RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY at Brisbane Smile Boutique dentists
At Brisbane Smile Boutique, patient comfort is a top priority, especially when it comes to restoring a tooth to health. The treatment process begins with a thorough diagnosis and a well-crafted treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. The first step in the actual treatment is to ensure your complete comfort. To achieve this, a topical gel is applied to the gum area before administering any local anesthetic. This approach helps ensure that you experience minimal discomfort during the procedure.
Once you're comfortably numb, the dentist will proceed to treat the decay or damage. This involves preparing the tooth to receive a restoration. There are two main types of dental restorations: direct and indirect.
A direct restoration is one that can be completed in a single visit. It's applicable when there's sufficient tooth structure remaining for the filling material to be placed directly inside the tooth. Examples of direct restoration materials include amalgam (silver-coloured) and composite (tooth-coloured). However, it's important to note that amalgam fillings are not used at Brisbane Smile Boutique, due to environmental and health considerations. Instead, tooth-coloured composite materials are preferred, offering both aesthetic and functional benefits.
By prioritising your comfort and using environmentally conscious and health-friendly materials, Brisbane Smile Boutique ensures that your experience is not only pain-free but also aligned with modern dental practices and standards.
COMPOSITE RESIN RESTORATIONS
Composite resins represent a modern approach to dental restorations, effectively repairing broken teeth and cavities resulting from tooth decay. Their key advantage lies in their ability to blend seamlessly with the natural teeth, ensuring restorations that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
When there is sufficient tooth structure remaining, composite resin can be an excellent choice for fillings. This material bonds well with the tooth structure, helping to restore the tooth's integrity and health. However, it's important to note that composite resin fillings may have a lifespan of about 5 years before they might need to be replaced or repaired. This lifespan can vary depending on factors like the location of the filling, the patient's oral hygiene, and their chewing habits.
The application of composite resins is technique-sensitive, requiring precision and expertise from the dental professional. This ensures that the filling is placed correctly, minimising the risk of future complications such as leakage or decay under the filling.
Composite resins are generally not recommended for very large fillings in the back teeth, especially where there is minimal remaining tooth structure. In such cases, other restorative options may be more appropriate for long-term durability and function. For instance, inlays, onlays, or crowns might be considered to provide better support and withstand the greater biting forces exerted on back teeth.
Overall, composite resins offer a versatile and visually appealing solution for many dental restorations, effectively restoring both the appearance and health of teeth.
porcelain restorations
Porcelain restorations are an integral part of modern dentistry, offering durable and aesthetically pleasing solutions for various dental issues. These restorations are classified as indirect fillings, meaning they are crafted outside of your mouth, either in a dental lab or by a sophisticated milling machine. Once prepared, they are carefully cemented into place to restore the tooth's function and appearance.
There are several types of porcelain restorations, each serving a specific purpose:
1. **Crowns:** A crown is designed to cover the entire tooth. It's used when a tooth is significantly damaged or decayed and provides strength and protection while maintaining a natural look. Crowns are ideal for restoring a tooth's shape, size, and function.
2. **Inlays:** An inlay is used when the damage to the tooth does not affect the cusps (the raised points of the tooth). It fits neatly inside the tooth, replacing lost or decayed tooth structure. Inlays are a conservative solution as they preserve more of the natural tooth than crowns.
3. **Onlays:** Onlays are similar to inlays but more extensive. They are used when one or more of the tooth's cusps need to be replaced. An onlay covers one or more cusps or the entire biting surface of the tooth. It's a more conservative alternative to a full crown because it preserves more of the natural tooth structure.
All these types of porcelain restorations offer excellent durability and a high degree of aesthetic appeal. They are colour-matched to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable. Porcelain is also highly resistant to staining and wear, making these restorations a long-lasting solution for restoring and enhancing your smile.
advantages of porcelain restorations
Porcelain restorations, widely used in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, come with several advantages:
1. **Aesthetic Appeal:** Porcelain closely mimics the natural appearance of tooth enamel in terms of color and translucency, providing an excellent aesthetic result.
