8-Teeth restoration (Prosthodontics)

If teeth are missing, there are different options for restoration and teeth replacement. Your Snö dentist will consult you on what the best options, are as well as all the alternatives.

Implants are the most common solution today to replace gaps, but in some cases, a dental bridge treatment is an alternative.

In order for the bridge to be successful, the neighbouring teeth must be strong as they would need to be filed down (prepared) to allow the bridge to fit. If they are loose or extensively filled/repaired, the long-term prognosis is dubious. At the same time, if the neighbouring teeth are untouched, it would be a shame to file them down. If a patient is missing more teeth in a row, it can also be difficult to make an adequate dental bridge as the span is simply too long.

Before implants were available, the only alternative was to have a removable partial denture made. Dentures take some getting used to as many complain it is loose in the mouth, covers the taste buds, makes chewing difficult and doesn’t look good.

Schematic of an example that involves replacing a gap with a three-unit bridge in the back of the mouth. The two supporting teeth need to be prepared to fit the custom-made bridge. If the supporting teeth are strong and healthy but have had restorations, a bridge might be the best alternative as we do not have to file down the teeth as much.

Using strong enamel-like ceramic materials we can most often (depending on the case) fabricate a dental bridge during the same day or the next. Thanks to our advanced digital scanners, there is no discomfort while we make dental impressions. A two-minute scan gives us all the information we need, in full detail and the highest resolution.  The bridge is cemented to the teeth – aesthetic, durable and strong.

The quality and lifespan of the dental bridge treatment depends on the technique and time spent on the treatment.

A dental bridge treatment can look and feel good, but can still have quality concerns. At Snö, we always document everything during the dental bridge treatment in order to ensure our high-quality standard. This applies to veneers too. The veneer treatment also carries a two-year warranty. If you follow our protection plan you can get up to five years of warranty.

To learn more about dental bridge treatment in Abu Dhabi, contact Snö Dental Clinics in Abu Dhabi on 800-DENTIST.

Teeth restorations:
Composite fillings
Inlays and Onlays
Crowns
Veneers
Bridges

Teeth can become discoloured for different reasons. This means that bleaching is not always the best solution. Some teeth cannot be bleached. Old fillings have visible borders that become more pronounced when bleached, making it unsightly. To avoid these problems, your dentist might recommend using a crown made from ceramic. This is particularly helpful if most of the tooth is either filled or damaged, where bleaching would be unsuitable. However, if the tooth is healthy, crowns are not recommended, as much of the healthy tooth would have to be destroyed to make way for the crown.

A modern alternative is a dental veneer. A veneer is a very thin shell made of porcelain and customized to fit individual patients’ teeth. It will be glued to the outer surface of the tooth, forming a strong bond. The appearance is natural because the dental veneer mimics the layers of enamel.

This patient was unhappy with the colour of her teeth and the old fillings (yellow). First, all her teeth were bleached. Then, veneers were placed on the front four teeth. Dental veneers allow you to alter the shape of the teeth. So this patient requested an increase in the length of her front teeth.

Enamel is a relatively thin and transparent layer on the surface of the tooth. Under the enamel is the dentine, which is darker and coloured. The veneer is glued to the enamel and masks the darker underlying dentine. The porcelain used for dental veneers is very similar to enamel, making the appearance natural – almost like a new layer of enamel.

 
A tooth gets its natural colour from reflections of light through the different layers of the tooth. In order to create a natural appearance, the dentist will try to mimic the natural construction of the tooth. Dental veneers are highly precise, very thin shells of porcelain. They are customised to fit each individual patient and tooth. The veneer is glued to the outer surface. It mimics the natural appearance of the tooth, almost like a new layer of enamel.

This patient’s front tooth was broken in an accident and repaired with composite (above). Over time, it turned slightly yellow. This was fixed using a porcelain veneer (below).

