Porcelain Dental Restorations

Dental Restorations can be made out of several different materials, but the material chosen most often is porcelain. Significant advances in technology has made all porcelain dental restorations not only the most esthetic material, but one of the strongest as well as. Porcelain Dental Restorations are a great way to restore a single tooth or provide a full smile makeover!

There are many different types of porcelain dental restorations and different reasons for the use of each one. At Page Dental Arts, we have state of the art technology that allows us to use 3D scanning and CAD/CAM technology to make dental restorations right in our office! No more messy impressions!! In many cases we can deliver the beautiful porcelain dental restoration to you the same day. For more extensive cases (with multiple teeth or full mouth rehabilitations), we may use skilled ceramists at local dental laboratories. We never use overseas labs. Listed below are some of the porcelain restorations available at Page Dental Arts.

Porcelain Crowns

A crown or cap covers the entire tooth and helps to restore it to its proper size, shape and position. A crown may be needed to restore a single tooth or multiple crowns can be used to restore an entire mouth or improve esthetics, such as a full mouth makeover. A crown may be used to treat some of the following conditions:

  • a tooth fracture or crack
  • a large cavity
  • a large existing restoration that is failing
  • a tooth has had a root canal treatment
  • to correct misaligned, severely worn or discolored teeth.

The procedure to complete a single crown traditionally would take two appointments, however at Page Dental Arts, we can accomplish this is in one visit with our 3D digital scanning device and CAD/CAM dental milling machine. Listed below are the steps for this process

  1. The tooth being treated will be numbed to ensure your comfort.
  2. We will determine the color, size and shape of your new crown by looking at the nearby teeth
  3. The tooth will be prepared by removing enough tooth structure to make room for the porcelain.
  4. After the procedure is completed a 3D digital scan of the area will be taken. We use a small wand like device that has a tiny camera inside. It is moved over the teeth to digitally capture all the teeth involved in the procedure.
  5. The crown will be designed and then milled with our CAD/CAM dental mill and then crystallized in our porcelain oven. This process can take 30-90 minutes. During this time we may be able to do other minor dental procedures that are needed on you or if no other treatment is needed, most patients will read, watch a movie or work on their laptop.
  6. The crown is then cemented onto the tooth

After this procedure the tooth may experience increased sensitivity to cold. Teeth that have been crowned still need proper home care, including appropriate brushing and flossing, as well as routine dental check-ups to keep the affected teeth healthy. While no dental treatment is considered “permanent,” porcelain crowns are very durable and when properly cared for can last a very long time.

Porcelain Veneers

A porcelain veneer consists of a thin layer of porcelain that is customized and bonded to the front surface of a tooth or teeth. Porcelain veneers can be used to treat a number of reasons:

  • To close spaces between the teeth
  • To correct misaligned teeth
  • To cover severely stained or discolored teeth
  • To restore severely chipped or fractured teeth.
  • To change the shape or size of the teeth
  • To replace less attractive older fillings or bonding.

Typically, veneers are used exclusively on the front teeth and while a single veneer can be completed to correct one tooth, most cases involve multiple teeth to create the desired effect. In cases involving multiple teeth, we will typically create a 3D mock up or digital presentation before any treatment begins to ensure a beautiful end result. Porcelain veneers are a great way to achieve a beautiful and bright smile.

It is possible to create a single veneer and deliver it the same day with our CAD/CAM technology, however since most cases with veneers involve, multiple teeth, we have outlined a two-appointment process below. While the procedure itself usually takes two appointments to complete, we highly recommend one or more consults for planning and design to discuss your desired results and provide you with a digital presentation of how the end result will look before we ever get started!

  1. At the first appointment
    • The area being treated may need to be numbed
    • A dental hand piece may be used to shape the tooth to make room for the porcelain veneer. In some cases, no anesthesia or tooth shaping is needed.
    • A 3D digital scan is then made and sent to a dental laboratory to make the porcelain veneers. After the procedure is completed a 3D digital scan of the area will be taken. We use a small wand like device that has a tiny camera inside. It is moved over the teeth to digitally capture all the teeth involved in the procedure.
    • Temporary veneers are made and affixed to the treated teeth.
  2. At the second appointment:
    • The area may be numbed for comfort and the temporary veneers are removed
    • The porcelain veneers are tried in and checked for proper fit and approval from the patient
    • They are then bonded to the teeth.

After this procedure the teeth may be initially more sensitive to cold and the gums in the area may be sore. These symptoms will usually improve after a few days. A night guard may also be recommended at the end of treatment to help protect the porcelain veneers. Teeth that have been veneered still require proper brushing and flossing at home as well as regular dental check-ups to prevent cavities and gum disease. No dental restoration is “permanent,” however, porcelain veneers are very durable and will last a long time. Porcelain veneers are a great way to correct or improve your smile.

Porcelain Bridges

Sometimes a tooth cannot be saved and needs to be removed. A porcelain bridge is an available option to replace a missing tooth. Bridges are a dental restoration that connects the teeth on either side of the space where the tooth is missing. While bridges can be made of several different materials, Page Dental Arts recommends porcelain in most situations.

This procedure traditionally takes two appointments to complete, however at Page Dental Arts, we can accomplish this is in one visit with our 3D digital scanning device and CAD/CAM dental milling machine. *Bridges involving more than three teeth may require the traditional two appointments.

Listed below are the steps for this process

  1. The area being treated will be numbed to ensure your comfort.
  2. Next, the teeth surrounding the affected area will be prepared with a dental hand piece to remove enough tooth structure to make room for the porcelain bridge.
  3. After the procedure is completed a 3D digital scan of the area will be taken. After the procedure is completed a 3D digital scan of the area will be taken. We use a small wand like device that has a tiny camera inside. It is moved over the teeth to digitally capture all the teeth involved in the procedure.
  4. The bridge will be designed and then milled with our CAD/CAM dental mill and then crystallized in our porcelain oven. This process can take 30-90 minutes. During this time we may be able to do other minor dental procedures that are needed on you or if no other treatment is needed, most patients will read, watch a movie or work on their laptop.
  5. It is then cemented onto the teeth.

After this procedure, the teeth may experience increased sensitivity to cold and the gums may be sore. These symptoms usually improve after a few days. The area that has been bridged still requires proper home care (with appropriate brushing and flossing) as well as routine dental check-ups to keep the area healthy. While no dental treatment is considered “permanent,” porcelain bridges are very durable and should last a long time.