Cosmetic porcelain veneers

Cosmetic porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin (at most 0.8 mm in width) porcelain layers which imitate the frontal surface of the tooth, usually used on the most visible teeth. They are made in a dental laboratory based on a dental impression and they are then attached to the teeth with dental cement. Cosmetic porcelain veneers allow us to successfully imitate the look of natural teeth and to conceal all imperfections. Porcelain veneers can be applied to both damaged and artificial teeth.

cosmetic porcelain veneers
cosmetic porcelain veneers

The use of porcelain veneers comes with many advantages. First, the procedure is almost non-invasive – great aesthetics can be attained without unnecessary amounts of preparation (trimming) for the original teeth. Second, the treated tooth becomes more solid thanks to the porcelain veneers, and yet it looks just like a natural tooth. Third, cosmetic porcelain veneers allow us to fix any potential orthodontic anomalies (tooth unevenness) and to improve the position a tooth in occlusion, both visually and functionally. Another advantage is that porcelain veneers have an unlimited lifespan and do not become stained, as long as you take care of your teeth properly and adhere to correct oral hygiene habits.  If the cosmetic porcelain veneer gets damaged as a result of an injury, it can be easily replaced without the need to modify any unaffected veneers.

Cosmetic porcelain veneers require no special care. We usually recommend our patients to brush their teeth twice a day and to use mouthwash regularly.

Cosmetic porcelain crowns

Aesthetic porcelain crowns, also called all-ceramic dental crowns, are the pinnacle of modern cosmetic dentistry. It is a specific type of a crown which contains no metallic compounds – the only material used is dental ceramic, which is crafted to match the shade of your original teeth. The crown is fixed to the tooth using colored layers of dental cement. All-ceramic dental crowns not only provide exceptional aesthetics, but they are also mechanically resilient enough to be used for molars and incisors. All-ceramic dental crowns can be fixed both onto natural teeth and implants.

all-ceramic dental crowns
all-ceramic dental crowns

The most commonly used materials for all-ceramic dental crowns manufacturing, are lithium disilicate (E-Max crowns) and Zirconia. Both materials are of exceptional quality and complement each other well. Lithium disilicate bonds through the use of adhesive solutions, Zirconia bonds through cementing. Compared to Zirconia crowns, the E-Max crowns­ offer a higher degree of aesthetic quality. Another advantage is its method of adhesion, which guarantees less marginal discrepancies and thus less risk of cavities.

cosmetic porcelain veneers

Dental composite resins

Light-curing composites

If a cavity is diagnosed at the stage where affected dental tissue have to be removed (by drilling) to treat the cavity, dental restorations, also called dental fillings, have to be used as a replacement. Modern dentistry offers a wide range of dental restorative materials which vary in their adhesive capabilities (their ability to bond with teeth), resilience, longevity, and last but not least – their aesthetics. SofiDent patients most commonly choose the so-called white filling, which is professionally called a dental composite resin. Composite dental fillings have great aesthetics, bond with the tooth better and most importantly, they do not contain mercury. It is a kind of synthetic resin which is used to fill the hole caused by a cavity – usually in multiple layers. Neither the surface of the tooth, nor the composite material, can come into contact with water, which is why we use a dental dam – a special kind of rubber sheet used to isolate the tooth that ensures a completely dry working field for the dentist to operate in.

Dental composite resins
Light-curing composites

Composite dental fillings can be chemical-curing or light-curing. Chemical-curing dental fillings are considered to be of lower quality and cannot be layered in different colors. Light-curing dental fillings allow us to attain exceptional aesthetics. They harden and bond with the teeth under the blue light emitted by a dental polymerization lamp, which is why they are also called light-curing composites. Light-curing composites are manufactured in a wide range of shade and opacity. Carefully layering light-curing composites of different shade and opacity allows the dentist to create a filling that is completely indistinguishable from the surrounding dental tissue.

Light-curing composites are fully usable after the filling procedure. For the light-curing composite to last, however, it is necessary to precisely adhere to proper oral hygiene habits. You have to take care of the light-curing composite the same way you would take care of your natural healthy teeth. If the white filling is professionally crafted, applied in the right location and the patient adheres to correct oral hygiene habits, it can last 20 or more years.

Even though it is considered to be the most progressive type of filling, light-curing composites are only covered by health insurance for children and teenagers under the age of 18 (applies only to permanent teeth – specifically the teeth spanning from canine tooth to canine tooth, inclusively). Light-curing composites are not covered by health insurance for adults. In our dental office, we make sure to inform our patients of the costs involved in this high standard procedure, which the patients have to cover themselves.

Dental composite resins

Fixed dental prostheses

Fixed dental prostheses

Dental implants are the foundation for future dental prostheses, which can be either removable (so-called hybrid prosthesis), or affixed to the jawbone through a dental crown or a bridge (so-called fixed prosthesis). In some cases, it is possible to anchor even a removable dental prosthesis. In the area of creating dental prostheses, the SofiDent dental office cooperates with the best dental laboratories in Prague.

