesthetic result, but also mechanical strength.

Metal-acrylic crowns:

They are an economical choice, but they have very little durability.

DESIGN AND BONDING STAGES:

• Assessment: the dentist has to assess the hygiene of the patient’s oral cavity, by taking a medical history, examining and taking x-rays.
• Choice of restoration: it is made after an extensive discussion with the patient about the options available and suitable for him, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, the costs and the expectations of the individual.
• Tooth preparation: the teeth in which the crown will be bonded will be grinded etc.
• Taking a dental impression: according to this the dental technician will manufacture the crown specifically for the patient.
• Manufacturing of a temporary restoration: in order to prevent tooth decay, the patient has to wear a temporary denture.
• Taking a final impression
• Bonding of the crown
• Review: usually after about 6 weeks, the patient should visit their dentist again to have the crowns examined and any problems resolved.

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available — complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. The patient can remove it and replace it without professional help. It is also used as a temporary restoration until a permanent non-removable restoration is placed.

There are a lot of types of dental dentures, depending on the result we want to achieve and the existing diseases of the oral cavity:

• Full complete denture
• Immediate complete denture
• Partial denture with metal clasps
• Partial denture with attachments
• Partial denture type Valplast
• Overdenture on natural teeth
• Overdenture on implants

ADVANTAGES:

• Affordable choice
• Restoring the functionality of the patient’s oral cavity (chewing, speaking etc.)
• Good aesthetic results
• Easy procedure

DISADVANTAGES:

• Problems in stability
• Very difficult to keep clean with daily oral hygiene methods
• Not as effective as the other options
• It requires avoiding specific foods: apples, nuts, etc.
• A slight difficulty in speaking and chewing after placement
• Long time (4-6 weeks) between the teeth preparation and the final placement

DESIGN AND PLACEMENT:

Before dentures are designed and manufactured, the specialist assesses the hygiene of the remaining teeth by clinical examination, x-rays, etc. After the patient is deemed suitable for dentures, the design and manufacturing process begins. Information from any previous dentures can be very helpful.
Four sessions are required until the new denture is ready. On the first visit, the dentist performs the necessary tooth extractions and preparation. On the second, the specialist takes the dental impression. In the third session, the patient can see the expected result. Finally, on the fourth visit, the patient gets his dentures. It may take some time for the patient to get used to their new dentures. For any problem that arises, the patient has to inform their dentist immediately.

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic work that replaces one or more missing teeth and is supported on two at least adjacent natural teeth. The main feature of this technique is that it is based either on two adjacent natural teeth (supports), which must first be grounded, or on artificial teeth (implants) or a combination of the two.

ADVANTAGES:

• Very good aesthetic results
• Restoring the functionality of the patient’s oral cavity (chewing, speaking etc.)
• Acceptance by patients
• Stability
• They are easy to maintain
• They last up to 10-15 years
• Cleaning with the classic brushing and daily hygiene routine methods

DISADVANTAGES:

• It requires preparation and extraction of the adjacent teeth
• Invasive method
• High failure rate, which depends on many factors (see below)
• High risk of developing tooth decay

There are many types of dental bridges. We can discuss the pros and cons of each type and which one is the most suitable for you.

• Metallic: Although they are very durable, their color is different from that of natural teeth.
• Metal-ceramic: their material is metal (titanium, gold, nickel) on the inside and porcelain on the outside. In general, they have great durability and a beautiful aesthetic effect.
• All-ceramic: they are made entirely of porcelain. They have a very beautiful aesthetic effect but reduced strength, which makes them as bridges mainly used on front teeth. In addition, they are quite expensive and are not recommended for patients with bruxism.
• Zirconium: They have a very beautiful aesthetic effect, great durability and are used to replace all teeth.

Three visits are usually required for this procedure. The process steps are as follows:

• Clinical assessment of the patient’s suitability: Medical history, assessment of the oral hygiene (risk for developing caries, periodontal disease, etc.), the patient’s goals and motivations, the choice of abutment teeth and the design of the bridge.
• Preparation of the oral cavity: the dentist has to take lots of x-rays. If there is an active disease in the oral cavity (e.g. periodontitis), the dentist has to treat it.
• Dental impression: It is very important to take all the details as well so that the bridge can be prepared and manufactured perfectly and individually.
• Diagnostic wax- up
• Temporary restoration: temporary restorations should be made, if possible, to protect and preserve the treated teeth until the final restoration is placed.
• Testing the restoration.
• Final bonding
• Review: usually after about 6 weeks, the patient should visit their dentist again to examine the restorations and resolve any problems. If there are problems before this time, the patient has to immediately inform their dentist.