CAD-CAM TECHNOLOGY FOR CROWNS AND BRIDGES

The abbreviation CAD-CAM stands for Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing.

With this technological process, we design teeth (crowns, veneers, bridges) in 3D using software programs and make them directly from ceramic or zirconia blocks. Some of the work is also made by 3D printing construction.

Part of the work is also made by printing structures.

Modern technology makes production easier, the whole process predictable, and offers huge advantages:

• production speed and time saving

• precision

• new, more biocompatible and aesthetically pleasing materials

CERAMIC CROWNS AND BRIDGES

A ceramic crown, or prosthetic replacement that is placed when your tooth is so damaged that a filling can no longer completely replace the lost part of the tooth. It is also placed on a prosthetic superstructure that goes on an implant. Crowns completely replace the lost tooth in terms of shape, size, and strength. They imitate the natural surface of the tooth, restore a beautiful and harmonious smile, and allow for chewing.

Dental crowns are recommended for significant tooth damage, such as large cavities and after endodontic therapy when the tooth needs additional protection.

Crowns are a permanent solution and can be made of metal-ceramic, all-ceramic, and zirconia-ceramic. Ceramic has become the gold standard in dental prosthetics because of a number of good properties that other materials did not have – strength, resistance to high temperature changes, chemical influences, and corrosion. Furthermore, it is biocompatible and does not cause allergies.

What is the lifespan of ceramic crowns?

Oral hygiene is the most important factor that affects the lifespan of dental crowns and can vary from patient to patient. Crowns themselves cannot get cavities, but cavities can form on the tooth beneath the crown. Therefore, it is very important to regularly and properly maintain oral hygiene. Our dentists can give you additional advice to ensure that you are properly taking care of your smile. With good hygiene and regular dental check-ups, a crown can last from 10 to 20 years.

Dental crowns or dental veneers are intended for patients whose tooth has:

• Cracked or weakened

• Lost its function or aesthetics

• been endodontically treated, so the tooth needs additional protection and reinforcement to prevent potential new damage

• been too damaged that a simple filling could not help.

How to maintain oral hygiene after getting dental crowns?

Oral hygiene is always a priority whether you have natural teeth or prosthetic replacements, and dietary habits, lifestyle, and smoking all affect your smile. Our dentists therefore advise:

Oral hygiene

• regularly brush your teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste that corresponds to the state of your oral health

• use dental floss, mouthwash, and interdental brushes regularly

• thoroughly brush the most sensitive areas, i.e., the spaces between teeth and the area of the tooth neck, where the crowns and the tooth are joined together. Crowns are made of materials that do not decay over time, but your teeth on which the substitutes (so-called support teeth) are placed are still prone to cavities and gum disease.

Dietary habits

• immediately after getting the crown (2-3 hours), we advise you to completely avoid food

• some patients may experience sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks after getting the crown, but you shouldn't worry as the sensitivity will gradually pass within a few weeks.

• avoid chewing hard foods like nuts, hard candies, or bones as the surface ceramic can chip or break.

VENEERS

We proudly present the veneer production in our clinic! They are our passion and specialty!

Non-prep/Minimal invasive/E.max ceramic- only the best is good enough!

Ceramic veneers, or "veneers," are one of the most common solutions in modern cosmetic dentistry for achieving the desired bright smile.

We are talking about thin ceramic veneers that are glued to the front surface of the teeth. Ceramic veneers are most commonly used for minor aesthetic corrections, meaning they can change the shape, size, position, and colour of natural teeth.

Ceramic veneers are placed on natural teeth, and the ceramic imitates the enamel of the natural tooth. The material reflects light in the same way, which is why, after the veneers are placed, the teeth have a natural shine. Reasons for choosing veneers can be the following:

• different lengths of teeth

• chipped teeth

• worn teeth

• tooth discolorations

• gaps between teeth (diastema)

• cracked enamel

• irregular positions of teeth

The advantage of veneers is that they require minimal reduction of the teeth, or enamel (0.5 mm), which is significantly less than with other prosthetic replacements such as crowns.

To make veneers, it is necessary to perform DIGITAL SMILE DESIGN in order to visualize the effect before and after. At the first appointment, complete digital 3D diagnostics are performed. High-resolution photos are required for precision work. After that, the dental technician plans and designs your new smile in a software. So, before you decide to proceed, you will have the opportunity to see a prototype of your future smile. We take into account all your comments regarding the shape, colour, and length of your teeth. The made veneers are tested in your mouth and, if necessary, corrected or permanently cemented.

