Yiannikos Centre for Holistic Dentistry

The perfect smile can become reality with the new techniques and new materials that are invented and practiced in dentistry.

The decision for improving a smile is a very personal matter. Even the slightest change can bring noticeable difference in the way someone seems in the social environment. Changes in appearance increase without a doubt self-confidence, self-esteem and mood of a person.
Tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, inlays and onlays, orthodontic treatment are some of the solutions that contemporary dentistry suggests for a constantly beautiful smile.

What is a bridge?

A dental bridge is a fixed restoration that is necessary when there is at least one tooth missing.
The group with the higher strength until recently was the second type of crowns, but after the application of Zirconium Oxide in the first group, the results are very promising as well. Undoubtedly, the all porcelain type of crown has the nicest appearance.

Advantages

The avoidance of filling the space of a missing tooth can lead to the unpleasant result of losing other healthy teeth. This is because the teeth on either side of the space have the tendency of closing the gap creating orthodontic problems to the patient. Additionally, the tooth that is opposite to the empty space gets longer.

Bridges correct bite issues, improve speech and give a nice aesthetic result.

Procedure

On the first appointment:
A mild anaesthetic will be given to the patient to numb the area; the teeth will be prepared and shaped precisely. The dentist will then make an impression, which will serve as the model from which the bridge will be made by the dental laboratory. Before the end of the first appointment a temporary bridge is placed on the prepared teeth for the protection of the patient’s gums and teeth.

On the second appointment:
The temporary bridge will be removed, then the custom made bridge will be tried and adjusted for any bite discrepancies. Also, the colour will be chosen during this appointment. Finally, the temporary bridge is re-placed.

On the last appointment:
The temporary bridge is removed and the new bridge is then cemented in place.

Caring of the bridge

The good caring of the bridge is very important for its long-life.
In addition to tooth brushing one can use special interdental brushes

What are tooth crowns?

Dental crowns cover the entire visible surface of your affected teeth that are no longer structurally sound, adding strength, durability and tooth stability.

Who is candidate for tooth crowns?

Teeth with root canals
Cracked or broken teeth
Teeth with large fillings
Grinding your teeth and age are contributing factors in the wearing out.

Procedure

On the first appointment
After the first impressions are taken, the tooth is prepared, then the last impressions are followed (those that are sent to the technician with the instructions of the proper color). Finally a temporary crown is placed while the laboratory is constructing the crown.

On the final appointment
The permanent crown, ready from the laboratory is cemented onto the tooth.

Types of tooth crowns

There are basically 2 types of crowns, those made of ceramic crowns and metal-ceramic crowns.
The group with the higher strength until recently was the second type of crowns, but after the application of Zirconium Oxide in the first group, the results are very promising as well. Undoubtedly, the all porcelain type of crown has the nicest appearance.

What are they?

A dental implant is an appliance used to replace the roots of teeth. The implant is surgically attached to the jaw bone and an artificial tooth is attached to the top of the implant, creating a natural looking, undetectable replacement for the missing tooth. In the event that more than one tooth is missing, several implants may provide a base for a series of artificial teeth known as a fixed bridge.

Implants can even be used to secure a full set of removable dentures for people who have no remaining natural teeth. This can greatly improve chewing ability and reduce the risk of choking.

Advantages:

1. Dental implants with artificial teeth are the closest thing to regrowing your natural teeth.

2. They are strong, stable, durable and virtually undetectable.

3. By filling gaps left by missing teeth, implants can provide better chewing ability and head off jaw joint problems.

4. They are far superior to removable dentures.

Disadvantages:

1. Dental implants do require surgery and time to heal.

2. They are initially more expensive than dentures or fixed bridges.

Procedure:

First appointment
The dentist will examine your teeth and determine whether implants are the solution to your dental problems, x-rays are necessary to discover the state of the jawbone, particularly if the teeth have been lost for some time.
This information can be used to determine whether implants would work for you and, if so, what particular type of implant that would be best for your situation.

Second appointment
Under local anaesthesia, the first step for many implant procedures is the exposure of the bone where the implant is to be made. This is followed by placement of the implant into the exposed jawbone. Implants that are placed in the bone are called endosteal implants and are made of titanium or a titanium alloy because this metal does not adversely interact with biological ti

What are they?

An inlay is a restoration that fits within a cusp of a tooth, whereas an onlay is a restoration that replaces a cusp or cusps of a tooth. Both are made of metal or porcelain, outside the mouth in a lab. They are usually cemented or bonded into place and they restore portions of a tooth that might be fixed instead with amalgam (silver) or tooth-colored filling material.

Advantages

Excellent aesthetic result, long-life material, there is no discoloration of the tooth (something that is frequent in the amalgam fillings) and finally it is very healthy for the tooth since there is no removal of tooth during their preparation.

Understanding the root canal

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How did my tooth become infected?

The two most common causes of infection in the pulp are deep cavities and fractures or broken teeth. Both expose the pulp to bacteria that are in saliva and are always present in the mouth. These bacteria can cause an infection that can kill the pulp. If this condition remains untreatable an abscess is created (pus that gathered down at the root tip and pass into the jaw bone). The abscess damages the bone surrounding the tooth, causing excruciating pain.

Symptoms vary

You may have realized that you have an infected tooth because it was sensitive to hot or cold, was swollen and painful, or had given you a bad taste in your mouth. On the other hand, you may have been completely unaware that you had an infection because you had experienced no symptoms at all.

Root canal therapy

When a tooth becomes infected, it is essential to remove the source of infection through root canal therapy. We understand that you may have anxiety about the procedure, but we want to assure you that it will be comfortable for you. Just have in mind that an infected tooth will not heal on its own and the consequences of the infection will only get worse and more painful as time passes.

The procedure

Root canal therapy often takes three or more appointments to complete.

First appointment
Because your comfort is important to us, we make sure that your mouth is thoroughly numb before we begin the root canal therapy. Next, we isolate the tooth from the rest of the mouth so the tooth remains dry and clean during the procedure.
To get to the infected pulp, we make a small opening through the top of the tooth down into the pulp chamber. We use a tiny instrument called a dental file to carefully remove the infected tissue and shape the root canals to the desirable sizes and lengths. The