Bonding with composites ( glass particles bedded in resin ) can be used as a restorative procedure for teeth that are chipped, cracked, discolored or disarranged, and is an alternative to veneers. The tooth is prepared for the procedure by lightly etching the surface and applying a bonding liquid. Once the liquid sets, a plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by the dentist. Once set, the resin is trimmed, smoothed and polished to a natural appearance.
A bridge is usually made of gold and porcelain, or porcelain only. If you are missing a tooth, usually the two teeth either side of the missing tooth are crowned and joined together with the missing tooth in the middle. The middle tooth is suspended between the two crowns. The bridge is cemented to the teeth permanently. With this technique we can replace two missing teeth also.
A Dental Crown is a 360 degrees thimble of porcelain that slips over the remaining tooth or onto a dental implant post (abutment). A Veneer is a thin slip of porcelain or a “crown” that does not wrap 360 degrees around a tooth. We normally make them with the same material and cement them with the same bonding technique. They take the same time to do.
Dental sealants are a thin film of composite resin that is etched onto the deep grooves on the biting surfaces of the grown up molars. It is similar to varnishing the vulnerable surface to protect the enamel from early decay. This is a simple procedure and should generally be applied to all children as the teeth erupt. Prevention is better than cure.
We can create fillings that are both strong and beautiful. We will offer you an option for the materials to suit your own needs; “composite”, amalgam or porcelain. We will advise you of the advantages and disadvantages of each for your own circumstance.
When over 1/2 of the tooth’s biting surface is damaged a dentist will often use an inlay or onlay. Inlays and onlays can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin. These are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the cusp tips of the tooth; an onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth.
There are many patients who ask if they can have a brighter smile. If your teeth and gums are healthy it is really quite a simple and safe technique that we have been using for 35 years. It works.