2. **Durability:** Porcelain is a strong, durable material that can withstand the forces of biting and chewing, making it suitable for long-term dental restorations.
3. **Stain Resistance:** Unlike natural teeth, porcelain is highly resistant to stain-causing substances like coffee, tea, and tobacco.
4. **Biocompatibility:** Porcelain is a biocompatible material, which means it is generally well-tolerated by the body and does not cause harm.
5. **Versatility:** Porcelain can be used for a variety of restorations, including crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays
Disadvantages of porcelain restorations
Porcelain restorations, while offering significant benefits, also have some disadvantages to consider:
1. **Cost:** Porcelain restorations tend to be more expensive than other types of dental restorations, such as composite resin fillings.
2. **Brittleness:** Although strong under compressive forces, porcelain can be brittle and may chip or fracture under certain conditions, like extreme bite forces or teeth grinding.
3. **Tooth Preparation:** To fit a porcelain restoration, more tooth structure often needs to be removed compared to other types of restorations. This can weaken the natural tooth to some extent.
4. **Complexity and Time:** The process of creating and placing porcelain restorations is more complex and typically requires multiple dental visits, as these restorations are usually fabricated in a dental lab.
5. **Repair Difficulties:** If a porcelain restoration chips or cracks, it may be more difficult to repair than other materials, and in many cases, a replacement might be necessary.
6. **Sensitivity:** Some patients may experience increased tooth sensitivity after having a porcelain restoration placed, especially if the porcelain restoration replaces a significant amount of tooth structure.
7. **Wear on Opposing Teeth:** Porcelain is a hard material and can cause wear on opposing natural teeth, particularly if the porcelain surface becomes rough.
8. **Colour Matching Challenges:** While porcelain can be colour-matched to existing teeth, if the natural teeth change colour over time (e.g., due to aging or staining), the restorations do not change colour, which might lead to colour mismatches in the future.
It's important for patients to discuss these potential downsides with their dentist to determine if porcelain restorations are the most suitable option for their specific dental needs.
GOLD alloy
Gold alloy dental restorations are a type of dental treatment where an alloy containing gold and other metals is used to repair or replace damaged or decayed portions of a tooth. These restorations include crowns, inlays, onlays, and sometimes bridges. The alloy typically contains gold, copper, and other metals, providing strength and durability.
**Advantages of gold alloy restorations
1. **Durability:** Gold alloy is highly durable and can withstand the forces of chewing and grinding better than many other materials.
2. **Less Tooth Structure Removal:** Gold restorations often require less removal of the natural tooth structure compared to porcelain or ceramic restorations.
3. **Biocompatibility:** Gold is well-tolerated by the body and has a low risk of causing allergic reactions.
4. **Wear Resistance:** Gold alloys wear down at a rate similar to natural tooth enamel, reducing wear on opposing teeth.
5. **Longevity:** With proper care, gold restorations can last for decades, often longer than other types of restorations.
**Disadvantages of gold alloy restorations
1. **Aesthetics:** The most notable disadvantage is the colour. Gold does not resemble natural teeth, which can be a concern, especially for visible teeth.
2. **Cost:** Gold alloy restorations can be more expensive than other types due to the material costs.
3. **Thermal Conductivity:** Metal conducts temperature more efficiently, which might cause sensitivity to hot and cold in some patients.
**How gold alloy restorations are made
Gold alloy restorations are typically made in a dental laboratory. The process involves:
1. **Tooth Preparation:** The dentist prepares the tooth, which involves removing decay and shaping the tooth for the restoration.
2. **Imprint Taking and intraoral scanning:** An imprint and scan of the prepared tooth and surrounding teeth is taken.
