Most ceramic restorations used today are made from zirconia or aluminous materials and are free of any metal materials. They are created by our dental lab technicians using CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) to ensure the most precise, supportive and aesthetically-pleasing restoration for each patient’s individual needs.

With all-ceramic restorations created using CAD/CAM technology, patients receive a beautiful, natural-looking smile that is supported by strong, stable structures. Following treatment, patients can resume eating and speaking with ease, often with nobody even noticing that any dental work has been done.

Crowns
Crowns are natural-looking, tooth-shaped caps that cover a damaged or missing tooth to help restore function and aesthetics to the patient’s smile. These caps are cemented into place to provide both strength and visual appeal to dental restorations. In addition to their cosmetic advantages, ceramic crowns are also thinner than metal replacements, making them ideal for patients with concerns about how much natural tooth structure is removed.

Crowns are placed during two appointments. During the first, the tooth is prepared and an impression is made. A temporary crown is placed to help protect the prepared tooth. A permanent crown is then manufactured over the next few weeks and placed during a second appointment. Crowns are cemented in place to ensure long-term stability. Most crowns last between five and 15 years, depending on the amount of wear and tear and the dental hygiene of the individual patient.

Veneers are very thin, tooth-colored shells that are custom-fit and bonded to the front of the teeth to provide a bright, white, even and attractive smile. They may be used to:

• Reduce or eliminate spaces between the teeth
• Repair broken or chipped teeth
• Whiten dark or yellow teeth
• Correct misshapen or crooked teeth
• Close small holes or pits in teeth

Unlike other restorative materials, veneers are used primarily for cosmetic purposes, although they can also provide functional correction for small chips and cracks in the teeth. Because they are so thin, veneers require little tooth reshaping and help to protect the damaged tooth instead.

Veneers are placed over the course of two dental visits, and usually last for about 10 to 15 years, depending on the patient’s individual care.

Dental inlays and onlays are solid fillings used to restore damaged or decayed teeth, often used as a less expensive and less invasive alternative to crowns. They strengthen rather than weaken teeth, and may be used when there is not enough healthy tissue left in the tooth to support a regular filling. Inlays are placed within the cusps, or bumps, on the surface of a tooth, while onlays cover one or more cusps.

All-ceramic inlays and onlays offer patients an effective yet natural-looking solution for their damaged teeth. These materials are placed during two visits to your dentist’s office: one in which the tooth is prepared, a temporary filling is placed and an impression is made; and another in which the specially constructed inlay or onlay is cemented onto the tooth.

Dentures are prosthetic devices designed to help patients without teeth chew food and improve speaking habits, while also improving the patient’s facial aesthetics and self-esteem. Many patients seek dentures after loosing teeth from gum disease, tooth decay or a traumatic injury. While there are many restorative options available, dentures are comfortable, functional, affordable and easy-to-use. They restore the physical presence of teeth to correct functional disorders while also allowing patients to maintain their normal appearance.

Dentures may be full, fixed or removable partials, depending on each patient’s individual needs. Most patients only require partial dentures, as they may only be missing a few teeth. Dentures are cared for in the same way as regular teeth, requiring daily cleaning and regular maintenance appointments. Removable dentures may require additional cleaning in a special solution.