Cosmetic dentistry

Even the smallest stains, chips or gaps in your teeth can affect the look of your smile, keeping you from speaking or smiling with confidence. Porcelain veneers can help greatly improve the aesthetics of your teeth, improving your self-esteem and giving you the confidence to love your smile again.

The highly trained dentists at Materna Dental Clinic can make custom veneers to fit your exact needs and expectations. They will cover all cosmetic imperfections and to enhance your smile.

Veneers are small, thin prosthetic shells that are attached to the front of the teeth. They have the ability to change the shape and colour of your teeth. They are made of durable dental materials, thanks to which they make it possible to create veneers of any size and shape. Perfectly matched, they allow you to make corrections on a single tooth, which in turn gives the effect of perfectly even teeth. The biggest advantage of veneers is the immediate effect – you can enjoy a bright new smile straight after leaving the dentist.

Veneers are a perfect solution for patients with an issue of distema (gap between teeth). Once fitted, the problem instantly disappears.

The material from which veneers are made makes them resistant to external factors. As a result, they are very rarely damaged and are not prone to discoloration. Their incredible advantage is also biocompatibility with tissues in the oral cavity, so they do not cause irritation. Porcelain veneers are applied only on the front teeth. For other teeth, crowns or bridges, but these procedures are more invasive, as they require grinding the teeth.

The most important advantage of veneers is their very high resemblance to the natural teeth. The high quality of the materials used allows for a perfect match of the colour to the natural shade of the remaining teeth, as well their texture, giving a unique, natural effect. In addition, it prevents the spread of carious bacteria in the crevices.

Each dental procedure involves some level of interference in the structure of the tooth. Depending on the severity of your problem, there may be some contraindications. Veneers are not recommended in the case of:

• Too thin layer of enamel,
• Gum and periodontal diseases,
• Teeth grinding,
• Endodontic treatment

Porcelain veneers are stronger and longer-lasting compared to resin-based, composite veneers. They are also less likely to stain. However, they are more expensive and they may require more than one visit to the dentist.

Composite veneers are made of resin-based composite material that is often used to fill dental cavities. The use of this type of material results in an excellent aesthetic effect. Perfectly matched colours are almost imperceptible to other people. Veneers made from dental composite function just like porcelain ones. The main difference is the materials used and the cost. Compared to the more expensive porcelain version, composite veneers are cheaper, less invasive (less tooth needs to be removed to fit them) and easier to fix. But they may get damaged more easily and they don’t last as long as the porcelain ones.

One of the advantages of using composite veneers is undoubtedly the small need for preparation of the teeth. Their use is recommended mainly for live teeth, in order to protect against excessive sensitivity. Another advantage is a short waiting time. The effect is visible after the first visit, because they do not require cooperation with a technician. Lastly, the procedure is definitely cheaper than in the case of porcelain veneers.

Composite veneers can be used for a variety of dental problems, such as:

• Stains and discoloration of the teeth
• Small cracks and chips
• Minor malocclusion (minor misalignment of the teeth)
• Abnormally shaped teeth
• Repair of crowns and bridges

Among the contraindications, the following are most often mentioned:

• Bruxism (teeth grinding),
• malocclusion,
• improper oral hygiene,
• existing gaps in the dentition,
• damaged teeth,
• too many fillings

If you have composite veneers, oral hygiene is very important. Negligence may lead to fast wear of the material and the need to replace them early. Make sure to maintain good oral hygiene: brush your teeth at least twice a day, best after every meal and limit snacking in-between meals. Flossing in-between teeth at least once a day in the evening, and use appropriate mouthwashes designed for this purpose. This way, you will enjoy your veneers and your new, beautiful smile for many years.

The appearance of white spots may indicate that some kind of injury has occurred during the formation of the enamel. Another reason may be the demineralization of the enamel and the initial phase of tooth disease.This can be most often seen on a single tooth. Other reasons for the white spots are: hormonal disorders, including hypothyroidism and orthodontic treatment – when limited access to the areas covered by braces can leave white marks on your teeth.

Currently, the best method to remove the white marks is the infiltration. It allows you to quickly obtain an even colour on the surface of the tooth, without the need for drilling. The infiltration method does not interfere with the tooth. Treatment by infiltration consists in cleaning and polishing the surface of the enamel, which is then covered with a special ICON etch liquid. After rinsing and drying the tooth surface, the stage of applying ICON begins, which, after precisely penetrating the enamel structure, begins the process of eliminating white spots. The resin penetrates into the micropores of enamel, and restores the natural colour of the tooth. With its high refractive index, it causes white lesions to lose their whitish opaque colour and blend with the surrounding natural tooth. The final step is to cure the resin with a polarising lamp and to polish the tooth.