3. **Laboratory Fabrication:** The imprint and digital model is sent to a dental lab, where technicians create the restoration to fit precisely over the prepared tooth. This process involves casting the gold alloy into the shape of the restoration.
WHY AREN'T AMALGAM fillings PLACED?
Amalgam, a traditional material used in dental fillings, is known for its durability and longevity. It's made from a mixture of metals including tin, silver, and mercury, which when combined, create a strong and effective filling material.
**Advantages:**
1. **Durability:** Amalgam is a robust material that generally lasts long, making it a practical choice for fillings, especially in the back teeth where chewing forces are greatest.
2. **Cost-Effective:** It is typically less expensive than composite resin or porcelain fillings.
3. **Ease of Application:** Amalgam can be easily pressed into the cavity, and its corrosion products help seal the tooth against bacterial invasion.
4. **Suitability:** Particularly effective for teeth that have experienced significant decay or for individuals with a high rate of dental decay.
**Disadvantages:**
1. **Aesthetic Concerns:** Amalgam fillings do not match the colour of natural teeth, which can be a cosmetic concern, especially for visible teeth.
2. **Expansion and Contraction:** Amalgam expands and contracts differently than the natural tooth structure in response to temperature changes. This can lead to stress fractures in and around the tooth.
3. **Potential for Cracks and Breakage:** Over time, the stress from expansion and contraction can cause cracks. If a piece of the tooth supporting the filling breaks off (a process known as "fatigue"), it may need further restoration.
4. **Risk of Tooth Damage:** If the crack caused by an amalgam filling extends below the gum line or reaches the nerve, it can lead to serious tooth damage. In such cases, more complex treatments like root canal therapy and crowning may be necessary.
5. **Mercury Content:** While the mercury in amalgam fillings is generally considered safe for most people, there is ongoing debate and research about its potential health effects.
6. **Lifespan:** Amalgam fillings typically last about 8 to 12 years, which, while long, may eventually require replacement or upgrading to more modern filling materials.
Amalgam is a time-tested and effective material for dental fillings, especially in cases of significant decay and in the back teeth, it does come with certain drawbacks, particularly in terms of aesthetics and potential for tooth stress and damage. These factors should be considered when choosing the most appropriate material for dental fillings.
In 2023, the approach to dental restorations has evolved significantly, especially in how amalgam fillings are handled. At modern dental practices like ours, we focus on using advanced techniques and materials for the restoration of damaged teeth.
**Approach to Amalgam Removal:**
We adopt a conservative approach towards amalgam fillings, monitoring them for any signs of distortion, wear, or defects. The removal process is initiated only when a problem becomes apparent.
**Preparation and Preservation:**
When replacing an amalgam filling, the cavity is carefully shaped and cleaned. Our goal is to preserve as much of the natural tooth structure as possible. Over the years, amalgam can cause discolouration in the surrounding tooth structure, which we also address during the restoration process.
**Technological Advancements:**
The modern process involves taking an intraoral scan of the prepared cavity. This scan is then sent to a ceramist. Using computer-aided design (CAD) technology, the porcelain inlay or onlay is precisely milled to fit the cavity perfectly.
**Artistry and Precision:**
A master ceramist then custom glazes the porcelain restoration, meticulously matching it to the colour and nuances of the surrounding natural teeth. This level of customisation ensures that the restoration is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.
**Bonding and Restoration:**
The final step is the bonding of the porcelain inlay or onlay into the cavity. This is done with precision to ensure a seamless and secure fit.
**Advantages of Porcelain Restorations:**
Porcelain inlays and onlays are extremely durable and biocompatible, offering a robust solution for tooth restoration. Their strength and aesthetic appeal make them virtually undetectable and an ideal choice for dentists and patients alike. They represent everything modern dentistry seeks in restorations: durability, compatibility, strength, and a natural appearance.
In essence, the use of porcelain inlays and onlays reflects the advancements in dental technology and materials, providing patients with superior solutions for restoring damaged teeth.