Dentures & Bridges

Bridges :

Dental crowns are primarily used to repair and strengthen damaged teeth. Dental crowns are routinely made for those teeth that have broken, have had large portions destroyed by tooth decay or have had root canal treatment. This is because beyond just restoring a tooth’s shape, a crown can provide a reinforcing and strengthening effect too. The strengthening capability of a dental crown is due to the fact that it cups over and encases the tooth on which it is placed.

A crown literally acts asa splint that holds a tooth together. Once a crown has been placed, the tooth can withstand a greater level of chewing forces without risk of fracture. In comparison, dental fillings don’t substantially increase the overall strength of a tooth. A dental crown offers a big advantage due to the way that it’s constructed. Crowns are fabricated in a dental laboratory (by a dental technician using molds your teeth) or in our own in-office cerec lab. Dental fillings, in comparison, are built right in your mouth by way of your dentist placing the filling material directly upon your tooth. Crowns can also improve the appearance of teeth (including color, shape and even apparent alignment). Since a cemented crown becomes its tooth’s new outer surface, it’s not too hard to understand how placing one can be used to restore or improve the shape of a tooth. It’s easier to get the “perfect” tooth shape with a crown. A dental laboratory technician gets the opportunity to simulate and examine aspects of your bite and jaw movements from a variety of angles, and then sculpt your dental crown so it has the ideal shape.

Dental crowns can be used to radically improve the appearance of a person’s smile. In fact, in decades past it was common to hear of movie stars who had had their teeth “capped.” This simply meant that they got their perfect “Hollywood” smile by way of having Crowns, veneers and bridges can be made of various metals, high strength ceramics or a combination of both. Different types are suitable for different people and in different areas of the mouth, and different aesthetic demands. PROSTHODONTIST can advise what would be the best solutions for your needs.The quality and appearance of your crown is not dependent on what its made of, its dependent of theskill and artistry of how its made.

How long do crowns, veneers or bridges last?

On average fixed restorations lasts 7-15 years. This time can be reduced if you do not clean the teeth properly and allow gum disease or dental decay to affect the teeth. Also trauma can damage restorations in the same way it damages natural teeth.

Do I always need a root canal to have a crown?

No, teeth often receive crowns without a root canal.

Are implants better than bridges?

Not necessarily. If the teeth either side of a gap require crowns is may be more sensible and economical to have a bridge. I dont want really white false looking teeth, do crowns look false? No, good crowns look highly realistic and can match to you existing teeth very well. If however you want a Hollywood smile you can have that also.

How Long does treatment take?

This will depend on your situation and clinical needs. A good quality restoration will take several weeks to be manufactured meaning that you will need at least two appointments several weeks apart.You have a temporary crown or bridge in the mean time. Quality work cannot be done in short spaces of time.

Do you offer different standards of crowns?

No, only the best quality crowns, bridges and veneers are used for all patients. We use different labs for different cases because some labs can recreated teeth for younger people, older people, or bleached teeth better than others. Under no circumstance do we use inferior medical devices even if they are cheaper.

Dentures:

I want dentures. Where do I start?

The best starting point to see if dentures are an option for you is to see your general dentist or a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist is a specialist with an additional three years of training after dental school who focuses on the restoration and replacement of teeth, including dentures for even the most complex cases. A prosthodontist also will be able to help determine if another treatment option might be more suited to your particular situation.

What types of dentures are there?

Dentures may replace all the teeth or only some of the teeth. The dentures that replace all the teeth are known as complete dentures and they rest on thegums that cover the jawbones. The stability and retention of these dentures can be improved by attaching them to dental implants. Dentures that replace some but not all of the teeth are known as partial dentures.They attach to the teeth that are still present and also cover and rest on the gums and bone where the teeth are missing. Dental implants can also be used to restore and stabilize partial dentures as well.

How can I whiten my dentures?

It is not possible to whiten dentures like natural teeth because dentures are made of plastic.To minimize staining, properly clean your dentures daily to remove food and plaque bacteria.Brushing with a denture brush or soft toothbrush will prevent dentures from becoming permanently stained and keep your mouth healthy. Moisten the brush and apply a nonabrasive soap or denture paste (regular toothpaste is too abrasive). Brush every surface,inside and out, scrubbing gently. A variety of over the counter denture cleanser products may be safely used (by following the manufacturer’s instructions) to remove most stains. A weekly 10 minute soak in dilute household bleach is recommended but discuss it with your dentist first. However More stubborn stains may require removal by your dentist or prosthodontist. a specialist in denture care and maintenance.

Can I brush my dentures with toothpaste?

No, toothpastes are designed to be used on teeth, and they often contain materials and chemicals that help whiten and strengthen teeth, but may harm dentures, which are made of a very durable plastic.Even though the plastic is strong, it is not as strong as the enamel of teeth and may be scratched by using toothpaste to clean your dentures. You should use a dish washing liquid and a special denture brush to clean your dentures by hand every day. After rinsing them thoroughly, soak your dentures in water based cleaning solution overnight. Do not use bleach on your dentures unless citation needed your dentist or periodontist gives you special instructions on using bleach. Dilute household bleach can be used to clean and disinfect your denture, but don’t use bleach until you see your dentist for instructions.

Can I sleep in my dentures?

Yes, you can wear your dentures at night but it is preferred that they be removed.You should remove your dentures at night and this will give your gums and bone a chance to relax from the pressure of the denture during the day. If you need to wear your dentures for social reasons or to prevent your jaws from over closing, you should find time during the day to properly clean your mouth and your prostheses. You should never wear your dentures 24 hours a day without preforming proper oral hygiene. Dentures should be cleaned at night and stored in water during the night. Dentures can be made to look like your teeth or, if you want changes in your teeth, the dentures can be made to improve your appearance. You should work with your dentist or periodontist and tell him/her how you would like to look. You may want to seek the care of a periodontist, a dental specialist with three years of additional training in the restoration and replacement of teeth, including dentures.

Can I eat normally with dentures?

Most patients need to learn how use dentures properly and as a result, it takes a little time to get used to them.After a while, you should be able to eat fairly normally, but it may take more time to get comfortable with harder foods or sticky foods. Using a small amount of denture adhesive (no more than three or four pea sized dabs on each denture) may help stabilize the dentures and help hold them in place while you learn how to get comfortable with them and may make the learning process easier.