It is not necessary to remove any tooth substance if you choose to increase the size of a tooth with dental veneer treatment. However, your dentist might need to remove a thin layer of enamel – usually 0.5mm – to accommodate the veneer. Next, your dentist will take an impression of your tooth and create a cast. Our dental laboratory will then make your customised dental veneer and your dentist will schedule a fitting. If the fit and appearance are to your liking, the veneer will be “cemented” (glued) in place, and you can enjoy your new smile.

This patient had veneers made for six front teeth.

At Snö, our dental technician works like an artist to craft dental veneers in-house. During an inlay, onlay or crown procedure, we can usually fabricate it on the same day or the next. To make aesthetic veneers usually takes a few more days due to the customisations.

Thanks to our advanced digital scanners, we also save you from the discomfort of taking tooth impressions. A two-minute scan is all we need to get all the information of your teeth in full detail and the highest resolution. The veneer is cemented to the tooth – aesthetic, durable and strong.

The quality and lifespan of the veneer has a direct relation to the technique and time spent on the treatment and oral hygiene going forward.

A veneer treatment can look and feel good, but can still have quality concerns. At Snö, we always document everything during treatment in order to ensure our high-quality standard. This applies to veneers too. The veneer treatment also carries a two-year warranty. If you follow our protection plan you can get up to five years of warranty.

To learn about dental veneer treatments and costs in Abu Dhabi, contact Snö Dental Clinics in Abu Dhabi on 800-DENTIST.

Aestethic dentistry
Aesthetic consultation
Veneers
Whitening/Bleaching

When a tooth is damaged to the extent that it is not possible to do a filling, inlay or onlay, a dental crown is the alternative. Crowns are dental caps placed on top of damaged teeth and are used to protect and cover teeth. The crown restores the tooth’s shape, size, strength and appearance. The dental crown is cemented into place on your tooth and it covers the visible portion of the tooth.

Old dental crown techniques often used a metal base with a porcelain material on top for aesthetics. Today, we use strong ceramic materials instead of metal. The only exception is a golden crown, if requested.

Using strong, enamel-like ceramic materials we can most often (depending on the case) fabricate a crown in a day or two. Thanks to our advanced digital scanners, there is no discomfort while we make dental impressions. A two-minute scan gives us all the information we need, in full detail and the highest resolution. In many cases, a temporary crown is fitted while the ceramic dental crown is being created. The ceramic dental crown once crafted is then cemented to the tooth – aesthetic, durable and strong.

The quality and lifespan of the ceramic dental crown depends on technique and time spent on the treatment.

A crown can look and feel right, but still have quality concerns. At Snö, we always document our procedures in order to ensure our high-quality standard. When a crown is suggested, you get a two-year warranty, irrespective of what happens to the filling. This can be extended to five years if you follow our maintenance instructions.

A damaged front tooth that had old composite fillings. Teeth were bleached before making the new ceramic crown.

The old technique to make a crown (at Snö we do not do this) with an inner shell of metal/gold.

The metal blocks out the light (left) and often discolours the tooth towards the gum. To the right, we have replaced it with a modern, biological, ceramic crown.

Front tooth fractured. The tooth (root filled many years ago) could, in this case, be lengthened with a ceramic post in order to place the full ceramic crown on top of the post.

Schematic drawing (cross section) of a healthy tooth (left) with enamel (white) dentine (more yellow) and the pulp anchored in the jaw bone and gums (red).

To the right, the tooth has been root filled and a ceramic post (white) has been cemented to the root and a crown (white with lines) placed on top of the post.

Ceramic dental crowns can also as this case be made on implants.

Read more about our dental crown services and costs in Abu Dhabi by contacting Snö Dental Clinics in Abu Dhabi on 800-DENTIST.

Teeth restorations:
Composite fillings
Inlays and Onlays
Crowns
Veneers
Bridges

Larger restorative work requires inlays or onlays. If the majority of the natural crown of the tooth is missing, it is better to build a crown or a dental onlay. Dental inlays and onlays are a form of indirect restoration, as they are made outside of the mouth as a single, solid piece that fits the specific size and shape of the cavity, and then cemented in place in the tooth. This is an alternative to a direct restoration, made out of composite, that is built up within the mouth.

