FAQ

All-on-4

1. Are implants placed without gum incisions?
Sometimes we make a surgical template to insert implants without incisions and immediately fix temporary crowns to them. This method is the least traumatic, although more expensive, and requires several days of preparation.
2. Is it possible to use old dentures as temporary crowns?
Yes, it is possible. In this case, the old prostheses must be adapted after implantation and then fixed to the installed implants.
3. Will 4 implants withstand a 12-tooth structure?
Such designs have been manufactured since 1998. Statistics show that such constructions last as long as conventional structures supported by 6 or 8 implants.

Braces and teeth alignment

1. What should be done after removing the bracket system?
After the end of orthodontic treatment, a retention period begins. During this period, it is essential to make a retention device (for example, a retainer, splint, or plate), which will fix and maintain the result.
2. At what age can you get braces?
It is possible to start the orthodontic treatment with braces at the age of 12-13 after the root ends of permanent teeth have formed.
3. Do you need to extract teeth before getting braces?
It all depends on the pathology, which your doctor determines.
4. Do braces damage teeth?
If the patient has excellent hygiene, then the enamel traces are minimal. Still, there is remineralization therapy (saturation of the tooth tissues with minerals to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities) according to the indications for those who have problems. This process is reduced when the lingual technique is applied.
5. Can see the result after treatment with a bracket system?
Yes, there is. After taking impressions, your expected result after treatment is simulated.

Veneers

1. What are veneers?
Veneers are ceramic or composite shells that replace the front and sometimes chewing tooth surfaces. Veneers design helps correct the shape and color of the tooth and is an alternative to a full crown in cases where only partial tooth preparation is required. A tooth restored with a veneer and increasing aesthetics gains strength because the finished structure is fixed adhesively and creates monolithic restoration.
2. Indications and contraindications for veneer placement
Indications: unsatisfactory teeth aesthetics due to discoloration, stains, enamel defects, abrasion, and chipping, increased interdental spaces (diastema and trema), crooked teeth, as well as old and discolored restoration.
3. What teeth can be covered with veneers?
If indicated, ceramic restorations can be placed on any tooth treated from cavities.
4. Straightening teeth with veneers
Veneers allow eliminating defects in the teeth shape and correct a slight tilt and rotation, but it is worth remembering that the more the tooth is "out of place," the more dental tissue needs to be removed to "level" with the rest. Sometimes, to not make enormous sacrifices, it is worth considering the option of accelerated orthodontic treatment.
5. How are veneers fixed?
According to some reports, a classical veneer's adhesion force (when the cavity preparation was performed within the vestibular surface) can even be slightly higher than the force bonding enamel to a tooth. Veneers are fixed on the teeth "adhesively"; in other words, they are glued. This retention method is considered highly reliable. In many respects, veneer lifespan depends on this factor, lasting from 10 to 15 years or more.
6. When do you need veneers?
Veneers are a good choice if the teeth are not too damaged since veneers only cover the frontal tooth area. Veneers can be used when you want to correct your teeth' color, shape, position, or size when you want to reduce your teeth' distance or repair a chipped tooth.
7. Do veneers damage natural teeth?
There is nothing better than a healthy, well cared, fine tooth, undamaged by time or a tool. But if it is far from being perfect, and especially if it is not healthy? When the treatment is performed applying the classical dentistry approach, it is about dental rehabilitation and not about harm due to a compromise between beauty and functionality. Of course, to consider the possible consequences, weigh the risks, and evaluate the benefits, it is necessary to undergo a clinical examination. A dental specialist will be able to answer all questions, and the clinical picture will be complete.
8. How long does it take to manufacture veneers?
Depending on the clinical situation, we can make veneers for you within 3-8 days.

Hygiene

1. Are a toothbrush and dental floss enough to clean bridges and implant crowns?
After rehabilitation, we always recommend hygiene products, depending on the types of prosthetic restoration and the oral cavity condition. It can be end-tufted and interdental brushes, superfloss, irrigators, and other dental products in addition to toothpaste, brushes, and floss.
2. Do teeth become whiter after a dental cleaning?
Oral hygiene procedures are aimed at removing calculus and plaque from the surface of the teeth. After a dental cleaning, the teeth become a bit whiter only due to the removal of plaque. While whitening changes the color of the tooth itself by exposing it to chemical compounds.

