Cosmetic Dentistry
If you are unhappy with your smile, or embarrassed to smile or even talk due to the look of your teeth, you may find cosmetic dentistry is the answer to a more pleasing and healthy look. We will provide you with options, and will tell you what is possible and what is not, and the cost. Our cosmetic dentistry services includes crowns, bridges and veneers. We use only porcelain (no metal) in our cosmetic dentistry.
Crowns, Bridges and Veneers
Crowns
A crown is basically a cap for a damaged tooth. It can be made from a variety of materials, including metal or porcelain. At Dentist in Sidney, we normally use porcelain.
You may need a crown over a molar that rarely shows, or you might need something that enhances your smile. We will discuss all the options with you.
Here are some materials that can be used in a crown:
• Porcelain
• Ceramic
• Zirconia
• Metal
• Composite resin
• A combination of materials
For example, you could have a porcelain crown that’s fused to metal, as opposed to an all-porcelain crown. When selecting the material for your crown, we will consider factors such as:
• The position of your tooth in your jaw
• How much of the tooth will show when you smile
• Your gum tissue
• What that particular tooth does in relation to your bite
• How much of the natural tooth remains
• The colour of your teeth so a match can be made
Same-day Crown
At Dentist in Sidney, we have the technology to provide you with a crown the same day. We take a computer scan of the tooth to be crowned. That image is transmitted to something like a 3D printer: a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) that transforms a block of ceramic material into your customized crown. This means less time for you and no need for a temporary crown while you wait for a permanent crown. It all happens the same day.
Onlay or Three-quarter Crown
Some crowns only cover a portion of the tooth. If you don’t need a full crown, we might recommend an onlay or three-quarter crown instead.
Do You Need a Crown?
If you have a large cavity that’s too big for a filling, it may be time for a crown. You may also need a crown if your tooth is worn down, or cracked or weakened. Having a crown at this stage could prevent root damage and the need for root canal in the future. After a root canal, we may recommend a crown as the tooth will be more brittle and prone to damage.
Care of Your Crown
Once the crown is in, it’s important to take good care of it. Careful attention to your crown can prolong its life. Here are some tips for their care::
• Practice good oral health. It is recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day. Consider using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth if they are sensitive to hot or cold foods or liquids.
• Flossing twice as day is recommended and is as important as brushing (perhaps more so). Flossing reaches parts of the gum line that brushing may miss.
• Avoid hard foods. Chewing ice or hard foods might cause your crown to crack – especially a porcelain crown.
• If you grind or clench your teeth at night, we may recommend a night guard to protect your crown and surrounding teeth.
Possible Complications of Having a Crown
• A crown can be a very useful solution to a significant problem with one of your teeth. But there are risks and possible complications that you might experience after getting a crown:
• You may find that your tooth becomes more sensitive to hot and cold than before a crown.
• Crowns may be subject to chipping. If this happens, we may be able to repair them for you.
• Your crown could come loose if the cement fails. This would be unusual, but contact us if you feel it is at all loose.
• In rare cases patients may have an allergic reaction to metal used in a crown.
• Observe the health of your gums around your crown (and all your natural teeth). If they appear sore or bleed, pay us a visit so we can check that nothing abnormal is taking place. Of course, we will check for all gum issues at your regular checkups
• Crowns are strong, but they won’t last forever. Five to fifteen years is normal. As a general rule, gold crowns and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns tend to last the longest. You can still get a cavity at the base of a crown though, and that may mean removing it. We cannot see inside the crown to know if any decay is taking place.
Very through with cleaning. Was not pushy with dentistry and I felt that I got the best treatment available. Love my new crowns.
Dental Bridges
If you have one or more missing teeth, a dental bridge can fill the gap with one or more artificial teeth. A bridge is usually made of ceramic crowns placed on either side of the missing tooth or teeth. Fixed bridges are strong and reliable and in most cases they feel and look like your natural teeth. Bridges have been used to treat tooth gaps for many years successfully.
Do I Need a Dental Bridge?
If a tooth is missing, nearby teeth will eventually move into the empty space. The space will also cause the facing tooth line to move meaning that you may develop the following problems:
• Problems with your bite.
• Difficulty chewing.
• Extra stress on your teeth and jaw, causing pain.
• Self-consciousness because of missing teeth.
To create a bridge, we will normally place two crowns on either side of the gap in your teeth. These ‘abutment teeth’ act as anchors for the false teeth or ‘pontics’ that are placed in the gap.
There Are Four Main Types of Bridges:
• Traditional fixed: This is the most common and has two or more crowns and a filler tooth or teeth that are all connected. The crowns keep the bridge in place. Traditional bridges are made of metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramics.
• Cantilever bridge: In this bridge type, the filler tooth or pontic connects to only one adjoining or abutment tooth. This can sometimes be an option for people who have teeth on only one side of the gap.
• Maryland dental bridge (resin-bonded bridge): You may have this type of bridge if you have missing front teeth. It’s made of porcelain fused to metal or ceramic teeth, supported by a framework. Wings on each side of the bridge bond to your existing teeth.
• Implant supported bridge: This is similar to a traditional fixed bridge but instead of being cemented in place to teeth, it is held in place by implants.
If you don’t want to go the bridge route for some reason, you may want to look at having partial dentures instead or a dental implant. We will advise you on your options so you can make a fully informed decision. We may also recommend implants for your particular need. Implants do not need support from other teeth.
Our on-site technology enables us to prepare and apply your bridge in the same day. Contact us today to find out more.
Dental Veneers
Veneers are thin wafer of porcelain that is placed over the natural tooth surface to mimic the natural tooth enamel, porcelain veneers are great if you want to revitalize your smile.
The process is usually painless and often done without anesthetic. A small amount of the surface enamel of your tooth is removed which allows for the veneer to be placed without hampering your bite. Because Dentist in Sidney has a computer-aided design and manufacture technology (much like a 3D printer) we can have your veneer ready to fit the same day. For a full and perfect smile, you may need eight to ten veneers applied to your teeth. It varies from patient to patient.
There is very little risk involved in having porcelain veneers. You may have a little more tooth sensitivity due to the removal of the underlying enamel.
Do Veneers Hurt Your Teeth?
Veneers will not harm your natural teeth. The material used to create your veneer is not harmful to the tooth surface. It can also give you extra resistance to tooth damage and is stain resistant. Normally you will have no issues with your veneers, but you must continue with good oral hygiene practices like flossing and brushing your teeth twice a day. If you do not do so, you risk having a cavity at the base of the veneer, possibly extending under the veneer. As with any cavity, this will need to be filled. It may necessitate the replacement of your veneer.
Do Veneers Ever Fall Off?
Properly bonded veneers should not fall off. Thin custom wafers should stick to the teeth as though they were the outer layer of your original tooth. If you grind your teeth, you may damage your veneers, so we may advises you to use a mouth guard while sleeping.
If You Have an Implant Can You Add Veneers?
You can certainly have veneers that match an implant perfectly and look completely natural next to each other. Ideally, an implant crown and porcelain veneer should be done by Dentist in Sidney at the same time to ensure a proper match. However, we do a pretty good job of matching these if you already have an implant.