Fortunately, many high-quality prosthetic solutions are available to us now. They allow the patient to regain a healthy and attractive smile. The main goal of prosthetics is replacing lost teeth and enhancing the look and function of natural ones.

Prosthetics is one of the most sought after fields of dentistry today. It has a high success percentage thanks to the advancements in technology, superb equipment and educated experts who continuously transform smiles and keep their natural look.

Fixed prosthetics - Inlay, Onlay, Overlay

When the damage on the crown of a tooth is great enough to prevent a composite fill, but not great enough to warrant the need for the dental crown, we recommend Inlay, Onlay, Overlay prosthetic replacements. They differ only in size (the area they cover) and the type of teeth structure they replace. Their primary use is on the back teeth, while we more commonly use veneers for the front ones.

Advantages:

• they are tougher and more durable than the classic composite filling
• they are a better aesthetic and functional solution than a composite filling
• construction requires a minimally invasive method that allows you to retain a maximum amount of healthy dental tissue
• they are made in a dental laboratory based on a dental impression and are permanently affixed to the tooth

The procedure course:

• tooth preparation and dental impression making
• construction of the temporary replacement
• permanent cementing and polishing the replacement on the patient’s tooth

They are a great alternative for all who prefer minimally invasive procedures but desire a great aesthetic and functional solution for their teeth.

Veneers

If you want to painlessly correct the imperfections of your smile, veneers are an ideal solution.

Ceramic veneers are a permanent prosthetic replacement at the forefront of aesthetic dentistry. They are small, thin porcelain pieces which are affixed to the outer side of the tooth.

We use them most often to:

• correct the spacing between teeth
• restore the broken tooth parts
• restore a worn out enamel
• correct teeth discoloration
• correct smaller orthodontic imperfections (irregular position of teeth)
• enhance the teeth aesthetic (shape, size, position, color)

Construction of porcelain veneers is high quality and precise dental technician’s work and can last for up to 15 years if maintained properly.

Their material imitates light the same way the natural teeth do, giving veneers a perfectly natural look.

Applying veneers is a minimally invasive technique, as it requires only 0,05 mm enamel filing down, much less than with other prosthetic replacements.

Ideal candidates are patients with good oral hygiene, healthy teeth and gums, no tooth decay and without larger composite fills or endodontic treatments on teeth that require veneers. Sometimes, for the best result, we perform a gingivectomy - a correction of gums, before placing veneers.

Construction method:

• consultation where we determine your oral health, prepare a complete clinical and radiological diagnostics and determine the look and the type of veneers, depending on your wishes
• shaping and 0,05 mm filing the teeth
• making a dental impression and the construction of temporary veneers, an additional consulting if shape, color or the size of veneer need to be changed
• final consulting and permanent affixing of veneers

There is no recovery period after the placement of veneers. You can return to your day to day activities right away. It is important to maintain the correct oral hygiene, to avoid colored beverages and cigarettes, as well as bad habits such as chewing on ice or nail biting, as they can cause veneers to break or the bonding agent to change color. Even though ceramics is not susceptible to decay, the tissue beneath it is, so good oral hygiene is very important.

Dental crowns

Dental crowns are a type of prosthetic replacement that serves to reconstruct the natural tooth crown. We use them when a tooth is missing the outer part, but the root remains preserved.

Dental crowns are the best solution if only one tooth is damaged, while those around it are healthy. This way there is no need for filing down large parts of the tooth. They are most often placed on teeth that are significantly filled, endodontically treated teeth, or those affected by trauma. Crown firms them and restores the appearance.

Crowns can be applied on filed down teeth or on dental implants. They restore aesthetics and lost teeth function with a natural look. Crowns are made in the dental laboratory, based on imprints taken in our clinic.

