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Restorative Dentistry

Restorative Dentistry

• Restorative Dentistry
• All-porcelain Crowns
• Porcelain Bridges
• Full-mouth Rehabilitation

Restorative Dentistry

As an individual's mature teeth wear, old fillings or crowns may start to fail. Teeth often shift and the bite isn’t what it used to be. The support of the teeth, our gums and bone, may not be in the best of health. Dr. Milan takes his time and thoroughly analyzes his patients’ overall dental health and function. When a bite needs to be restored with new dental restorations, this is called restorative dentistry. It often combines with cosmetic dentistry to achieve both a healthy and great looking smile. It may include crowns, bridges and / or dental implants. Gum treatment, including painless laser treatment, is sometimes necessary.

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All-porcelain Crowns

If you ever had the notion that dental crowns are conspicuous and unattractive, then you've never noticed a beautifully crafted all-porcelain crown.

Compared to older porcelain fused to metal crowns, all-porcelain crowns have a natural appearance in terms of color and contour. When done properly, crowns should be extremely difficult to distinguish from natural teeth. With all-porcelain crowns, no dark lines are apparent at the gum line.

Our office commonly replaces unsightly crowns with beautiful new porcelain crowns.

Crowns

When a tooth is cracked, decayed, or damaged, a crown may need to be fitted onto the tooth. A crown is a permanent covering that fits over the original tooth. Crowns can be made of porcelain, gold and other metals, acrylic resin, or an amalgam (mix) of these materials. Porcelain crowns typically have the most realistic appearance, although they tend to be less durable than other materials. Crowns can whiten, reshape, and realign existing teeth, adding to a healthy and vibrant smile.

Preparing the Tooth and Crown

During your first visit, the dentist will numb the tooth to be crowned and remove the decay in or around it. The tooth is then re-sculpted to provide an easy fit for the crown. This is a painless process that is performed in the dentist's chair.

An impression of your teeth is then taken and sent to the dental lab where permanent, custom-made crowns are created (this usually takes one to two weeks). During this interim period, temporary crowns made of an acrylic resin are fitted onto the teeth.

Applying the Crown

On your next visit, the dentist removes the temporary crown and fits the permanent crown onto the teeth. He or she makes sure the crown has the proper look and fit, and then cements the crown into place.

Maintaining Your New Crown

It is necessary to care for your crown just as you would natural teeth. Daily brushing and flossing will help to keep the teeth, gums, and new crown free from the bacteria that can cause gum disease. Avoid chewing on hard foods such as ice or pistachios, which can cause crowns to crack or break over time. Given proper care, crowns can last several decades, and may last a lifetime.

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Porcelain Bridges

A bridge is a device used to fill the space where a tooth has fallen out or been removed. We offer a number of different porcelain bridges at our office in Michigan. A typical bridge consists of a pontic (filler tooth) that is attached to two surrounding crowns (abutments). Once complete, this bridge structure is bonded into the mouth. Without the use of a bridge, gaps in the mouth where natural teeth are missing can cause multiple teeth to shift, lead to occlusion (biting) and / or jaw problems, and spur periodontal disease. Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.

The Process

Bridges usually require two trips to the dentist's office. During the initial visit, the surrounding teeth are numbed with a local anesthetic. The dentist prepares the surrounding teeth by cleaning any plaque or decay that remains and reducing them so that the crowns can be fitted. The dentist makes a mold of the teeth and sends it off to a dental lab where the customized impression is prepared. The customized mold takes one to two weeks to return to the office. In the interim, patients are fitted with a temporary bridge constructed of acrylic resin. When the patient returns to the dental office, the dentist removes the temporary bridge and replaces it with the permanent one. The dentist then adjusts the bridge for the proper bite and fit, and the porcelain bridge is permanently bonded into the mouth.

Types of Bridges

We offer several different types of porcelain bridges to our patients in Michigan. The first is a fixed bridge, which consists of a filler tooth (referred to as a pontic) that is attached to two crowns. The crowns fit over the existing teeth to hold the bridge in place. The fixed bridge is the most popular type of bridge we offer.

Another bridge design is a composite bond, known as a "Maryland" bridge. This type of bridge is commonly used to replace the front teeth. The pontic is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth, and the metal bands are hidden with a white-colored composite resin.

A cantilever bridge is often used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two abutment crowns that are positioned side by side on the same side of the missing tooth space. The pontic is then connected to the two crowns, which extend into the missing tooth space.

If the missing tooth space has no surrounding teeth, the dentist may decide an implant is the most appropriate method of treatment. Please refer to the dental implants section of the Patient Education Library for more information. When a series of teeth are missing, the dentist may suggest a partial denture as the most effective way to maintain the structure of the jawbone and teeth.

Proper Maintenance

Because the pontic and crowns are constructed as a single piece, special care must be given to ensure that the gum line and area surrounding the new structure are kept clean. Special floss is often necessary to clean underneath the teeth and maintain strong, healthy gums. With proper dental care, bridges can last up to ten years.

Interested in finding out more about porcelain bridges at our office in Michigan? Contact us today!

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Full-mouth Rehabilitation

Due to a multitude of factors, which may include missing teeth, extremely worn teeth, and a history of decay, it may be necessary to place multiple restorations on certain patients. In doing so, Dr. Milan is able to provide not only beautiful results, but also improved function and dental health. Full-mouth Rehabilitation at our practice in Michigan involves the treatment of multiple teeth in the front and the back of the mouth. As many of our patients have discovered, Full-mouth Rehabilitation at the Birmingham Center for Cosmetic Dentistry in Michigan can transform your damaged mouth into an attractive smile!

Would you like to know if Full-mouth Rehabilitation in Michigan can help you to regain your youthful smile? Contact us today!

 

 

 

 

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