Crowns, Bridges, Veneers
Crowns
A crown is a tooth-shaped cover, made of porcelain, metal or ceramic, that can be placed over a tooth which has been recently root treated due to dental decay or a tooth which has been badly damaged or broken. It can also be used to improve appearance as well. A crown is made to look like your tooth.
The process of making a crown usually consists of two visits. During your first visit, the preparation visit, the dentist will file down the tooth and take an impression (copy) of your tooth, this is to make sure the crown will fit into your normal bite. The dentist will then place a temporary crown over your tooth until your permanent crown is ready. The impression is then sent to the dental laboratory where the crown is made. At the second visit, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and fit and cement in the permanent one.
Bridges
A bridge is made to replace one or more missing teeth. Missing teeth can cause a change in bite, movement of the teeth and speech impediments.
During your first visit, the dentist will prepare your teeth that are required to support the bridge and take an impression of them with a putty-like material to create a model of your teeth. Your bridge will then be sent to the dental laboratory and will be made by a dental technician based on the model of your teeth the dentist has taken. While your bridge is being made the dentist will a fit a temporary bridge for you to protect your teeth and gums from damage until your permanent bridge is ready.
During your second visit, the dentist will remove the temporary bridge and the permanent bridge will be fitted and cemented.
Veneers
Veneers are thin layers of material placed over the surface of teeth in order to create bright, natural looking, shapely teeth. The dentist applies veneers in a simple and comfortable procedure. Veneers are a very popular treatment option for many reasons. They can be placed on teeth that are severely discoloured, slightly crooked or poorly shaped. They can also be used to correct teeth that are chipped or worn. Patients who grind their teeth are not good candidates for veneers as the thin veneer may chip or break.
Componeers
Why Componeers?
Dental Componeers are used to deal with a number of issues with regards to the teeth
Close spaces between teeth
Lengthen small or misshapen teeth
Whiten or lengthen dark teeth
Fix teeth that are chipped or worn down due to wear
Dental Componeers are a conservative approach which means you do not have to cut a lot of tooth structure in order to achieve the results you are after.
A dental Componeer is similar to placing a false fingernail on your nails. The level of preparation for a Componeer is dependant on what you are trying to achieve with the dental Componeer. Dental Componeers are made of composite in a factory and are pre-hardended and polished. The shape of dental Componeer will depend on the result you wish to achieve.
Cosmetic Bonding
Dental bonding is a procedure in which a toothcoloured resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to a natural tooth and hardened with a special light which ultimately “bonds” (sticks) the material to the tooth to restore or improve a person’s smile.
Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:
To repair and restore the appearance and shape of decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
To repair chipped or cracked teeth
To improve the appearance of discoloured teeth
To close spaces between teeth
To make teeth look longer
To change the shape of teeth
As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede
The procedure involves 3 main steps:
- Preparation: Local Anaesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding process is being used to rebuild a decayed tooth. We will use a shade guide to select a composite resin colour that will closely match the colour of your tooth. The surface of the tooth will be polished to reduce any sharp edges and also to prepare the enamel surface for the bond material.
- Bonding: Tooth conditioning liquid/gels are then applied to the area(s) being bonded;
this may be done in one to three applications depending on the technique selected for each tooth. These procedures help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. Then the tooth coloured cosmetic resin is applied, moulded, and adapted to the desired shape. An intense blue light is then used to set/harden the material. - Polishing: After the material has fully set, the dentist and patient will assess the results together, and only after approval from the patient will final polishing begin.
Dental bonding takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete.