After the placement of ceramic veneers, it is necessary to maintain adequate oral hygiene and regularly visit the dentist to keep your veneers under control. Due to inadequate oral hygiene, your veneers may have a shorter lifespan.

Oral hygiene and maintenance are of utmost importance. It is necessary to avoid very hard foods. With proper maintenance, veneers are a long-lasting solution for your smile!

CERAMIC FILLINGS - INLAY/ONLAY/OVERLAY

Inlay, onlay, and overlay are ceramic dental restorations that replace missing parts of a tooth in case of a larger damage. Composite fillings are an excellent and standard solution for most dental cavities, but if a large part of the tooth crown is missing, then a ceramic filling is a much more aesthetically pleasing and functional solution, which is also more durable.

This type of ceramic filling is primarily made for back teeth due to the greater durability and strength of the material that is exposed to very large forces during chewing. The name Inlay/Onlay/Overlay of the prosthetic replacements is related to its size and the way it is positioned on the tooth.

An inlay is a ceramic filling that is placed in the tooth, replacing the central or middle part of the tooth, while the side walls are preserved. It is located within the strong tooth structures and does not cover the cusps of the tooth.

An onlay is a slightly larger ceramic filling that covers a larger surface. It is placed on the tooth and replaces one or more side walls, in addition to the central part. Therefore, it covers the inner part of the tooth and one cusp of the tooth - a part of the chewing surface.

An overlay ceramic filling covers the largest part of the chewing surface. It is placed on a much larger portion of the occlusal or sharp surface, covering two or more cusps on the tooth crown. It should be noted that the overlay is still not a crown, but a partial crown. It differs from ceramic dental crowns in terms of the surface it covers, as well as the type and scope of preparation of the natural tooth.

Procedure

Two visits are required to place the Inlay/Onlay/Overlay prosthetic replacements. During the first visit, the tooth is prepared and scanned (impressions taken), and a temporary filling is placed on the tooth. The scan of the prepared tooth is sent to the laboratory where the permanent Inlay/Onlay/Overlay prosthetic replacements are made.

At the next visit, the prepared prosthetic replacements is tested and permanently cemented onto the patient's tooth. 

Advantages of inlay, onlay, and overlay prosthetic replacements

• A perfectly modelled filling that fully imitates the colour and natural parts of the tooth

• Quality - ceramics have better mechanical properties than standard composite fillings

• Durability - the possibility of creating micro-cracks is minimized

• Compared to composite fillings, ceramic fillings can repair larger tooth damage

• Inlay, onlay, and overlay do not require much tooth grinding, unlike crowns.

DENTAL PROPHYLAXIS AND TEETH WHITENING

Before any teeth whitening treatment, it is necessary to perform prophylaxis, which includes cleaning of dental calculus, sandblasting, and polishing.

If you are not satisfied with the color of your teeth, it is possible to whiten them. The prerequisites for whitening are healthy teeth and a healthy periodontium. Only the enamel of the teeth can be whitened. You can also whiten your teeth during orthodontic treatment.

Whitening agents, whitening gels as an active ingredient contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The light from the lamp additionally activates the photocatalyst inside the gel, which accelerates and improves the whitening results and provides excellent results.

In order for the treatment to be more pleasant and satisfaction with the results greater, the intensity can be adjusted to each of our patients. Each patient individually responds to tooth sensitivity during whitening. In addition to in-office whitening, you also receive a home whitening kit, so that your results are better and longer-lasting.

Whitening results are individual and vary from person to person.

How to maintain oral hygiene after teeth whitening?

Dietary habits

• Avoid coloured food and drinks such as red wine, Coca Cola, coffee, black tea, green tea, coloured juices, beets, tomato soup, etc. for the first 24 hours after teeth whitening.

• Instead of the above-mentioned food and drinks, choose water, white wine, white bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, white meat, apples, bananas, dairy products.

Smoking

• Avoid consuming tobacco products for the first few hours (2-3) after teeth whitening.

Regular visits to the dentist

• Come for a check-up as needed or two weeks after whitening.

• You can repeat the whitening procedure, but only in agreement with the dentist and no more than once a year.

• Come regularly for dental calculus removal, polishing, and sandblasting.

Possible side effects

• Transient sensitivity to cold, in line with individual pain and sensitivity thresholds. Everyone can benefit from teeth whitening, and it is ideal for people with healthy teeth who want to improve their smile.

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pathological processes of the dental pulp.

