Prosthodontics (Dental Implants)
Cosmetic Dentistry
Losing a tooth or teeth can affect your appearance, leading to a loss of self-esteem. Therefore, replacing your missing teeth is essential to protect your overall oral health. This is where Prosthodontics or Prosthetic Dentistry comes in. Prosthodontics is a sub-speciality of dentistry that focuses on replacing missing teeth with dental prostheses.
As experts in Prosthodontics, we specialise in treating complex dental issues, including replacing and restoring damaged or missing teeth with artificial devices. We are highly trained in inserting dental implants, crowns, bridges, veneers and dentures.
Dental prosthetic treatments include:
Dental implants
A person's natural teeth are meant to last a lifetime. However, there are instances where the teeth get damaged over time due to health or lifestyle or health factors. Losing a tooth hinders your ability to chew. Also, teeth that are not replaced may affect the other teeth and surrounding gums. However, dental implants may be the solution you need.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium replacement tooth root inserted into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone starts to heal, it grows around the implanted metal post. Next, the implant anchors securely in the jaw, providing a foundation for a replacement tooth.
The dental implant process
The placement of dental implants usually requires three appointments:
First appointment: During your first appointment, we will discuss your specific dental issues and perform tests to decide if you are a good candidate for implants. Next, we design a treatment plan based on your lifestyle and needs. Once you approve your treatment plan, we will proceed with further diagnostic and planning procedures.
Second appointment: The second appointment involves placing the implant. A straightforward implant case can be performed in under 20 minutes, but more complex cases may require 1 to 4 hours.
Third appointment: The third appointment is usually booked 6 to 12 weeks after dental implant placement. We perform a test to ensure that your dental implant has adequately fused. If we are restoring a straightforward single dental implant, your final crown or bridge will be manufactured and fitted on this day. More complex cases involve impressions and further steps in planning the final restoration.
Dental Veneers
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain cemented onto your existing tooth and made to match your natural tooth shape and colour. Veneers are minimally invasive and can change the size, shape and colour of your teeth, while still having a natural look and feel. A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain cemented onto your existing tooth and made to match your natural tooth shape and colour. Veneers are minimally invasive and can change the size, shape and colour of your teeth, while still having a natural look and feel.
What problems do veneers fix?
Veneers are best used on anterior teeth to fix cracks, gaps, chips, discolouration and other aesthetic problems.
Other concerns they treat include:
- Discoloured teeth from root canal treatment, excessive fluoride or exposure to certain drugs
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Irregularly-shaped teeth
- Large gaps between teeth
Do I qualify for veneers?
Those with good oral health, minor, aesthetic tooth problems or a damaged smile are good candidates for veneers. Candidates should not be missing any teeth to qualify for veneers.
Set up a consultation with Dr Chiteka Flavian to discuss whether veneers would suit you.
Crowns & Bridges
What is a dental crown?
This is a permanent dental restoration that completely caps a tooth, and it is usually needed when a large cavity is causing serious oral health complications. A dental crown will restore the tooth’s shape, size, strength and appearance. They can be made from various materials such as metals, porcelain, resin and ceramics
Why would you need a dental crown?
You may require a dental crown for a number of reasons, including:
- Protecting a weak tooth from breaking if parts of it are cracked
- Restoring a broken tooth or a severely worn down tooth
- Covering and supporting a tooth with a large filling and not much tooth remaining.
- Holding a dental bridge in place
- Covering misshapen or severely discoloured teeth
- Covering a dental implant
- Covering a tooth that had a root canal treatment
What is a dental bridge?
If you have missing teeth, we can close the gap with a dental bridge. A dental bridge is a false tooth held in place by the teeth on either side of the gap. They are usually made with porcelain so that they blend in with your natural teeth.
Why would I need a dental bridge?
A dental bridge could address some changes that may occur if you have missing teeth. These changes include:
- Restoring your smile
- Restoring the ability to chew properly
- Restoring your speech and pronunciation
- Maintaining the shape of your face
- Re-adjusting your bite to properly distribute the force when you chew
- Preventing your remaining teeth from moving out of the correct position
Dentures
Dentures are false teeth prostheses that replace missing teeth and the surrounding gums in the mouth. Depending on your condition, you can either receive complete or partial dentures.
What are complete dentures?
Complete dentures are used when no natural teeth are present or when all the teeth have been removed. For example, you may have experienced an injury, gum disease or decay of your natural teeth and require false teeth to be able to eat, speak and smile again.
What are partial dentures?
Partial dentures are a group of false teeth with a pink-coloured gum base that attach to existing teeth with a metal framework. These are ideally used when several natural teeth remain in the mouth. Partial dentures fill gaps in your smile while preventing the other teeth from moving and allowing your teeth to function as usual.
What is the procedure for receiving dentures?
Preparing your teeth and mouth, making your dentures and fitting them may take several sessions.
During your initial consultation, we take digital X-rays and impressions of your teeth, mouth and jaw to determine the measurements and fit of your dentures. If you are receiving complete dentures and still have some natural teeth remaining, these will need to be removed and healed before fitting your dentures.
The impressions and measurements help us create moulds that you will have fitted and adjusted before your final dentures are created. You will be able to assess the colour, shape and fit during these visits.
Once your permanent dentures are ready, you will have a final appointment to fit the dentures, and we will make any final adjustments.
Your new dentures may initially feel strange as they settle into your mouth. In addition, you may experience some extra saliva and irritation as your mouth and tongue learn to adjust, but this will improve over time.
