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Restorations of Anterior Teeth

Restorations of Anterior Teeth

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This service is provided by doctors:
Head doctor. Top-level dentist, surgeon, orthopaedist
Dental Therapist
Top-level dentist, orthodontist
Restorations of Anterior Teeth

Aesthetic dentistry is very popular today, as a Hollywood smile has become a symbol of success. As a result, people are becoming more and more concerned about their appearance.

Modern dental technologies help such a flawless smile become a reality. Everyone can make dreams come true in our Clinic of Aesthetic Dentistry – make your smile shine with white teeth and shed inhibitions about discoloured teeth.

What is Aesthetic Teeth Restoration?

Aesthetic teeth restoration is a dental procedure that restores the aesthetics and shape of teeth. It uses light-cured photopolymers or composite materials. This method helps restore chipped anterior and posterior teeth, correct teeth aesthetics, hide cracks in the enamel and even restore a completely damaged crown.

Prosthetic rehabilitation also helps to normalize digestive processes as chewing is the first stage of digestion and absorption. Direct dental restoration is the best option for correcting minor defects of the front teeth. Direct restoration is performed in one stage (except in cases many teeth need to be restored). Moreover, the patient can get rid of interdental spaces.

Techniques for Aesthetic Anterior Teeth Restorations

The process of anterior teeth restoration is carried out using one of the existing techniques, individually selected by the dentist.

  • Direct restoration involves the restoration material placement on the area prepared according to the technology and rules of the selected material application.
  • Indirect restoration involves using onlays or inlays made outside the patient’s mouth. Special cement bonds the damaged tooth area.

The dentist assesses the damaged area, occlusion, and other patient features to determine the most suitable restoration method.

No specialist will select the method and material without first examining and repairing the damage caused by tooth decay or other injuries.

Direct Restoration: What Is the Procedure?

A direct dental restoration is an aesthetic restoration that directly corrects the defect. The technique refers to the aesthetic restoration type, also known as aesthetic and functional restoration. This name reflects the essence of the procedure: aesthetic replacement of lost tissue with the restoration of the natural tooth function.

  • Cleaning. This step is necessary because only after removing dental plaque can the colour of the restorative material be matched to the patient’s natural tooth enamel. Professional hygienic cleaning also helps identify the initial stage of decay that is not visible due to plaque;
  • Selection of the restorative material shade. It is performed using a shade guide chart with tooth samples attached. The scale is held in front of the patient’s teeth, and the colour of the composite is matched to the colour of the surrounding healthy teeth.
  • Anaesthesia is applied only if needed. Very often, it is not necessary for this type of work;
  • Tooth preparation. Old fillings and decayed areas are removed. If the work reveals the need for endodontic treatment, this is carried out to the extent necessary. The need for endodontic treatment is usually determined at the initial diagnosis;
  • Tooth shape restoration. At this stage, a glass fibre post is inserted if necessary. Then, the tooth’s aesthetics is restored by a layer-by-layer restoration when several different kinds of compatible composite materials are applied one after another. In this case, the tooth gets a natural-looking appearance in daylight.

A doctor often uses a microscope to create a more accurate tooth model.

Indirect restoration: Crowns, Implants, Veneers, Veneer grafting

Indirect restoration: Crowns, Implants, Veneers, Veneer grafting

Indirect restoration of anterior teeth is performed with veneers. Indirect veneers are thin ceramic plates designed to restore the aesthetics of the teeth. Their placement is performed in two stages. At the first stage, the teeth are prepared, and an impression is made. The second stage is veneers placement. The method allows solving several problems:

  • repair chips and cracks;
  • change teeth colour;
  • teeth reshaping.

The restoration is performed in several steps:

  1. First, the tooth requires preparation. Then, the decay is eliminated, all excess tissue is protected.
  2. An impression is made of the prepared tooth. This is necessary to make a dental inlay that exactly replicates the missing piece of the crown.
  3. The patient gets temporary fillings covering the treated areas.
  4.  The last step is the placement process.

This process requires two visits to a doctor. The waiting time depends on the manufacturing time of the prosthetic element.

Pros and Cons of Composite Restorations

Pros:

  • A composite restoration can be placed in less than an hour: there is no need to take the impressions and wait for the denture.
  • The cost of the filling is lower compared to prosthetics.
  • The tooth under the filling needs minimal extra work, and the healthy tissue is hardly damaged.
  • Sometimes, restorations can be done without anaesthesia.
  • Children also can get a composite restoration.

Cons:

  • The restoration loses its lustre with time and darkens when exposed to food dyes. This is incredibly unpleasant on the front teeth. The restoration will need to be polished every 1-2 years to maintain its aesthetics.
  • Composite is more brittle than natural teeth or ceramics and can easily break under normal chewing pressure. So even if you do not care about aesthetics, the restoration is unlikely to last more than 3-5 years.
  • If the tooth is badly damaged, a filling cannot be placed.
  • Even a recently placed filling concedes the ceramics from an aesthetic standpoint: it can sometimes be seen.

Recommendations and Contraindications for Dental Composite Restoration

Restorations are necessary for the following indications:

  • Chipping
  • Large interdental spaces in a smile line
  • Cracked teeth
  • Slight misalignment of dental elements
  • Discolouration of enamel that cannot be whitened
  • Increased sensitivity of enamel caused by pathological abrasion.

We live in the era of aesthetic restoration, and the most popular restorative techniques are composite materials (direct restoration), crowns or veneers (indirect restoration). Let’s talk about each method in more detail!

There are some contraindications:

  • Allergies to restorative materials are infrequent, as composites are hypoallergenic.
  • Severe inflammation of the gums, tendency to bleed – the first thing is eliminating the disease.
  • Sleep-related teeth grinding (bruxism) – the filling rubs off or chips quickly.
  • In the first and third trimester of pregnancy – it is best not to interfere with the mother to avoid miscarriage or premature birth.
  • Destruction of the tooth is too severe – there is no place to fix the filling, and a large amount of composite will not withstand the high load.

Photopolymer Restoration and Teeth Whitening

Photopolymer Restoration and Teeth Whitening

Dental restoration with photopolymers is a modern and effective procedure performed by experienced dentists of our Clinic to restore the health of your mouth and the integrity of your teeth.

Anterior Teeth Restoration – Is It a Complex Procedure?

The complexity of this procedure is determined by the extent of the damage, requiring proper and careful selection of the colour, transparency and shape of the material used for the restoration.

Such tooth restoration is called aesthetic restoration, as its primary goal is to achieve the maximum aesthetic appearance.

Tips from the dentist: What do I need to know before making an appointment?

Before the visit, it is highly recommended to:

  • have a snack before the dental treatment (during the treatment, less saliva will be produced, the snack will reduce the adverse effects of anaesthesia; besides, it is quite a challenge to eat in the next few hours after the dental treatment)
  • avoid foods containing garlic, onions and smoked foods;
  • brush and floss your teeth;
  • have a clean handkerchief or disposable tissues;
  • take the necessary medication with you if you suffer from chronic illnesses (diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure).