Dentures

Dental crowns are tooth-like caps that are put on the teeth to restore their shape. A dental crown is used in many cases, such as a cracked tooth, tooth deformity, covering a discolored tooth, strengthening a weak tooth, root canals, holding a dental bridge, and in dental implants. There are several types of dental crowns, such as metal crowns, porcelain and ceramic crowns, and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. A dental crown is prepared by taking a dental impression to the lab to make it, and sometimes a temporary crown is used until the final one becomes ready. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to make the crown.

A dental bridge is a group of artificial teeth that are placed where there are missing teeth, especially if there’s a missing row of teeth. There are several types of dental bridges, and they generally consist of abutments with artificial teeth (pontics). The most common type is the traditional dental bridge, which is made of dental crowns on both ends of the bridge with artificial teeth between them. A traditional dental bridge is prepared by taking a dental impression to the lab to make it, and sometimes a temporary bridge is used until the final one becomes ready. It usually takes 2-4 weeks to make the bridge.

In a tooth extraction, a tooth is removed completely from its socket. Dental extraction is done when the tooth is severely damaged and other treatments didn’t work, such as severe tooth decay, a fractured tooth, crowded teeth, damage in the tissue and ligaments surrounding the tooth, and severe gum disease. The tooth extraction procedure is done under local anesthesia, and in some cases, the dentist might need to make incisions inside the gum in the place of the extracted tooth, or they might need to make a dental bone graft .

Teeth whitening can be done with several methods, at home or in the dentist’s office, and the whitening depends on applying a tooth whitening substance for a specific period of time or applying thin white coverings on the teeth that are called veneers. Teeth whitening at home You can use whitening toothpastes and mouth washes, but their effect is mild, and you can’t use them for a long time because they can damage the teeth. Teeth whitening with strips or trays: you apply a whitening substance to a strip or a tray that is put on the teeth for some hours a day for 2-4 weeks, depending on the type. Teeth whitening in the dentist’s office You can whiten the teeth the same way as at home, but the concentration of the whitening substance is higher at the office, so you’ll have the result more quickly and with fewer sessions. Laser teeth whitening: it’s the quickest method to whiten the teeth, and it’s done in one session. A whitening substance is applied to the teeth, and then a laser is directed at the teeth to make it stick. Veneer: it’s a thin layer that’s made of different substances, such as porcelain, composite, or others, and this layer is put on the tooth surface. Veneers are permanent because part of the outer layer of the teeth (enamel) is removed in order to fit the veneer. Veneers aren’t used only for having white teeth, they’re also used in other cases, such as broken teeth, gaps between teeth, and others, and veneers require several sessions to be made and put on. There is a type of veneer that’s called a removable veneer, which is like a retainer that you can put on or remove when you need it.