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Bridges, Implants, Dentures

Do you hide your smile because you have missing teeth? Is it hard for you to chew food? If you have problems because of missing teeth, see your dentist. Together, you can talk about choices that may help fix your smile.

Bridges
Bridges are used when 1 or a few teeth are missing. They replace the missing tooth or teeth with false ones. A permanent or fixed bridge is cemented onto specially prepared teeth on either side of the space. Sometimes, though, a removable bridge can be used. A removable bridge clips to the teeth on both sides of the space. You can put a removable bridge in and take it out yourself.

Most of the time, a removable bridge has an acrylic base with metal clasps or a frame that is made of cast metal. Permanent or fixed bridges can be made from metal, ceramics, or a combination of the two. False teeth are mounted onto the base of a bridge to fill the space where the teeth are missing.

Implants
Implants are metal tooth roots that are placed into the jawbone through minor surgery. The bone and gums grow around the implant to hold it in place. A single false tooth, called a crown, can be screwed onto a single implant. More than 1 implant also can be placed. These implants can attach to a bridge or denture when more than 1 tooth is missing. Implants are not meant to come out.

Dentures
Full dentures (sometimes called false teeth) may be used to restore the smile when all natural teeth have been lost. The denture looks like a full set of teeth mounted on an acrylic base made to look like gums. Dentures can be held in place with implants or by a seal that forms between the denture base and the gums with saliva, along with the muscles of your cheeks and tongue. Sometimes adhesives (or denture creams) may be used to help hold the denture in place.

Getting the Right Fit
New bridges or dentures may feel strange at first. They should become comfortable over time. Never try to fix the way a bridge or denture feels in your mouth or force a removable bridge into place. Your dentist will work with you to help you get a good fit.

Some people’s mouths feel sore after getting a bridge or dentures. Let your dentist know if your mouth feels sore. He or she may need to adjust the fit of your bridge or denture.

Taking Care of Your Smile
Whether you have a bridge, wear dentures, or have your own teeth, you have to take care of your smile. Plaque, a thin film of bacteria, forms on your teeth, gums, and other tissues in your mouth all the time. If not removed, plaque can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. To take care of your mouth:

  • brush your teeth, gums, tongue, and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you put in your bridge or dentures. This will help the blood flow into the tissues of your mouth and remove plaque;
  • rinse your removable bridge or dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris;
  • use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a nonabrasive cleanser to gently brush your bridge or dentures;
  • gently brush your natural teeth with a fluoride-containing toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day for 2 minutes. Clean between your teeth daily with floss or another product used to clean between the teeth;
  • always look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance on products, a symbol of safety and effectiveness;
  • visit your dentist regularly.

Source: American Dental Association (ADA).

Why Zirconia Crowns Are Highly Recommended?

One of the challenges in dental restoration is to restore the functionality of teeth, which is essentially to grind and chew food for proper digestion. Over the years so many materials were discovered, tested and applied not just to regain the teeth grinding and chewing ability but also for aesthetic purposes. Several materials with metal properties such as titanium, gold along with ceramics, porcelain and the likes have brought innovation in the field of dentistry.

But up until recent years Zirconia crowns have gained popularity because of its notable aesthetic factor that mimics the look of natural teeth due to its translucent property. Zirconia materials has proven to have possessed a certain level of durability and strenght, albeit it was started being adopted and utilized as dental crowns since sometime in the late 90s. It exhibits superiority over its porcelain counterparts mainly because of the comfort it offers that is brought about by its being non-abrasive nature.

What is Zirconia?

Zirconia (zirconium dioxide) is a white, powdered metal oxide. It is made from zirconium, a metal with similar properties to titanium and is mined around the world. It is found in dinnerware and electrical fixtures, among other products. Zirconium makes an ideal choice for dental material, especially dental crowns, because it is chemically unreactive, and its toughness fitted most in posterior area where higher strenght is required to masticate food.

Zirconia’s inherent white color and high hardness, high fracture toughness (difficult to crack) properties make an ideal choice for dental crown materials. Some of its beneficial qualities are resistance to wear, resistance to oxidation, no chemical corrosion and its translucent appearance when sintered (baked).

What are the benefits of Zirconia crowns?

Strength
Zirconia crowns have an extremely high flexural and tensile strength. Upon being subjected through rigorous laboratory testing, zirconia crowns yeild a higher percentage of bending strength than porcelain. It has an innate capacity to better withstand the normal wear and tear on teeth from grinding and chewing. Thus, restoring the functionality of teeth closest to the original state.

Durability
Because of its natural strength and durability, Zirconia crowns generally last longer than its counterparts. Its being non-porous in nature makes Zirconia crowns more resistant to chipping, cracking and staining.

Cosmetics
The natural white color of zirconium material and its translucent microstructure properties have the ability to match the shade of the original teeth, and are optimized by technology and executed by highly skilled technicians in fabrication process. The final product exhibits an elegant, custom-crafted Zirconia crowns, engineered to seamlessly integrate into your smile.

