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ABUTMENT (For a bridge)
An abutment for a bridge uses two or more teeth to fill the toothless
space. An abutment is a prepared tooth.
This is a plastic widely used in dentistry for various purposes.
There are numerous alloys used in the making of dental restorations. The following alloy classifications, set by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Materials, will be helpful to you when reading this web page:
NOTE: Noble metals include gold, platinum and palladium. (Source: Identalloy® Council)
A metal or plastic device designed with a hinge to reproduce the open, close and side-to-side movement of the lower jaw. Bonding is a process that allows for a strong connection between a dental material and your tooth. This is the most effective seal in dentistry today. A bridge is a dental restoration that spans an area that has no teeth, and is connected to natural teeth at each end. (Refer to crown and bridge for details) See Porcelain A composite is a tooth-colored material often used in place of amalgam. There are many proven composite systems on the market. The successful evolution of bonding procedures, adhesives and composite materials have been documented since 1986. There are two types of materials widely used and accepted and they are classified as hybrids or microfills.
The primary difference between hybrid and microfill composites are as follows:
A crown reproduces all of the same
CROWN (METAL-FREE) When a dentist determines that a tooth needs a crown, a treatment plan
is established. When the appearance of the crown is crucial, a metal-free
crown may be prescribed. This allows for a more natural look.
is an important part of dental services. This specialty deals with the design, fabrication and repair of dental appliances (crowns, complete dentures, removable partial dentures, crown and bridge) under the direction and supervision of the dentist. Once the dentist establishes the treatment plan and the tooth or teeth are prepared, an impression is made of your mouth and sent to the laboratory. There are several fabrication phases and checkpoints within a dental lab that contribute to the end result. Refer to Crown and Bridge to see how a crown is made. In as much as it takes years of experience and training to develop these technical skills, this is not a specialty that requires mandatory licensing or certification. There are approximately only 5,500 Certified Dental Technicians in the United States today and approximately 50,000 employed dental technicians. For our purposes, we refer to the direct technique being a procedure performed by the dentist chairside. For example, an amalgam filling is a direct procedure. Many of the procedures listed in dental cosmetics may be performed directly or indirectly. There are applications for each of these techniques. The primary advantage to the direct technique is that they are performed and usually completed in one appointment. Indirect techniques require impressioning your mouth and having your restoration made outside of the mouth. Often two or more appointments are required. An indirect technique is usually performed by a dental technician, trained and skilled in anatomy, function and esthetics. Though these procedures are more costly, the materials and techniques used will result in long term success. EDENTULOUS (Fully and Partially) Simply stated, fully edentulous refers to an individual that has no teeth at all in either the upper or lower jaw. Partially edentulous refers to missing one or more teeth. In as much as good oral hygiene habits are important, in implant dentistry they are even more important. The design of the teeth that are fixed to the implant is critical to allow the patient easy access to cleaning. This is a branch of implant dentistry that is concerned directly with the restorative phase following implant placement and the overall treatment plan before and after the placement of dental implants. This is not considered a specialty by The American Dental Association. A skilled dental technician that has training and experience in the fabrication of pre-surgical aids and prosthetic construction. The implant dental technician is very much a part of the implant team. An inlay or onlay is usually recommended as a conservative alternative
to a full crown. Oftentimes when decay is removed, these procedures are
recommended. In cosmetic dentistry, the evolution of materials and techniques
allow for tooth-colored materials. In as much as there is a controversy
over the use of amalgam in fillings (direct
procedure), the use of tooth-colored materials is best used as a cosmetic
procedure that also produces long-term success.
LUCITE PORCELAIN
This is a ceramic material. Empress' flexural strength lies between tooth enamel and amalgam. This characteristic makes Empress an excellent choice for simulating natural teeth. The esthetic characteristics of this material are also superior to most metal-free systems.
Refers to a restoration that is made without the use of metal/alloy. A term that refers to the process that takes place when your teeth come together and touch. The occlusal surface is the biting area. Occlusal force means the amount of pressure applied during clenching, chewing or side-to-side movement. Occlusal design is the process of making the teeth to meet the patients functional requirements. A condition that exists when a titanium implant is inserted, screwed or pressed into living bone. The result is a biological bond of living bone to the titanium implant. In essence, the two become one. Specializes exclusively in the treatment of the gums. Also permitted to perform surgical procedures, such as implant placement. A tooth-colored, "sandlike" material consisting mainly of kaolin, feldspar and flux. It fuses at a high temperature to form a hard substance much like enamel in appearance. Refers to the attaching of a partial denture to a fixed crown or bridge. The main reasons for a precision attachment are:
When a general dentist grinds down a natural tooth to allow for a crown to be placed over it, the tooth stump is called a preparation or a prep. (DENTAL) PROSTHESIS OR PROSTHETICS Prosthesis is a general term that applies to any artificial replacement for a missing part of the body. Prosthetic Dentistry (Prosthodontics) is the art and science of fabricating artificial replacements for
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