Endodontic therapy

1. Root canal vs. extraction: what's the difference?
Root canals are located within the roots of the teeth, holding them in the jaw. The roots remain, and the canals inside of them are cleaned and sealed.
2. Are root canals treatment painful?
Currently, all dental procedures possibly causing painful sensations are performed under anesthesia. You do not need to worry and tensely expect that the doctor is about to "touch the nerve," local anesthesia helps not think about the sensations during the procedure.
3. Why do I need root canal treatment if my tooth doesn't hurt?
It is not uncommon to have the canals re-treated due to poor previous treatment. The resealing can occur after the treatment, causing root canal infection, making periodontal disease visible through an X-ray. Modern standards of primary root canal treatment almost eliminate the need for further retreatment.
4. Earlier, during root canal treatment, a doctor would replace the medication inside the tooth, but how is it treated now?
The root canal treatment method requiring a change of medication for more than 4 weeks is hopelessly outdated. 1-2 visits are enough for most endodontic treatment cases.

Implantation

1. How soon after tooth extraction can you have an implant?
We place implants in 6-8 weeks or 4 months after tooth extraction, depending on the bone volume loss.
2. Is there an age limit implant surgery?
There is no age limit. One of our patients, whose all 5 implants survived and still function properly, is 84 years old. This age is absolutely normal for treatment in European countries if the patient has no contraindications for implantation.
3. Can implants last a lifetime?
The success rate after implant surgery is over 99%. With proper care and regular oral hygiene routine that we tailor after implantation, they can last a lifetime.
4. What are the indications for dental implant treatment?
An implant is a great solution when a single tooth or posterior teeth are missing, with complete loss of teeth in the upper and lower jaws. There is no age restriction for implants.
5. Does dental implant surgery hurt?
It doesn't hurt more than any other dental treatment. Implant surgery is performed under local anesthesia; it can also be performed under sedation (a sleep-like state) or general anesthesia optionally and due to medical reasons.
6. What is the latest technology in dental implants?
Today, surgical navigation systems allow conducting implant surgery without incision using 3D modeling.
7. How many implants do I need?
With a single missing tooth - 1 implant, with the loss of posterior teeth - 2-3 implants, with an edentulous upper or lower jaw - 4 implants per bar overdenture or 6-8 implants per fixed denture.
8. What if the patient is allergic to the implant material?
According to the German Association of Oral Implantology, an allergy to titanium, from which the implant is made, occurs in one out of 10,000 patients. In this case, we can carry out the LTT (Lymphozyten Transformation) allergy test. If titanium allergy is confirmed, we recommend using the less popular but effective zirconium implants.
9. How often do dental implant fail?
Official statistics indicate that a correctly placed implant survives in 98.5% of cases. Based on many years of experience in implant therapy, we give 98-99%.
10. What are medical contraindications to implant therapy?
The main absolute contraindication to implant therapy is radiotherapy. Relative contraindications can be osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, nervous and mental diseases, severe cardiovascular diseases.In these cases, the question of implant therapy is considered individually.

Bone grafting

1. If you don't have enough jaw bone to support an implant, how can you fix this?
There are several ways to rebuild bone loss. The most reliable method is considered an increase with the help of the patient's bone (from the donor site, for example, from the corner of the lower jaw, the bone tissue is carefully taken, placed in the future implantation site). This technique gives a positive result. You can also use bovine-derived xenogeneic materials. Such materials also give a positive result. Sometimes we use synthetic materials to repair minor bone defects.
2. How long to wait for a tooth implant placement after bone graft?
Depending on the size of the bone defect, the amount and type of bone graft material used, implantation can be performed 4-9 months after bone graft. For example, after open sinus lifting, we place implants 9 months later and 4 months later after alveolar ridge restoration using our autologous bone.