Inside every vital tooth, there is pulp (a network of nerves and blood vessels). It nourishes the tooth and provides sensation to hot and cold. If it is damaged due to bacterial infection, trauma, tooth fracture, and the like, the pulp needs to be removed from the tooth. This procedure is called endodontic therapy. The purpose of the therapy is to remove the damaged pulp from the tooth because it can cause the infection to spread to surrounding tissue.

When it is performed

Endodontic treatment is always performed if there is one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pulsating pain

• Pain when biting

• Sensitivity of the tooth to temperature changes

• Swelling

• Pus-filled abscess at the top of the tooth root visible on an X-ray.

The treatment is performed under local anaesthesia and is absolutely painless. After the anaesthetic wears off, pain relievers are recommended as needed. 

Procedure

The root canal needs to be thoroughly cleaned of inflamed tissue debris and disinfected, reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the canal. The more thorough the procedure, the higher the chances of successful therapy. It is extremely important to determine the exact length of the root canal, which is done using a measuring device - an endometer. Since the root canal system of a tooth can be very diverse, from simple to very complicated, and twisted canals of different diameters, it is absolutely necessary to control the procedure with an X-ray before and after the intervention. The canals are processed with different needle systems, manually or with Ni-Ti (nickel-titanium) rotating instruments. The processed and cleaned canal needs to be hermetically sealed. It is filled with a paste and gutta-percha sticks. Simpler canals can be processed and filled in one visit, while for complex multi-rooted teeth, this is possible in two or three appointments. The ultimate goal is a hermetically sealed, impermeable canal.

What to do after the procedure?

Since the vast majority of treated teeth have severely damaged crowns, after the filling in the canal becomes firm, it is customary to place a root post in the canal and reconstruct the tooth with a composite filling. If a large part of the tooth crown is missing, the composite filling is too large to withstand chewing forces, and there is a very high possibility of tooth fracture. To prevent this, it is recommended to make a ceramic crown so that the tooth remains functional and fully valuable.

Despite the thoroughly performed process, the following complications are possible: root fracture and chronic periapical inflammatory process.

Periodontitis is a chronic infection of the gum tissue and supporting structures of the teeth, including the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. It is caused by bacteria that live in sticky deposits on the teeth, known as biofilm. Periodontitis typically begins as mild inflammation of the gum tissue, known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is a reversible inflammatory condition that can be easily treated, but if left untreated, it can progress to deeper layers of tissue, causing chronic inflammation and resulting in the loss of supporting bone and teeth.

Periodontitis is closely related to systemic diseases that it can cause or complicate. Numerous health problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, chronic kidney disease, premature birth, are linked to periodontitis.

There are numerous factors that increase the likelihood of developing this disease: accumulation of calculus and plaque, smoking, hormonal changes during pregnancy or puberty, grinding and clenching of teeth, traumatic contacts between upper and lower jaws, some medications, poor diet, and systemic diseases such as diabetes.

The first signs are bleeding when brushing teeth along with swollen, red, and painful gums. These signs indicate initial inflammation of the gums - gingivitis. If this condition lasts longer, the inflammation spreads to deeper parts of the tissue where it causes inflammatory bone resorption and tooth mobility.

Watch out for the first signs of periodontal disease - bleeding from the gums, red swollen gums, bad breath, and loose teeth!

Smoking is certainly one of the most common causes in the development of periodontitis. Numerous studies have proven that smoking causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels and affects the mechanisms of the inflammatory response in tissue.

Thorough hygiene and home care, as well as regular check-ups with your dentist, who will recognize the problem, play a key role in prevention.

Good oral hygiene means brushing your teeth for at least three minutes twice a day - in the morning and before bedtime. It is extremely important to use dental floss at least once a day. This way, we prevent the development of dental plaque and consequent inflammation.

It is extremely important to use dental floss at least once a day. This prevents the development of dental plaque and the consequent inflammation. 

Regular dental visits

Regularly visit your dentist or periodontist for cleaning, usually every six to 12 months. If you are at risk and have factors that increase the likelihood of developing periodontitis - such as dry mouth, taking certain medications, or smoking - you may need more frequent check-ups.

Procedure

Depending on the stage of periodontal disease, therapeutic procedures vary. Today in periodontology a conservative, non-surgical therapy in disease control prevails. After making a diagnosis, we begin with initial therapy. Our goal is to reduce the bacterial flora, so we remove heavy tartar deposits, which is porous and retains bacterial biofilm. Additionally, antiseptics and targeted antibiotic therapy are introduced, deep cleaning and root polishing are performed to remove inflamed tissue around the tooth and create the possibility of re-healing of the gum tissue around the tooth root.

If there is no improvement, therapy continues with periodontal surgical therapy.