Fixed dental prostheses

The main characteristic trait of fixed prostheses is that the patient cannot remove them by themselves. The most notable fixed dental prostheses are crowns and bridges. Crowns are fixed on damaged teeth, or placed instead of lost teeth, and they usually replace bridges.

Dental crowns

Fixed dental prostheses
Fixed dental prostheses

A dental crown is an artificial hollow tooth which is used to cover most of the surface of a tooth, or the entirety of it. In today’s world, there exists an entire array of crowns, which differ mostly in the material used to manufacture them. Therefore they are classified into metal, composite or porcelain dental crowns. Porcelain crowns are further divided into porcelain-fused-to-metal, zirconia and pressed porcelain crowns. Depending on the exact issue at hand, our dentists will recommend the most suitable material to you.

Aesthetic porcelain crowns, also known as all-porcelain dental restorations are the pinnacle of modern aesthetic dentistry. They are “metal-free” dental crowns, where the only used material is dental ceramic, which is adjusted to match the tone of natural teeth. During the placement of a dental crown, layers of different shades of dental cement are applied to the treated tooth.

All-porcelain crowns are not only highly aesthetic, but also mechanically resilient enough to be used on frontal teeth and molars. An all-porcelain dental crown can be affixed both onto a natural tooth and an implant.

The most commonly used materials used to manufacture all-porcelain dental crowns are lithium disilicate (E-Max crowns) and Zirconia. Both materials are of high quality and complement each other well. Lithium disilicate is affixed through the use of adhesives, Zirconia needs to be cemented. Compared to Zirconia crowns, E-Max crowns reach a higher degree of aesthetics. The adhesion method is also of advantage, as it guarantees a higher degree of sealing at the gingival margin, and thus less risk of cavities forming.

Dental bridge

A bridge is an artificial tooth bridged between two crowns, which is firmly attached to the neighbouring filed teeth through the use of the two crowns. There are three main types of dental bridges: traditional, implant-supported and Maryland. A traditional bridge is used when there are healthy teeth on either side of the gap, which are then filed, so a crown can be placed.

Implant-supported bridge is used when the patient does not have sufficiently healthy and sturdy teeth to support the bridge, or when the patient is missing several teeth. This type of a bridge is anchored to dental implants, which are surgically placed into the jawbone for the purpose of this procedure. A Maryland bridge is used when the gap is in the front most part of the teeth arch.

Fixed dental prostheses

Removable dental prostheses

Removable dental prostheses

The primary characteristic trait of removable dental prostheses is that the patient can, and must, remove them by themselves and clean them. Getting used to a removable dental prosthesis can take various amounts of time. The adjustment period can be passed more easily through the use of the so-called Denture Fixatives, which are available in most pharmacies. To suppress the gag reflex, sucking on hard candy is recommended. This can also lessen the unpleasant sensation caused by increased salivation, which is a natural reaction of the body to the “foreign element” in the mouth.

How do I properly place and remove dentures?

Removable dental prostheses
Removable dental prostheses

You have to remember that a denture needs to be first moistened to be placed into the mouth. With upper dentures, bite down, swallow, and perform a few facial movements, and the try to remove the air between the mucous membrane and the denture. With lower dentures, press down with the tip of the tongue on the edges of the lower frontal teeth. To remove the denture dislodge it from its location by pulling down (in the case of upper dentures) or upwards (lower dentures) on the edge of the denture. The best way to dislodge a complete denture is to blow up your cheeks with your mouth closed, which creates an increase of pressure which will release the denture. In the case of dentures, which use additional devices to fix the denture in place, we recommend you to practice placement and removal under the dentist’s supervision.

How do I clean my denture?

It is necessary to rinse the oral cavity with warm water after each meal. Clean the denture with a stream of water at least once a day. Food remains and other impurities can be removed with the use of a soft toothbrush. If the surface of the denture gets scratched, it can easily accumulate dental plaque, which is why you should avoid hard toothbrushes. Special cleaning tablets, which are placed into the glass of water containing the denture, are also evinced. To clean the denture, only use preparations designed for this purpose. The denture should not come into contact with acids, bases, concentrated alcohol, hot water, emanating heat, and abrasive pastes and powders.

How do they affect eating?

Removable dental prostheses are sadly not as good as natural teeth. Be ready for the fact, that your biting strength will be a third of what it used to be, and your chewing technique will be completely different. The food should not be too hard or adhesive. Smaller sliced chunks of food are to be chewed slowly, carefully, and symmetrically on both sides of the denture. Be careful with hot meals and beverages. The artificial denture palate lowers your sensitivity and you could suffer from burns of your natural palate and oesophagus. It is also possible that you will not be able to sense the taste of the food in the beginning, due to the fact that your taste buds will be covered by the artificial denture palate.

Removable dental prostheses