Faq's - Frequently Asked Questions

General

This is the hardest thing to do in dentistry-match a single front tooth. Look for an excellent cosmetic dentist Sometimes it is necessary to do more than one tooth. In that case, bonding or porcelain laminates might be the answer. Remember, it takes a great deal of artistry involved on the part of the dentist and lab technician.

A cap and a crown are the same thing. The entire tooth surface is reduced and usually replaced with artificial material such as porcelain or porcelain bonded to metal. It is usually given when the cavity is very huge, or it is root canal treated or to take support for the bridge, etc.

Today's dentistry offers many options.

  1. Tooth bonded back in place.
  2. A removable appliance.?
  3. A fixed bridge.
  4. An implant and crown.

Bonding is a tooth-colored plastic (composite) resin material and is done in one visit (little tooth reduction, no anesthesia required). Porcelain laminate veneers can mask dark stains better with less long-term chipping than bonding. They are made by a ceramist and do not stain, offering greater choice in color, shape and vitality. They require only two office visits.

On the average, bonding last three to eight years. Porcelain laminate veneers lasts four to twelve years or more.

Losing a tooth can be the beginning of many more lost teeth. Saving the tooth maintains space, keeps other teeth from shifting and eliminates the need and cost of a bridge or implant and crown. Although seemingly expensive, it is actually quite cost-effective.

To be able to wear a denture comfortably requires sufficient retention. Bone is invariably lost when teeth are pulled and then continues to reabsorb and shrink back, resulting in poor-fitting loose dentures. These consistently require remaking and never function as natural teeth. Eating, speech and overall functions are severely compromised. Most times, even if the root can be saved, a good dentist can give a patient good functioning and esthetically-pleasing, long-lasting teeth. Today, dental implants, used to anchor a denture, add stability and are an ideal choice for most denture patients.

There are several ways in which this can be corrected :

  1. Orthodontics is the best way (multiple visits).
  2. Bonding (one visit).
  3. Porcelain laminate veneers (two visits).
  4. Crowns (two visit).

Cosmetic contouring, porcelain laminate veneers, orthodontics, bonding, or crowns can be used to correct this.

Translumination or an intra-oral camera can be used to determine the extent of the cracks. Your possible choices to correct the problem would be :

  1. Bonding.
  2. Porcelain laminate veneers.
  3. Porcelain crowns.

Yes. Possible tooth-coloured replacement choices include :

  1. Composite (plastic) resin.
  2. Porcelain inlay/onlay.
  3. Porcelain crowns.

No. Many times a compromise can be suggested after a cosmetic consultation. Possible options include :

  1. Cosmetic contouring.
  2. Bonding.
  3. Porcelain laminate veneers.
  4. Crowns.
Keep in mind that orthodontics is usually the best choice for these situations.

  1. Orthodontics is your best bet -- the teeth can usually be brought down enough to show. However, at times orthognathic surgery may be suggested as well.
  2. Bonding or porcelain laminate veneers or full crowns are a possible compromise.

Immediate dentures are dentures which are prepared even before the teeth are extracted and as soon as the teeth are removed, the dentures are given immediately to the patient, so that patients are not without the teeth even for a minute.

Cosmetic dentures are dentures which are specially created for a particular patient, either as per their original teeth or created by the dentist. For example, spaces are created between teeth so it appears natural or some sort of stains are given, or now we can create the original color of patient's gums so it appears absolutely natural and other people cannot make out whether the teeth are artificial or natural.