We have our own high-quality lab at our main facility in Abu Dhabi. Using different ceramic materials, we can manufacture ceramic onlays and inlays directly for you to minimise your wait time. Thanks to our advanced digital scanners, there is no discomfort while we make dental impressions. A two-minute 3D scan gives us all the information we need, in full detail and the highest resolution.

The inlay/onlay is bonded to the tooth and becomes almost like a new layer of enamel – aesthetic, durable and strong. It is important that the tooth is dry during treatment. The quality and lifespan of the ceramic inlay/onlay has a direct relation to the technique and time spent on creating the filling.

An inlay/onlay can look and feel right, but still have quality concerns. At Snö, we always document our fillings during treatment in order to ensure our high-quality standard.  We provide the perfect restoration fast – usually the same day – and the entire procedure is quality controlled. When the treatment is suggested, you get a two-year warranty, irrespective of what happens to the filling.

Schematic of a cavity filled with a ceramic inlay.

Close up of back teeth (molar) before and after ceramic inlay.

Schematic of a cavity filled with a ceramic onlay (covers the chewing area).

Three back teeth (molars and premolar) with old amalgam.

Amalgam replaced with bonded ceramic onlays.

Teeth restorations:
Composite fillings
Inlays and Onlays
Crowns
Veneers
Bridges

Composite fillings are the most common dental restoration when we find a caries lesion or when we must repair a tooth that is affected by decay, fracture, cracks, etc. In certain cases, small caries lesions can be treated with fluoride and monitored for any recurrence. We also use a superficial sealants to treat certain caries lesions. With good oral hygiene and healthy eating/drinking habits, small cavities can heal themselves. For caries that do not heal and for more decayed teeth, we use composite fillings.

Composite fillings are often tooth coloured and are the most common filling material we use (we do not use amalgam at Snö). Dental composites are dental cements made of synthetic resins. Synthetic resins evolved as restorative materials since they were insoluble, of good tooth-like appearance, insensitive to dehydration and easy to manipulate.  A composite filling is usually done in one visit. In contrast to amalgam, a dental composite filling can bond to the tooth, seal the filling and is more durable.

A dental filling can look and feel right, but still have quality concerns. At Snö, we always document our dental fillings during treatment in order to ensure our high-quality standard. When a composite filling is suggested, you get a two-year warranty, irrespective of what happens to the filling.

Closure of space (diastema) with composite.

Close up of back teeth (molar). Small caries lesion filled with composite.

Close up of back teeth (premolar). Small caries lesion between teeth filled with composite.

Close up of back teeth (molar). Bigger cavity filled with composite.

Teeth restorations:
Composite fillings
Inlays and Onlays
Crowns
Veneers
Bridges

Tooth restoration or restorative dentistry involves replacing missing or damaged teeth. If your teeth are missing, decayed, weakened or fractured, you might need a dental restoration. Examples of dental restoration services include fillings, crowns, implants, bridges and dentures.

Tooth restoration is important for the health of your mouth and some benefits are:

• Filling empty spaces in the mouth helps keep teeth properly aligned
• Replacing teeth makes it easier to maintain good oral care habits to help prevent plaque build-up and the problems plaque can lead to
• Missing teeth can affect your health, appearance and self-esteem

The most common and popular tooth restoration service is composite fillings. However, teeth restoration treatment options include crowns, bridges and implants. We have our own in-house dental laboratory and are fully digitised in our making of inlays/onlays, veneers, crowns and bridges. Our dental laboratory works with the latest ceramic materials and we invite all our patients to see and experience our high-tech environment.

In keeping with the Snö philosophy of minimally invasive and pain-free dentistry, we focus more on restoring the functionality and health of your teeth, and less on cosmetic dentistry objectives. All our restorative work comes with a 2-year warranty, at least. We believe in the quality of our workmanship and always endeavour to preserve your natural, healthy teeth. All our recommendations are built on our thorough Snö exam and additional tests, as needed.

Teeth restorations:
Composite fillings
Inlays and Onlays
Crowns
Veneers
Bridges