Periodontitis

1. Can you save loose teeth?
The reasons for teeth loosening can be various: the absence of bone around the tooth, excessive stress on the tooth, trauma, and inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth associated with severe caries. In each case, it is necessary to understand the reason for the tooth loosening. After eliminating the cause, we evaluate the treatment 4 months later. Loose teeth usually have questionable prognosis and require regular monitoring.
2. What is the cause of bleeding gums?
Subgingival calculus is the most common cause of bleeding gums that can be easily identified by objective examination. After the hygienic procedures, gums stop bleeding. Other reasons can be defects in fillings, poorly fitting crowns and bridges, periodontal disease, and hormonal imbalance. An objective examination and additional research methods can help identify all these reasons.
3. How often should I see a periodontist?
Our periodontist will recommend how often maintenance procedures should be performed after periodontal treatment, depending on the periodontal disease's severity. Typically, you will need to see a hygienist every 3 months for periodontal maintenance.

Prosthesis

1. How long does it take to fit a prosthesis on a dental implant?
There are several types of implant load. We often use a protocol for loading the lower jaw after 2 months and the upper one - after 4-6 months. Sometimes we apply immediate loading: prosthesis connected to the dental implant right after the implant placement. This method is used most often for esthetic reasons important for a patient. This allows preserving the anatomy of the soft tissues around the teeth and feeling comfortable. In case we use Trabecular Metal Implant from Zimmer Biomet, we can fix the crowns six weeks after the implant surgery.
2. How long can a temporary crown last?
Here the name "temporary" says it all, meaning you can only use it for a short period. It is used until a permanent crown is made. If during this time it comes off (the temporary crown is fixed to the tooth with temporary cement), you will need to contact your dentist for re-cementation. If you cannot get your temporarily installed crown replaced with a permanent one, please note that you should not have it for more than a month. However, this figure can vary. And it all depends on the case. Since the temporary structure cannot correctly perform all tooth functions, it is not worth delaying it by replacing it with a permanent tooth.
3. How long does it take to make an implant crown?
Depending on the clinical situation, we will make a crown for you within 3-8 days.
4. Fixed or removable dental restoration?
Dentures can be fixed, overdenture, and removable. Fixed dentures are always a high-quality, reliable, and durable solution. With such a prosthesis, the patient's jawbone is preserved, and the prosthesis itself provides excellent stability and makes a patient feel confident. The only drawback is the inability to remove them after the initial installation easily. An overdenture restoration is retained by natural teeth or dental implants and is a good option if a sufficient number of implants for a fixed restoration cannot be placed. If an overdenture is implant-retained, it will also preserve the jaw bone. Such prostheses are removable, easier to repair, and clean professionally. Removable dentures are fitted in cases it is impossible to install fixed or overdenture restorations for various reasons. The advantage of removable dentures is that the patient can remove them without assistance, affordable price, and ease of manufacture.

Tooth restoration

1. Is it true that fillings on front teeth discolor over time, but veneers do not?
Yes, composite materials lose particles over time, and pigments get into empty micro-spaces.
2. What is the difference between veneers and lumineers?
Veneers and lumineers are dental onlays, also called microprosthetics. Applying the traditional dental veneers usually involves grinding a part of the tooth approximately 0.3-0.7 mm. So in the future, you will have to wear veneers permanently as a protective element. Lumineers do not require tooth facing; these are the same veneers, only in the premium segment; they are extremely fine and durable but are more expensive than veneers.

Sedation

1. What is the difference between sedation and anesthesia?
Sedation is a technique in which there is a minimal effect on the central nervous system, enabling treatment to be carried out in a more comfortable environment for the patient; the patient is conscious, can breathe without assistance, and communicate with your doctor. During sedation, there is no release of catecholamines (stress hormones), so healing and recovery are several times faster and better. General anesthesia is complete anesthetic protection with a sleep-like state, general pain, and all body systems control, including control of sleep depth.
2. What are the sedation risks?
Sedation can affect your ability to respond correctly and quickly to events, which can have serious consequences. Therefore, during the first 24 hours after surgery, you should not:
  • Drive a car or other vehicles.
  • Make any vital decision or sign legal documents.
  • Take alcohol or sleeping pills.