Prosthodontics
Are you missing one or more teeth? Is it affecting your speech, bite or your appearance? Thanks to advanced prosthodontics, it is now possible to restore natural looking teeth and smile.
Prosthodontics
What is Prosthodontics?
Prosthodontics involve the replacement of missing teeth using artificial teeth or restoring teeth to its natural condition. Treatment includes:
- Crowns, bridges, dentures
- Veneers, teeth whitening
- Dental implants
Prosthodontic Treatments
Crowns & Bridges
Crowns are used mainly to replace teeth that require extensive restorations or to correct spacing in between teeth, uneven tooth shapes or colour. They come in different materials and depending on each patient’s need, our dental specialist will advise what is best and appropriate for the patient.
A Bridge is made up of crowns to replace missing teeth using the neighbouring teeth as a support. 3 or 4-unit bridges are very common and they cost less compared to dental implants for patients with financial concerns. They do have drawbacks as they require shaping and trimming of the neighbouring teeth and sometimes, these can lead to other problems.
Veneers & Teeth Whitening
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used for the front teeth to close spaces between teeth, correct the shape of abnormal teeth and/or give a permanent whiteness for stained teeth. Normally, at least 2 or more teeth are veneered to effect a beautiful change.
At Tooth Art Dental Centre, we also offer professional teeth whitening (bleaching) kit whereby patients can whiten their teeth in the comfort of their homes. Custom-made trays that are fitting to the teeth are used together with whitening gel to achieve the desired outcome. Unlike off-the-counter whitening products, the gel concentration prescribed by our dental specialist is safe and treatment progress is closely monitored. Depending on the cause of staining or discolouration, veneers may be required in some cases to achieve the best result.
Dental Implants
Dental Implants are used to replace missing teeth. Unlike dentures, dental implants are permanent fixtures. Each implant is made from titanium or titanium alloy which studies have shown these materials complement with our bone to provide long term support for the missing tooth.
Dental implants are long-lasting and they require low maintenance. They can camouflage and function very well like normal teeth and most importantly, prevent bone loss in the jaw.
Jaw-Joint (TMJ) Pain
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) pain can be stressful and daunting. Bad jaw habits (e.g. chewing on ice, nut-cracking) and subconscious night grinding (bruxism)or clenching of teeth are often culprits for these pains.
Tension headaches are a commonly under-diagnosed problem as a result of bruxism or clenching. In addition, teeth and restorations (fillings) can be severely worn down, damaged or even cracked. Jaw joints could also be damaged resulting in joint pain. An awareness of the problem, changing of bad habits, night guards and sometimes medication can help alleviate the pain and prevent such problems from worsening.