Methods Of Fixed Prosthodontics

Fixed prosthodontics is a huge part of cosmetic dentistry los angeles. As an indirect form of restoration, it encompasses reconstruction or restoration of damaged or lost teeth by use of several dental materials such as amalgam, gold, porcelain, or composite resin. The main advantages compared to direct restorations are its superior strength when used in large restorations, and its ability to create an aesthetically pleasing tooth. Popular methods of fixed prosthodontics include crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and veneers.

Crown

A crown is used to cover a tooth and may be commonly referred to as a "cap." Traditionally, the teeth to be crowned are prepared by a dentist, and records are given to a dental technician to construct the prosthesis. The records include models, which are replicas of a patient's teeth, and the impressions used to make these models.

There are many different methods of crown fabrication, each using a different material. According to cosmetic dentistry los angeles centers, some methods used for fabricating a crown are quite similar, and utilize either very similar or identical materials. Crowns may be made of gold or other similar metals, porcelain, or a combination of the two.

Dental Bridge

A bridge is used to span, or bridge, an edentulous area (space where teeth are missing), usually by connecting to fixed restorations on adjacent teeth. The teeth used to support the bridge are called abutments. A bridge may also refer to a single-piece multiple unit fixed partial denture.

Inlay

An inlay is a restoration which lies within the confines of the cusps. These restorations are considered to be more conservative than onlays or crowns because less tooth structure is removed in preparation for the restoration. They are usually used when tooth destruction is less than half the distance between cusp tips.

Onlay

An onlay is a method of tooth restoration, which covers, protects or reinforces one or more cusps. Onlays are methods for restoring teeth in an indirect way. They are often used when teeth present extensive destruction due to caries or to trauma.

Veneer

A veneer is a thin layer of restorative material placed over a tooth surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth, or to restore a damaged tooth surface. Materials used for veneers may include composite and porcelain. As used for cosmetic dentistry los angeles, veneers could also be used as a means to whiten teeth or to create a "Hollywood" type of makeover.