Dentures
- Dental crowns and bridges
- Dentures
Services
Dental crowns and bridges
Crowns and bridges fall into two categories:
1. Ceramic crown or dental bridge burned on a metal frame
Only nickel-free or precious metal (titanium, palladium, gold) alloys are used as the framework material for the bridge/crown. Unfortunately, in our country nickel is still used in many places, which has excellent mechanical properties but increasingly causes metal allergies. The sequence of the procedure is as follows: first the dentist prepares the tooth and then the dental technician prepares the crown or bridge on the basis of the impression taken. The ceramic veneer is applied in several layers on a thin metal frame, previously cast or carved by computer, or even electrophoresed, and burned onto the metal frame at high temperatures. In this way, a natural aesthetic effect similar to that of your own teeth is achieved, and the prosthesis also restores the original chewing function and facial harmony.
2. Metal-free crowns and bridge
In terms of material composition, they are mainly made of zirconium oxide, pressed ceramics and Prettau materials. Zirconium oxide ceramics have been developed in recent decades as a material for crowns/bridges and also have a number of advantageous properties:
- zircon’s most important property is that it reduces the risk of allergies to essentially zero and contains no metal
- zircon is completely aesthetic, tooth-coloured and has mechanical properties superior to metals in many respects
- zircon is transparent, i.e. it transmits light and has excellent light dynamics
- it is biologically neutral (bioinert), environmentally friendly, a poor conductor of heat and electricity
- with zircon crowns and bridges, there is less risk of gingivitis and premature gingival recession
What are the disadvantages?
One disadvantage is the price of zircon, and it is important to note that it is not suitable for long bridges, unlike their metal-ceramic counterparts. However, it is more modern and aesthetically superior. There is no risk of possible metal allergy when using zircon and the material does not discolour the gumline next to the metal edge. Zircon can now be used for dental implants, as well as dental restorations, and head pieces for attaching the abutment to the implant. Generally, crowns are made during four different appointments, where several days must pass between appointments:
- Tooth preparation, impression taking
- framework try-in
- Rough test
- Finishing, gluing
In different cases, of course, the preparation process is different, so the above times may occasionally change.
Dentures
Replacing missing teeth is the task of prosthodontics, which can be seen as a kind of rehabilitation to prevent secondary consequences of missing teeth, to solve problems such as chewing, speech problems, facial deformities and of course to restore the ideal aesthetic situation, a beautiful smile.
In the case of tooth replacement, we distinguish between the following two categories:
A. Removable dentures:
The patient can remove them from the mouth independently, in any position, without the help of the doctor. A complete denture is necessary when there are no teeth in the mouth at all. Such dentures are held in place by the vacuum effect, their wearing can cause discomfort at first, which usually disappears later and they adapt perfectly in the mouth. Due to the continuous degradation and atrophy of the jawbone with no teeth, the full plate denture requires relining every 1-2 years and replacement every 5-7 years. We recommend it to our patients very rarely, and for certain major dental works it is used only as a temporary solution if there is no other solution.
B. Partially removable dentures:
In cases where the patient does have a few teeth, but their number is not sufficient to make a fixed denture, a partial plate denture (partial denture) is used. This type of prosthesis is made on a metal plate with a plastic coating in the same colour as the gum. The removable partial denture (the so-called metal framework) is fixed to the remaining pillar teeth by means of clasps, hidden (not visible from the outside) anchoring devices or telescopic crowns on the remaining teeth. As the general population’s need for comfort is increasing, this type of tooth replacement is slowly being replaced by implantation techniques.