Teeth Supported Prothesis

METAL FREE CROWNS AND BRIDGES / CERAMIC ONLAYS AND INLAYs

Metal-free Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns and bridges are ceramic restorations that completely cap the teeth and restore missing teeth.

What is a crown? 

A dental crown is a very aesthetic and strong restoration that caps a whole tooth restoring its structure, function and aesthetics. Crowns are elaborated in a dental laboratory from ceramics and have to fit perfectly on your tooth. They are recommended when a tooth has lost a lot of dental tissue, has overcome endodontic treatment or other reasons. Since a crown encircles a whole tooth, it protects the tooth from a fracture. 

What is a bridge? 

A bridge is a unit of few crowns connected together. Usually a bridge is used to restore a missing tooth. It has a false tooth (pontic) that is held in place by the abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Usually it is recommended when a gap is not too wide, when surgery is not possible or abutment teeth are already decayed and need restorations. 

Pros

  • Restores missing tooth structure

  • Restores lost tooth functionality 

  • Protects endodontically treated teeth from fracture 

  • Restores tooth aesthetics

  • Improves oclusion 

  • Bridges restore missing teeth, especially when implant surgery is not possible 

  • Metal-free crowns and bridges require less tooth preparation and is minimally invasive

Cons 

  • The teeth have to be prepared for the crowns to fit, so more dental tissue has to be removed, especially when preparing for a bridge.

  • If the bridge is very long (more than 4 units) the abutment teeth can suffer from overload, which can result in mobility, fracture of those teeth or other issues.

FAQ

  • The treatment itself is not painful, but some anesthesia might be needed just to avoid sensitivity or gum irritation. If a tooth is still vital and is being prepared for a crown or a bridge, it can be sensitive while you wear temporary crowns. 

  • Most of the time crowns are recommended to protect your teeth, especially after root canal treatment, so it doesn't destroy your teeth. Although some dental tissue might be removed to prepare abutment. If you choose to make a bridge on healthy teeth to restore a missing tooth between them, then you have to know that healthy dental tissue will be removed to create space for a bridge.

  • In SMITA we fabricate only metal-free crowns and bridges that are very aesthetic, especially when fabricated by a high level dental technician. 

  • The treatment usually has two stages - 1) preparation and 3D scanning, 2) cementation and adjustment. Depending on the case complexity, it might take more or less time. Normally between appointments should be 5-7 days. 

  • Restoring teeth with metal-free ceramic crowns and bridges is considered one of the best long-term treatments. To achieve the best results, high quality materials, very precise treatment planning and performing, also a very accurate oclusion adjustment are required. 

Ceramic Onlays and Inlays

Ceramic restorations fabricated in a dental laboratory

What is an onlay or inlay? 

Onlay or inlay is a ceramic restoration that restores the missing tooth structure. They are fabricated in a dental laboratory and fit your tooth as a piece of a puzzle.

Better than composite? 

They have many advantages over composite restorations - such as strength, longevity, aesthetics, etc. Onlays and inlays are cemented to enamel and create a really strong bond, stronger than composites. Also since it's fabricated in a laboratory, it is much easier to create a perfectly correct oclusion, while composite restorations sometimes are not so correct. 

Better than crowns? 

Onlays and inlays are better than crowns because they are minimally invasive and save all healthy dental tissue that is left. It is not necessary to drill around the tooth, although it is necessary to give some special shape just to improve the adhesion.

Onlays are not recommended when a tooth has lost too much dental structure or there is not enough surface of enamel to create a really strong bond.

FAQ

  • The treatment itself is not painful, but some anesthesia might be needed just to avoid sensitivity or gum irritation. If a tooth is still vital and is being prepared for an onlay, it can be sensitive while you wear temporary restoration. 

  • Onlays and inlays are very aesthetic, especially when fabricated by a high level dental technician. 

  • Usually it takes two appointments - first one is for preparing and 3D scanning and second one for cementing and adjusting the restorations. 

  • Restoring teeth with ceramic onlays and inlays is considered one of the best long-term treatments. To achieve the best results, high quality materials, precise treatment planning and performing, also a very accurate oclusion adjustment are required.