This method provides immediate results: it is quick, as it is performed in a single visit. It’s also minimally invasive and completely painless.

In the case of white spots of a fairly high degree of advancement, it is necessary to repeat the procedure several times in order to eliminate the discoloration as much as possible. The infiltration method does not cause damage to the enamel. The ICON resin, which penetrates the micropores and irregularities of the enamel, is responsible for increasing its tightness, which in turn boosts its resistance to tooth decay.

There are no contraindications for the infiltration procedure to be carried out. This method is safe for adults, children and also pregnant women.

A diastema is a space between two or more teeth. It is most often seen in the two front teeth of the upper jaw. Many children experience this problem as their primary teeth fall out, but in most cases these gaps close when the permanent teeth erupt.

The occurrence of diastema may be genetic, developmental or it may appear after the loss of one or several teeth.

Congenital diastema is most often caused by different tooth size, missing teeth or an oversized maxillary labial frenulum – the piece of tissue inside your upper lip that attaches to your gums. Genetic diastema is frequently observed in siblings, or in mothers and their children. Diastema may also develop after tooth extraction, when adjacent teeth want to replace those that have been lost: they start to tilt towards the gap. When removing the front teeth, it is important to replace them as soon as possible so as not to overload the remaining teeth.

Diastema is usually just a cosmetic problem, but sometimes it’s related to gum disease. In some cases, it can also lead to speech problems, and it often contributes to a lisp.

Treatments include dental bonding, porcelain or composite veneers and braces. The latter is one of the most effective ways to treat diastema. Unfortunately, the duration of orthodontic treatment can take up to several months, so it will not work for people who want to correct the gap sooner.
In this situation, veneers come to the rescue. These are custom-made, ceramic or composite shells that are permanently attached to the front surface of your teeth. The veneers can close down a gap between the teeth and give them a more consistent look. This method of treating diastema is probably the fastest, and durability of the veneers is estimated at 5-8 years.

Another option is dental bonding. This method consists of applying a composite resin material to conceal the gap. The colour of the resin matches the one of your teeth. After curing the resin with the special lamp, teeth are polished, which gives them appropriate texture and natural appearance. This option is only suitable for small gaps.

Teeth restoration focuses on repairing or replacing damaged or missing teeth. There are several methods of reconstructive treatment, however they all have the same goal – to help improve oral health and chewing function. The choice of the appropriate method depends on the degree of damage and on patient expectations. The most common procedures include dental crowns, bridges and implants.

The main reasons for a restorative treatment are tooth decay, broken or damaged teeth or missing teeth. The materials used should alway be of high quality, resistant to discoloration, durable and biocompatible, so that they will not cause irritation or allergic reactions.

One of the effective methods is composite tooth reconstruction, also known as bonding. Since this method is very versatile, it can be used in many cases. This option is cheaper than others, doesn’t cause any side effects and it doesn’t require long waiting time. The great advantage of composite is that it offers quick, minimally invasive, one-session methods of treatment. Thanks to the extensive range of dental materials currently available on the market, the cosmetic results obtained can be excellent. One of the examples of such reconstruction procedure is bonding.

Tooth restoration is often needed after root canal treatment. As the treated tooth is dead and hollow, it can be susceptible to various types of damage. The walls of the tooth become brittle, so the reconstruction is necessary to avoid crumbling or breakage. The materials used depend on the condition of the tooth. If the side walls are intact, the tooth can be repaired with a composite. If the roots are weakened, it is necessary to strengthen them with supportive fibreglass posts. However, if the damage of the tooth is significant, a prosthetic solution may be needed. In this case, a composite material is also used.

Fibreglass is a very durable and damage-resistant material, therefore it is often used in prosthetics, orthodontics and periodontics. Currently, it is only used for the reconstruction of the front teeth and it can’t be used on molars. The procedure usually involves inserting a glass fibre post into the root canal, in order to increase the stability. Another popular use of fibre reinforcement in general dentistry is to make provisional crown or bridge, especially ones with long spans and numerous pontic designs.

The field of science, technology and research in dentistry is ever changing and continuously developing, especially in prosthodontic restorations. As a result, new methods of treatment regularly emerge. Restoration of missing teeth is arguably the most important element in the entire aesthetic dentistry. Thanks to a variety of solutions currently available, we are able to restore a beautiful and healthy smile of every patient we see.

The choice of treatment options is excellent. There are currently several different types of dental restorations, depending on unique oral health needs of each patient. The most common ones include fillings, crowns, inlays and onlays, bridges, dental implants and dentures.

Dental restorations have very few risks and so many advantages. So if you have damaged, decayed or missing teeth, do not wait for treatment. Book your consultation with a dentist now. We can help restore your smile, your oral health and function. And remember the Chinese proverb: “Every smile makes you a day younger”!