Dental Restoration

Modern dentistry is based on the use of various technologies. The patient almost always has the opportunity to choose. For instance, if there is a need to improve aesthetics, dental restoration can be performed using various materials and technologies:

1. Artistic dental restoration with photopolymer

Intraoral dental restoration performed directly in the dental chair, which does not involve the use of products manufactured in a laboratory.

2. Ceramic veneers

Extraoral dental restoration involving the fabrication of three-quarter ceramic crowns in a dental laboratory.

3. Metal-ceramic or ceramic crowns

Also extraoral dental restoration, where crowns that cover the tooth from all sides are manufactured in a laboratory.

A common feature of all three dental restoration technologies is the need for preparation (grinding) of the patient’s own teeth. Avoiding the removal of tissue from the patient’s teeth during restoration is impossible. The only question is what material will subsequently be used to replace the tissue: ceramic, metal-ceramic, or photopolymer.

Restoration, regardless of the technology used, can be either functional or aesthetic.

Functional restoration involves filling the crown part of the tooth:

• in case of chips (all three technologies can be used);
• in case of injuries and loss of a significant part of the tooth (crowns are most commonly used).

Aesthetic restoration involves improving the appearance of teeth:

• in case of color changes (all three technologies can be used);
• in case of minor tooth misalignment (all three technologies can be used, but if there is a need to correct significant misalignment, only crowns can be applied).

Another indication for dental restoration is pathological wear, however, in this case, the use of veneers is not possible.

Many clinics in Kyiv offer a service such as composite veneer placement or composite dental restoration. Patients should understand that behind this rather attractive name lies the restoration of teeth using photopolymer (composite) materials. In this case, we are not talking about the installation of structures (veneers or crowns) made in a laboratory.

This type of dental restoration is performed directly in the dental office by a doctor using a wide palette of photopolymers — the same materials used for dental fillings.

Complete dental restoration requires preliminary professional cleaning: it is necessary to remove plaque and assess the color of the patient’s own teeth. If a full dental row restoration is planned, the tooth color can be changed to make them slightly lighter. If only a single tooth is being restored, changing the color does not make sense, as the tooth would noticeably differ from the rest.

During the second visit to the dentist, the patient’s teeth are prepared (a portion of the tissue is removed). Then photopolymer material is applied, and the shape and color of the teeth are modeled.

At Dr. Osadchiy’s Dental Clinic, we recommend using artistic restoration only in cases involving minor defects. Complete dental restoration using photopolymer material is not an optimal solution.

Photopolymer dental restoration does not achieve the same aesthetic results as veneers or crowns. Even if the doctor manages to achieve high aesthetics, it will be lost over time. Photopolymer materials will inevitably absorb tea, coffee, red wine, etc., which will affect the result of front teeth restoration.

The loss of aesthetic properties during artistic restoration leads to the need for revision and re-restoration every 3–5 years. We draw our patients’ attention to the fact that with each new artistic restoration, the photopolymer material will be completely removed along with some of the patient’s own tooth tissue. Thus, after a certain time, the patient will be forced to resort to extraoral restoration: using veneers or crowns.

An important advantage of artistic dental restoration for patients is the price. Composite veneers in many Kyiv clinics cost significantly less than ceramic ones. At the same time, ceramic veneers have virtually no limitation on their service life, while composite ones require revision and replacement. Thus, the final cost of all procedures will be higher.

It is also important to remember that restoring a tooth or teeth with photopolymer requires great skill, so artistic dental restoration by some doctors may cost even more than veneers.

Dental row restoration can be performed using extraoral restoration with veneers.

Veneers are three-quarter crowns that cover the teeth from three sides and are made of pressed ceramics. At the same time, the palatal and lingual sides of the patient’s own teeth are not covered by the structure.

Indications for veneer placement include:

• diastemas (significant gaps between the front teeth);
• tremas (gaps between all teeth);
• desire to change the bite;
• desire to change the color and shape of teeth;
• desire to eliminate minor tooth misalignment.

Limitations for veneer use:

• pronounced tooth misalignment;
• destruction of the tooth wall on the palatal side;
• pathological wear and bruxism (grinding at night).

Stages of veneer placement:

1. Preliminary (an X-ray is taken, all teeth are treated, and sanitation is performed).
2. Preparatory (the tooth is ground and temporary veneers are placed).
3. Veneer placement.

The most important advantages of veneers are high aesthetic results. It is possible to select the ideal tone and shape, as well as achieve a semi-transparent edge. Teeth with veneers will be virtually indistinguishable from natural ones. Another advantage of the technology is its long service life (from seven years or more) and the absence of the need for correction.

An important disadvantage of veneers is their cost. The average price of tooth restoration in Kyiv is 20 thousand hryvnias. From a medical perspective, the main disadvantage of veneers is that they do not cover the tooth completely: the tooth can deteriorate, and the veneers themselves may be noticeable in some cases.

Another technology for extraoral dental restoration is the use of laboratory-made crowns. Such crowns can be made from various materials, including ceramics (like veneers) or metal-ceramics. In terms of aesthetic properties, they are not inferior to veneers.

There is a common belief that restoring a tooth with a crown requires more grinding than with veneers. But this is a misconception: the removal of the patient’s own tooth tissue is performed with any technology, and only the necessary minimum amount is removed.

Indications for Crown Use

Metal-ceramic or ceramic crowns can be placed in all the same cases as veneers. However, compared to veneers, crowns have a wider range of applications and can also be used for:

• pathological tooth wear;
• significant tooth misalignment;
• the need to restore bite functionality.

Crowns can be used to restore one tooth, several, or all of the patient’s teeth. Compared to veneers, crowns have no disadvantages. Of the three main dental restoration technologies, the use of crowns is the most reliable and advanced.

Key advantages:

• crowns protect the tooth from all sides and prevent the development of caries;
• the price of dental restoration using crowns is significantly lower than with veneers;
• the final cost of tooth restoration with a crown is also lower than with constant photopolymer material restoration.

The general recommendation of our clinic’s specialists is that we recommend using crowns specifically. The patient can choose any dental restoration technology, but in terms of price, quality, and long-term results, crowns have proven themselves the best.