Prosthetic restoration

Teeth can be restored with two types of prostheses:

• Non-removable (fixed) dental prostheses:
• Dental prostheses on implants. Read more about implant surgery here.
• Crowns. There are several types of crowns: non-metal ceramic crowns, zirconia crowns, metal-ceramic crowns.
• Prosthetic bridges. These are fixed on filed-down teeth bordering the empty space.

Removable dental prostheses:

• Arch prostheses (clasps).
• Dentures.
• Removable dental prostheses – prostheses/dentures fixed on implants.

After examining your teeth, listening to your needs and performing diagnostics, we will discuss your prosthetic restoration options during the consultation. Proper prosthetic restoration depends not only on the doctor’s experience and the quality of the materials, but also on the technologies used at the clinic. We use some of the most modern technologies for oral and dental diagnostics and prosthesis manufacturing:

• For diagnostics, we use cone beam computed tomography and digital panoramic and dental X-rays.
• In the CAD/CAM dental laboratory at our clinic, we use a computer to precisely and accurately model and manufacture dental prostheses.
• Dental Harmony was the first clinic in Vilnius to purchase a NobelProcera scanner, which makes it possible to speed up and control the tooth manufacturing process. Thanks to this scanner, we are able to guarantee quality throughout the process.

Our clinic is one of the few in the Baltic States that has this kind of equipment. Read more about our CAD/CAM dental laboratory and its technology here.

Dental implants and their placement are the most advanced, reliable and durable modern technology for restoring lost teeth. Only with dental implants is it possible to restore the entire tooth, from root to crown.

What do dental implants consist of?

An implant is a small metal screw that we insert into the jaw to replace the natural tooth root. Dental implants are made of titanium and zirconia, because these metals have the best biocompatibility – they does not cause allergic reactions or rejection, and “take” to the jawbone nicely.

After the minimally invasive procedure, we attach an artificial tooth to the implant, which does not differ in either function or appearance from your natural teeth.

• We provide a lifetime warranty for implants fitted at our clinic.
• With dental implants, we restore 100% chewing efficiency, whereas dental retainers only restore 30-40%.
• Teeth restored on implants are non-removable.
• It is an aesthetic solution.

Read more about implant surgery and the advantages of dental implants here.

We recommend restoring teeth with crowns in the following cases:

• When, due to numerous fillings, the tooth loses its colour and is shape, which is what ensures the full and safe functioning of the tooth.
• When a tooth needs to be protected from breaking.
• When a broken tooth needs to be restored.

Advantages of dental crowns:

• They help restore the natural shape of the tooth, which ensures its full and safe functioning.
• They strengthen weak teeth and protect them from possible breakage.
• They help restore the aesthetic appearance of an unsightly tooth.
• They create support for adjacent teeth.

Types of dental crowns:

• Monolithic zirconia crowns.
• Non-metal ceramic crowns.
• Porcelain fused-to-zirconia crowns.

Porcelain fused-to-zirconia crowns are currently the most modern type of crown. These crowns have excellent biocompatibility and almost never provoke allergic reactions. Thanks to modern technology, we produce very precise prostheses – artificial teeth – from zirconium dioxide. When making crowns according to this technology, we first scan the prepared tooth. Then we use a computer to model the future core of the crown. Later, we mill (“carve”) the core of the crown from a void-free solid block of zirconium dioxide. Finally, it is sintered and coated with a layer of porcelain.

Main advantages of porcelain fused-to-zirconia crowns:

• Zirconia resembles a natural tooth. Even in neon light, a zirconium dioxide tooth will look natural. You will have trouble distinguishing a zirconium tooth from your natural teeth. This is extremely important when restoring front teeth – especially when making their bridges.
• A zirconium crown does not cause inflammation of the gums around the restored tooth, so there is less chance of caries at the edges of the crown.

Non-metal ceramic crowns are produced exclusively from durable ceramic mass (porcelain) and do not contain any metal. The porcelain reflects light and is partially transparent, so a tooth restored with this type of crown looks very much like the natural teeth.

Main advantages of non-metal ceramic crowns:

• Excellent aesthetics.
• Biocompatibility with the oral tissue, almost never provoke allergic reactions.

We usually suggest using non-metal ceramic crowns to restore individual front teeth when they are chipped or weak, or lose the colour of a healthy tooth. You should follow all of the doctor’s instructions and take care of your non-metal ceramic teeth so that they last as long as possible.

We attach temporary crowns only for a short time – while the healing process takes place. The main purpose of these crowns is to protect the filed tooth and gums from possible environmental effects and temporarily restore the aesthetic image.

These crowns cannot be worn permanently, because they are not durable – they can eventually change colour and cause inflammation of the gums. Plus, these crowns absorb environmental odours, which can cause bad breath. We only affix temporary crowns with temporary cement.

Replacing a temporary crown with a permanent one:

• We determine the colour of your tooth and file it down.
• We make an impression of the mouth and attach a temporary crown.
• We apply a permanent crown and check its colour in the mouth.
• We cement the permanent crown.

If you are missing one tooth or a few adjacent teeth, we can restore them with a dental bridge. With this treatment, we file down the two teeth on either side of the lost tooth or teeth and fill the gap with a prosthesis. In other words, we “hang” a bridge of artificial teeth (pontics) on the anchor teeth. There is always a small gap between the bridge and the gums, so it needs special attention when brushing.

All anchor teeth should be healthy and free of infection.

These days, however, a better and longer lasting option is restoration with dental implants. In this case, the adjacent teeth do not need to be filed down, the load on them is distributed evenly, there is no gap where food can accumulate and there is a lower risk of bone loss.