CROWN TYPES ARE:

Metal-ceramic crowns

• completely covered with ceramics, making the metal part invisible
• extremely tough and durable
• great aesthetic and mechanical properties

Zircon-ceramic crowns

• keep the natural tooth look
• less amount of filing down is required
• made with biocompatible materials
• imitate the look and feel of natural teeth

100% ceramic crowns

• give superb aesthetics and maximum natural tooth feel
• tough and biocompatible
• ideal for front teeth, to achieve the greatest aesthetic effect
• preparation requires a minimal amount of filing down

Preparation for the construction of crowns:

• clinical examination, x-ray analysis, preparation of the therapy plan
• teeth filing down and preparation for the crown. In case of greater damage, teeth can be reinforced with dental posts and filled to create a stable surface for the crown
• making a dental impression as a base for construction
• temporary crown construction
• a final check of the permanent crown, permanent cementing and polishing

With proper oral hygiene, crowns can last up to 15 years. It is necessary to avoid bad habits (nail biting, sucking on ice cubes). If you suffer from bruxism, a splint should be made to protect the teeth and crowns from possible damage.

Dental bridges

Is you are missing more than one tooth, the ideal solution is a dental bridge. A prosthetic replacement made out of two or more crowns applied to natural teeth or an implant. The base of a ceramic bridge can be metal or zircon.

A bridge on natural teeth requires filing down of the surrounding healthy teeth. They serve as the base of the bridge. Implants, on the other hand, preserve the surrounding teeth and allow for safe positioning.

Advantages:

• completely fixed and don’t impede speech or chewing function
• highly natural feel and top-notch aesthetics
• extremely quick adaptation

Bridges are made in the dental laboratory, based on imprints made in our clinic. They are permanently affixed on previously filed down teeth or implants.

Bridges are known for their longevity and with good oral hygiene, they can last for up to 15 years. To maintain your bridges and oral cavity, quality oral hygiene is necessary as well as regular dental controls every six months.

Mobile prosthetics - Total prosthesis

In case of complete toothlesness, we construct total prostheses made from acrylate base where artificial teeth are placed. Acrylate base is pink, imitating the natural oral mucosa and it replaces lost gums and the part of jawbone where teeth are located.

The upper base covers the entire palate, while the lower provides space for a tongue. A total prosthesis is mobile so the patient can effortlessly remove it from their mouth. The most important thing is for it to fit properly, so the patient has maximum comfort while wearing it. Its stability depends on the direct appliance to the area of the mucosa. Adaptation period depends on the individual patient.

Advantages:

• quick construction
• least expensive solution
• enhances health and the quality of life
• restores lost aesthetics and function

Construction process:

• examination, diagnostics, and the discussion about the look of the prosthesis
• making a dental impression and determining the upper and lower jaw proportion
• construction of the prosthesis in the dental lab
• final check and possible corrections (slight chafing, pain or lifting of the prosthesis are possible, placing the importance on regular controls where we can correct the prosthesis)

Bone resorption can make the prosthesis unstable in time. In such cases, acrylate material is used to increase stability.

It is important to keep the prosthesis clean to prevent infection and pain in the oral cavity. If damaged, a prosthesis can be easily fixed in the dental laboratory.

Partial prosthesis

In case of partial teeth loss, we use a partial prosthesis which is connected with the existing teeth in a functional whole by metal clasps. The stability is a result of those clasps. It is mobile, so the patient can effortlessly remove it.

The prosthesis doesn’t encumber the mucosa like total prosthesis does and can endure higher chewing force. It is more comfortable to wear and more stable during chewing and speaking. It is used when fixed prosthetics are not possible or are out of the patient’s budget.

There is a certain adaptation time needed and it depends on each individual patient. Slight chafing, impeded speech and chewing, and prosthesis lifting are the possible side effects. All can easily be removed by fixing the prosthesis and proper fitting.

A partial prosthesis is made with Wironite body and clasps. For even higher aesthetics, we use anchors and scopes.

Advantages:

• returns lost chewing function, enhances aesthetics and the quality of life
• gives stability and discretion
• does not burden the mucosa
• can serve as a temporary solution before a larger prosthetic treatment

The construction process:

• primary examination and diagnostics, determining the type of prosthesis and defining the scope
• making a dental impression and construction of prosthesis in the dental lab
• check up and possible correction of the prosthesis
• advising the patient about oral hygiene and the correct maintenance of the prosthetic work

Combined prosthetic restoration

For maximum stability and harmony with the remaining teeth, the best solution is a combined prosthetic restoration. A prosthesis made on implants, retained by special retention elements.

The highest quality solution is All-on-4 or All-on-6 therapy - placing the prosthesis on 4 or 6 implants.

Advantages:

• maximum stability, function, and attachment
• top quality and aesthetics
• completely natural feel and minimal adaptation time