Esthetic dentistry
Today at our disposal we have a wide array of dental procedures, which enable us to achieve not only oral health but also the attraction and beauty of a smile. The esthetic dentistry is not neglecting its primary task – the harmonious functioning of the masticatory system, but nowadays is also pursuing the need for esthetics. This part of dentistry, besides good prevention, diagnostics and repair of oral structures is also focusing on the smile esthetics, healthy and beautiful white teeth.
The esthetic dentistry includes teeth whitening, veneers, metal-free crowns (provide an absolutely natural color and form because they contain no metal, whereby ensure an excellent esthetic effect.
Teeth whitening
In the course of time, because of aging and under the influence of numerous habits, the dental enamel loses whiteness and becomes grayish or yellowish, full of pigmentation, which can not be removed by tooth polishing. In that case we use the removal of teeth pigmentation by whitening, which includes the use of media, on the basis of oxidation process of urea or hydrogen peroxide with the tooth surface.
With today’s methods only one visit to the dentist is needed whereby an optimal result is achieved. After the cleaning of hard and soft plaque a gel is applied on the teeth and activated chemically, thermally or by light, depending on the method. The methods differ in activation kind and also in the accumulation of the active ingredient. Generally each of these methods takes less than an hour. The procedure is fast and painless, and the only side effect is the appearance of tooth hypersensitivity, which normally disappears within one or two days. After the teeth whitening it is necessary to avoid colored food and drinks at least 48 hours (coffee, cigarettes, red wine, colored juices, black tea…). Before teeth whitening the teeth are examined to detect potential contraindications like crowns and fillings on anterior teeth, dead teeth, smoking.
Veneers
Veneers are custom-made ceramic facets, cemented to the prepared tooth surface. Today’s materials respectively particularly translucent and transparent ceramic (porcelain), used for the preparation of such restorations, make the veneers look completely natural. Ceramic veneers can solve the majority of problems in dental medicine, but only after a detailed examination and correct indication.
Veneers can successfully solve problems such as damages or discolorations of dental enamel, enlarged teeth gap (diastema), some rotations as well as damaged teeth through teeth grinding and pressing (bruxism). Veneers are a permanent solution that can change the tooth color considerably, as well as correct their shape and position and they are custom-made in the laboratory. Therefore, two or more dentist visits are needed. The duration of veneers is approx. 10-15 years, depending on the biological factor, tooth care and other oral structures. Veneers offer excellent esthetic results and present with a minimal invasion a fast, effective and permanent solution for a nice smile.
Crowns
Crowns are prosthetic replacements that restore the function and esthetics of the damaged tooth (dead teeth, teeth damaged by large cavities, big lack of dental tissues, replacement of old degraded crowns). Materials that are used these days for the fabrication of crowns are metal ceramics (under the porcelain is a frame made of semiprecious and high noble alloys) as well as metal-free ceramics with high fatigue strength (zirconium oxide, aluminium oxide). Metal ceramics have extremely good functional capability, although they are not considered as completely esthetic solution, because of the possible shine through of the metal frame, in case of a gingival recession.
Metal-free ceramics represent an esthetic replacement for crowns with a metal core. Mechanical properties and the duration of the metal-free crown are the same as for metal ceramics, with a higher esthetic level. Grinding of the tooth for a metal-free crown is less extensive.
The elimination of the metal core enables light to pass through ceramics and achieve better optical quality, which has also an effect on the esthetic appearance of the crown.
Bridges
Bridges are prosthetic, functional and esthetic replacements for one or more teeth. Missing teeth can lead to pathological changes in the bite, shifting and bending of teeth, damages of the temporomandibular joint, development of periodontal diseases and beginning of new caries. By the preparation of bridges it is necessary to grind the surrounding teeth, which will serve as piers for the bridge.
The bridge is composed of crowns-piers and the bridge body which stretches across the missing teeth and replaces them. Materials used for the fabrication of bridges are metal ceramics and metal-free ceramics. After the grinding of teeth, a dental impression is made, used by the technician in the laboratory to make a customized restoration. The duration of bridges, as well as crowns, depends on the patient’s health and especially on a good hygiene. Regular check-ups are also necessary.
Filling
Fillings are used to replace the lost tooth structure (caused by caries or fracture) in cases when the tooth damage is not too big.
Nowadays materials used for fillings are esthetical, have excellent mechanical properties and connect well with the tooth structure (if used correctly).
Fillings are made in this way that they reproduce the look of the tooth faithfully. This means that the filling forms every bump and every dent like on a natural tooth and the transition from tooth to filling must be invisible. It is insisted on the forming of bumps not only for esthetic but also for functional reasons. Every filling must truly reproduce the look of the natural tooth for a reason. If this is not taken into account a dysfunction of natural bite force distribution takes place, which causes serious complications in the oral cavity. Bad fillings can also be the reason for remaining of food between the teeth, bleeding of the gums, bad breath and development of pockets.