Comfort
Due to the non-abrasive nature of the material, Zirconia crowns offer a superior level of comfort. The product has a smooth exterior surface, which prevents abrasion to surrounding teeth and gum tissue. Abrasive materials produce frictions in the course of its function that may cause damage to the sorrounding teeth and soft tissues.

To find out if Zirconia crowns are the best choice for you? You may call/text (02) 921-1729, 0918-4008899, 0917-9685003 or click this link (Book An Appointment) to book an appointment and avail your complementary consult.

Why Veneers?

An improved self-esteem, social acceptance and the quest for a quality of life are important factors that influence people in seeking dental treatment to not only treat or prevent dental diseases, but also aesthetically enhance their smile.

Patients who have been made aware on their options to have their dental problems fixed are mostly inclined to have cosmetic procedures integrated in their dental treatment choices. As traditional dentistry evolves into technology-based dental practice, people nowadays are presented with an array of dental services and products that all geared towards fulfilling a promise of a perfect smile.

Now, the big question is, for what consideration the basis of your choice? Well, as patient whatever your choice of treatment options is fundamental for the success of any procedure and must be respected since it involves your psychological, physical and financial aspects. Normally, your decision-making is highly influenced by the span of your awareness on what impact each of those treatment options could do to your health. This is where the importance of awareness comes into play.

veneers

Why Veneers?
Because veneers may be the quickest fix that meet or even exceed your expectation provided, the case of your teeth is just within the bounds of minor malocclusion, gapped, discolored, fractured or chipped. It is the duty of your dentist to carefully diagnose, analyze and deliver the best for you taking into accounts smile design suited to your facial profile, and is done in a conservative procedure as possible.

Veneers are a less intrusive option than crowns or braces and it can be used to close gaps or correct small misalignment. Patients also choose veneers as a cosmetic solution to enhance the brightness of their teeth and to straighten their smile, correcting issues like discoloration, fractures, or chips. (Source: British Dental Foundation).

What is veneer anyway?
A veneer is a “thin piece of porcelain or composite resin used to re-create the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel.” They are custom made to the contour of your teeth and are bonded to the tooth’s original enamel and usually applied to fix chipped, stained, misaligned, worn down, uneven or abnormally spaced teeth, as well as a variety of physical and aesthetic problems.

When would I need a veneer?
Veneers can improve the color, shape and position of your teeth. A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right color to improve a single discolored tooth or to lighten your front teeth. A veneer can make a chipped tooth look whole again.

The porcelain covers the whole of the front of the tooth, with a thicker section replacing the broken part. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps, when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable. If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others.

How is veneer preparation?
Some of the shiny, outer enamel surface of the tooth may be removed, to make sure that the veneer can be bonded permanently in place later. The amount of enamel removed is tiny and will be the same as the thickness of the veneer to be fitted, so that the tooth stays the same size.

A local anesthetic (injection) may be used to make sure that there is no discomfort, but often this is not needed. Once the tooth has been prepared, the dental team will take an ‘impression’. This will be given to the dental technician, along with any other information needed to make the veneer.

The color of the surrounding teeth is matched on a shade guide to make sure that the veneer will look entirely natural.

How long will it take for the veneers to be done?
A veneer takes at least two visits. The first is to prepare the tooth and match the shade, and the second is to fit it. Before bonding it in place, your dentist will show you the veneer on your tooth to make sure you are happy with it. Bonding a veneer in place is done with a special adhesive, which holds it firmly on the tooth.

Is there temporary prosthesis being provided between visits?
Because the preparation of the tooth is so slight you will probably not need a temporary veneer. The tooth will look very much the same after preparation, but will feel slightly less smooth.

What happens after the veneer is fitted?
Only minor adjustments can be made to the veneer after it is fitted. It is usually best to wait a little while to get used to it before any changes are made. Your dental team will probably want to check and polish it a week or so after it is fitted, and make sure that you are happy with it.

How much will it cost?
The costs for this treatment can vary from practice to practice so it is important to discuss charges and treatment options with your dental team before starting treatment.

How long will a veneer last?
Veneers should last for many years; but they can chip or break, just like ordinary teeth. Your dentist will tell you how long each veneer should last. Small chips can be repaired, or replaced if necessary.

What about alternatives?
A natural-colored filling material can be used for minor repairs to front teeth. This is excellent when the tooth can support a filling, but may not work so well for broken tooth corners. There will always be a join between the tooth and the filling material.

Crowns are used for teeth which need to be strengthened – either because they have broken, have been weakened by a very large filling, or have had root canal treatment.

Source: Oral Health Foundation (www.dentalhealth.org)

To find out if Veneers are the best choice for you? You may call/text (02) 921-1729, 0918-4008899, 0917-9685003 or click this link (Book An Appointment) to book an appointment and avail your complementary consult.

 

How’s Your Oral Hygiene?

Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy. This means:

Your teeth are clean and free of debris
Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss
Bad breath is not a constant problem
If your gums do hurt or bleed while brushing or flossing, or you are experiencing persistent bad breath, see your dentist. Any of these conditions may indicate a problem.

Your dentist or hygienist can help you learn good oral hygiene techniques and can help point out areas of your mouth that may require extra attention during brushing and flossing.