SMILE PLANNERS dental services
Implants, Crowns, and Dentures
Implants
Dental implants are a treatment option used to replace teeth missing from the mouth. A dental implant can be thought of as an artificial tooth root that looks like a metal screw. The implant is put into the jawbone where the tooth was originally located. Over time, the jawbone that surrounds the implant grows around it to hold the screw securely in place.
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An artificial tooth, known as an implant crown, is attached to the dental implant screw to fill the space in the mouth left by the missing tooth. The implant crown is made to match the surrounding teeth in both shape and colour. This treatment is generally completed three months after the screw has been placed to allow time for healing.
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Implant Bridges
Dental implants can replace more than one tooth at a time. This is done using an implant bridge where two or more implant screws are placed into the bone and are joined together by an artificial bridge made of crowns that are connected side-by-side.
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Implant Supported Dentures
A full denture, which replaces all the teeth in one jaw, can also be held in place by dental implants. This is called an "implant-supported denture".
Dentures
Dentures are a cost-effective replacement option for teeth lost due conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, or trauma. If you have lost some or all your teeth, it is likely your dentist may talk to you about dentures to replace these teeth. Dentures are artificial substitutes for missing natural teeth and adjacent soft tissues. They can be either a temporary or permanent tooth replacement option for people of all ages. They are typically made of acrylic resin (plastic) or a lightweight metal (mainly cobalt chrome) and are designed to look like your natural teeth
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Types of dentures:
Full Denture
A full denture is worn by patients who have lost all their teeth in either the upper or lower jaws, or both. The denture will replace missing natural teeth and sit on the gum ridges, providing support to the lips and cheeks as well as maintaining the distance between your nose, mouth and chin. By choosing not to replace the missing teeth, the distance between your nose, mouth and chin can become smaller over time.
Partial Denture
A partial denture is used when a person still has one or more natural teeth remaining. The denture will replace the missing teeth and is usually held in place in the mouth by clasps that surround and hold on to the remaining teeth. These dentures may have an acrylic resin (plastic) or metallic cobalt-chrome base. Your dentist may discuss these material options with you when planning for a denture.
Custom made Dentures:
Dentures are custom-made to fit your mouth. However, as with a new pair of shoes, even the best made denture/s can still feel a little irritating at first as you adjust to how they fit and feel within your mouth. You may need to return to your dentist or dental prosthetist for minor adjustments to the denture until it can be worn comfortably.
If you are having teeth removed and need a denture, your dentist may suggest waiting a few months after the teeth have been removed so that your gums can heal. By doing this, it can help to minimise the number of adjustments required for the denture.
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However, if you need a denture immediately after a tooth is removed, an 'immediate' denture may be created and fitted during the same appointment that your tooth is extracted. An 'immediate' denture may require more follow-up appointments for it to be adjusted and may need to be replaced sooner.
General tips and our top dos and don’ts:
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Your dentist or denture specialist is going to show you how to take out and put in your dentures. Make sure you’re comfortable taking your dentures in and out before you leave the clinic.
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Never force your dentures.
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Be gentle and take your time ensuring a good fit.
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Your new dentures might feel strange but take your time with them. You want to be gentle and start with soft foods before you move up to things like steak! Take small bites and be sure to take your time chewing. Try and chew with both sides of your mouth at once if you can.
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Be tender with your dentures and treat them with more kindness than you would teeth.
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Take small bites and make sure you are being gentle with your teeth.
Caring for your dentures and your mouth
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It is important to look after your dentures to keep your mouth healthy.
Clean your dentures in the morning and before going to bed at night. It’s really important to take your dentures out before going to sleep at night. Leaving your dentures out overnight gives your mouth a chance to rest and recover. It also helps to prevent fungal infections.
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Tips for cleaning your dentures:
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Take the denture out of your mouth.
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Brush all surfaces of the denture to remove food and plaque build-up. Use a denture brush with mild soap and water, or denture paste. Toothpaste is not recommended because it can scratch the dentures.
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Hold the denture gently but firmly. Do not hold the lower dentures at the ends as the pressure might cause them to snap.
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Clean dentures over a hand basin half-filled with water or covered with a towel. This means they won’t break if you drop them.
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Rinse well with water.
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You also need to clean any remaining natural teeth while your dentures are out. Use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles, and fluoride toothpaste. Don’t forget to gently brush any parts of your mouth that are normally covered by the dentures. This includes your gums and the roof of your mouth.
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Keep cleaned dentures in a clean dry container overnight. Rinse them under fresh cold water before putting them in again. You may also like to rinse them in cold water after meals.
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Keeping your mouth healthy
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Even though your dentures are comfortable to wear, or you may no longer have your natural teeth, it is still important to visit your dentist regularly. They will check that your dentures continue to fit well and remain beneficial to your oral health. As well, your dentist will examine the soft tissues such as the floor of the mouth, tongue, gums and roof of the mouth, known as the palate, for signs of oral cancer or other conditions that can develop due to denture wearing, such as oral thrush. This appointment allows you to discuss any concerns you may have about your general oral health
Inlays & Onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are durable partial coverage restorations that are made in the dental laboratory and are bonded over the prepared tooth surface to restore the tooth’s form, function and aesthetics. These high-strength indirect restorations are typically made from a ceramic / porcelain material or a gold alloy. Inlays and onlays that are visible will be colour matched to your natural tooth shade allowing you to retain an aesthetically pleasing smile.
Anyone whose dental damage exceeds what a filling can correct, but is not substantial enough for a full crown may be eligible for an inlay or onlay. Inlays fit between the cusps on the biting surface of a tooth, and onlays cover one or more cusps and may extend down the side of a tooth. Why not just place a crown? The more natural, healthy tissue we can preserve, the better. Nothing can exactly replace healthy human tissue, so we opt for conservative procedures whenever possible and practical.
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The Placement Process
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Like a dental crown, inlays and onlays require two appointments. At your first appointment after diagnosis and treatment plan acceptance, the doctor will prepare your damaged tooth for the restoration. We will take an impression of the prepared tooth and opposing teeth, and the doctor will record shading information so that your final restoration matches the tooth in which it will reside. You will wear a temporary inlay or onlay until the permanent restoration is fabricated in a dental lab.
The second visit will entail removal of your temporary and permanent attachment of the custom-made inlay or onlay. We use permanent dental cement to securely hold inlays and onlays in place. After placement, the dentist will evaluate how your upper and lower teeth fit together, a relationship called occlusion. If necessary, we will make slight alterations to your inlay or onlay so that your occlusion is healthy. Your restoration should look, fit, and function like healthy, natural tooth structure.
Caring for your Inlay or Onlay
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Practice regular home oral care, brushing twice and flossing once a day. You may also use a tongue scraper and antibacterial mouth wash to reduce the amount of bacteria and plaque in your mouth, for good health and fresh breath. No special care is required for inlays and onlays. Attend checkups and cleanings twice a year, and in the absence of injury, your restoration should endure 20 years or longer.
