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DENTAL DESIGN |
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DENTAL DESIGN |
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| Q. What is a Veneer? A. A veneer is a very thin shell of porcelain or plastic which is permanently bonded to the surface of a tooth. |
| Q.What is the procedure? A. One of the main advantages of veneers is that there is not usually a great deal of drilling needed in order to prepare the tooth. In some cases there is no drilling at all. However, this varies according to the individual circumstances. An impression of the tooth is sent to a dental technician together with a note of the desired colour match, and usually an impression of the teeth in opposing jaw. The technician then constructs the veneer, and a temporary veneer may be fitted by the dentist to last for the intervening period. The veneer is then attached to the tooth using an extremely strong bonding agent. |
| Q. How long will it take? A. Two visits will be necessary: one for the preparation and one for the fitting. The time needed for each appointment will depend on several factors and is best discussed with your dentist |
| Q.How long will a veneer last? A. Although the veneer in itself is only a wafer thin sliver of material, it derives its great strength and durability from the bond created between it and the underlying tooth. |
| Q. What will the veneer look and feel like? A. Your new veneer will feel like a natural tooth. It may feel a bit strange at first and sometimes a review appointment is needed to make sure that all the edges are smooth. |
| CROWNS |
| Q. What is Crown? A. A crown is an artificial cover which fits over a specially prepared natural tooth in order to restore it to normal appearance and function |
| Q. How Long will it take? A. Two visits will be necessary-one for the preparation and one for the fitting. The time needed for each appointment will vary and is best discussed with your dentist. |
| Q. How is crown fixed to the tooth? A. There are a number of special adhesives and cements used in affixing crowns. The inside of the crown is filled with a liquid cement, this is then pushed down over the tooth using firm but gentle pressure. |
| Q. Why is a Crown needed? A. There are a number of reasons why a crown might be recommended by your dentist. These might include: 1.Decay 2.Cosmetic 3.Accidents 4.When a tooth is missing. |
| Q. Materials used for crowns A. Materials used for crowns include: 1. Porcelain. This can look very
lifelike and is most often used for front teeth. |
| Q. What is a crown post? A. If a tooth is very badly damaged, it may be that the only way to achieve secure anchorage is to fit a metal post into the root canal of the tooth. This provides extra support, and in many cases is the only way to repair a badly broken tooth. |
| INLAYS |
| Q. What is an Inlay? A. These are fillings which are bonded to your tooth using modern adhesives, and are a more permanent alternative to fillings. The bonding also gives added strength to the inlay to withstand biting and chewing forces. |
| Q. What materials are used to make inlays? A. Inlays are made from either porcelain or resin material |
| IMPLANTS |
| Q. What are dental implants? A. A dental implant is device for supporting one or more false teeth directly to the jaw bone |
| Q. I have some of my own teeth. Can
I still have implants? A. YES. it is possible to replace as few as one individual tooth, or as many as a complete set of teeth. |
| Q. Can implants always be used to
replace missing teeth? A. detailed tests will need to be taken to show the amount of healthy bone still remaining in the jaw. If there is insufficient quantity or quality, it may not be possible to provide an implant |
| Q. Can I have my new teeth in
straight away? A. It is possible in some cases but generally speaking no as the implants need time to bond to the bone. |
| Q. How long does the treatment
take? A. From the initial assessment until the artificial teeth are finally attached to the implants can take between twelve to fifteen appointments. The period between these visits will vary in length and the total period over which the treatment extends is also variable depending on which jaw is being treated. For the lower jaw, treatment can usually be completed in five months. For the upper jaw, the time is likely to be in the region of eight months. |
| Q. Do I have one implant for each
missing tooth? A. No.unless a single tooth is being replaced. It is usual for five or six implants to be used in the lower jaw to support 10-12 teeth. Where a few teeth are missing, two or three implants are usually sufficient |
| Q. How can this treatment be
obtained? A It is important that you have good advice and treatment. Discuss the subject fully with your dentist who will be able to refer you to an expert in this form of treatment. Remember to ask exactly what treatment is proposed, the reason why a particular system is being advised and what alternatives are available. If you are unhappy with any of the answers, return to your dentist and request referral to another expert. |
| Q. Do Implants show? A. No. The dentist ensures that during all normal movements of the mouth and lips the implants cannot be seen. However, for cleaning purposes, it is important that the patient can see the implants to ensure that they are kept clean. |
| BRIDGES |
| Q. What is a Bridge? A. A bridge is several crowns joined together to replace several missing teeth, cemented to prepared natural teeth. |
| Q. Why is a bridge needed? A. 1. Decay 2. Cosmetic 3. Accidents 4. Missing Teeth |
| Q. What is a Bridge made of? A. 1. Porcelain. 2. Porcelain bonded to metal. 3. Thin porcelain 4. Gold 5. Plastic. |
| Q. How is a bridge fixed to the teeth? A. There are a number of special adhesives and cements used for fixing bridges |
| Q. How long will it take? A. Two visits will be necessary-one for the preparation and one for the fitting. the time needed for each appointment will depend on several factors, and this is best discussed with your dentist. |
| Q. What will a bridge look like and feel like? A. Your new bridge should feel like a natural tooth and if the bridge is made from a tooth coloured material then it will normally blend in well with the surrounding teeth |
| WHITE FILLINGS |
| Q. What is a white filling? A. For the past 150 years, the standard filling material for back teeth has been silvery/grey amalgam. Although it is strong and durable, many people find this material unattractive. Today, there are two new tooth-coloured materials which are strong and look natural: 1. Composite Filling Materials 2. Glass Ionomer Cements |
| Q. Materials used A. 1.Composite Filling Materials These are resin materials like those used in the front teeth, which are made stronger to take the forces of chewing. They are coloured-matched and bonded to your tooth by using modern adhesives. Clinical trials show they are a successful alternative to amalgram. 2. Glass Ionomer Cements These are glass-like materials which can be bonded on to your tooth where some of its surface has been lost owing to wear with a toothbrush. Although tooth-coloured, they are not quite invisible, so composites may be bonded to their surface to improve the appearance. |
| Q. How do I get a white filling? A. Most dentists will be able to advise you on the best treatment. |
