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Dental crowning is a procedure performed in a cosmetic dentistry clinic in which an artificial covering (crown) is placed on the tooth that resembles the shape of a natural tooth.

Dental crowns are used for the following purposes:

• Protecting weak or decayed teeth: Crowns act as a protective covering to shield weakened or decayed teeth from further damage.
• Covering dental implants: Crowns are placed over dental implants to provide a natural-looking and functional restoration.
• Protecting fractured teeth: Crowns can be used to reinforce and protect teeth that have been fractured or chipped.
• Supporting teeth with large fillings: When a significant portion of a tooth is filled, a crown can provide additional support and strength.
• Improving the appearance of teeth: Crowns can enhance the appearance of teeth by changing their shape, size, or color.

Dental crowns provide both protection and support for teeth while also improving their appearance and restoring their function for chewing and speaking.

Crowning Procedure:

• Examination: The tooth requiring a crown is examined by the dentist, and an X-ray may be taken.
• Preparation: The dentist prepares the tooth by shaping it and removing a portion of the enamel to accommodate the crown.
• Temporary Crown: A temporary crown is placed to protect the prepared tooth until the permanent crown is ready.
• Permanent Crown Placement: In the next appointment, the permanent crown is fitted and cemented onto the prepared tooth.

Types of Dental Crowns:

• Metal Crowns: Made from a metal mixture, metal crowns are very strong and durable but have a less aesthetic appearance.
• Porcelain crown: These are the most common type and are made from porcelain to closely match the natural color of teeth.
• Metal-Porcelain Crowns: These crowns have a metal base covered with a layer of porcelain, combining strength and aesthetics.
• Zirconium Crowns: Zirconium crowns are known for their strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal, making them a popular choice in recent years.

Braces are a dental technique used in cosmetic dentistry to correct misalignment issues in the teeth and jaws. They improve the appearance of teeth and smile, enhance chewing and speech functions, and contribute to long-term oral health.

Types of Braces:

Traditional Metal Braces:

This is the most common type of braces. It consists of stainless steel brackets that are bonded to each tooth and connected by a metal wire.
Every few weeks, the orthodontist tightens the wire so that the teeth move a small distance each time to gradually move the teeth into their desired positions.
Metal braces are strong, durable, and effective in achieving results, but they can be difficult to clean and are often considered less aesthetically pleasing.

Fixed ceramic braces:

It is similar to metal braces in design, but it is different in terms of the materials used in manufacturing.
The brackets are transparent, made of porcelain or ceramic, and are connected to each other with a plastic wire.

They offer good effectiveness and are less visible, making them more aesthetically pleasing than metal braces.
However, they are less durable more prone to breakage, and require a longer treatment time.
Additionally, they tend to be more expensive.

Lingual Braces:

Also known as inner braces, lingual braces are a type of fixed orthodontic appliance similar to metal braces in terms of materials and bonding technique. However, they are bonded to the inner surface of the teeth, making them invisible from the front and that makes their placement more challenging and requires a high level of skill from the dentist.
Lingual braces offer good effectiveness and are virtually invisible. However, they are more difficult to clean and may cause irritation to the tongue.

Clear Aligners or Invisalign:

These are removable aligners made of clear, custom-made plastic trays. They are designed specifically for each patient based on the shape of their teeth.
Clear aligners are popular because they are virtually invisible and can be easily removed and replaced by the patient. However, they are less effective, more expensive, and require a longer treatment time to achieve results.

Damon Braces:

Damon braces are a type of fixed orthodontic appliance that has gained popularity in recent years. They feature a unique design that replaces traditional rubber bands with special clips, reducing friction and resulting in less discomfort compared to metal braces. Damon braces are known for their durability, high effectiveness, and aesthetic appeal. However, they tend to be more expensive.

Removable braces:

A custom-made appliance that can be removed and inserted by the patient without the need for a dentist. It is often used for minor orthodontic issues and as a retainer after fixed braces treatment.
Removable braces are less effective than fixed braces and treatment time is generally longer.

The duration of the braces depends on the type of braces and the nature of the problem and ranges from 1-3 years. After installing the braces, special care must be taken to clean the teeth and avoid foods that stick to the braces and solid foods that may cause them damage.

Braces are annoying and can be painful but the results and impact they achieve make them worth it.

Tooth gaps refer to a condition where the space between two or more adjacent teeth exceeds the normal physiological limit.
In a healthy dentition, the gap between adjacent teeth is typically 0.5 mm.
These gaps can occur in any area of the mouth but are most commonly found between the upper front teeth. While tooth gaps are primarily an aesthetic concern, they can sometimes lead to functional issues such as speech difficulties.
Additionally, they may contribute to gum inflammation and potentially loosen the teeth on either side of the gap.

What Causes the gaps between teeth:

• Small teeth or large jaw size compared to the size of the teeth: This provides additional space for the teeth to move and separate from each other.
• Missing tooth: The child may be born with a jaw containing a missing tooth.
• Periodontitis: This problem can cause bone absorption in the area between the jaws over time, which leads to some teeth moving from their place, leaving a gap.
• labial frenum: This is the tissue that attaches the upper lip to the gums. If it’s too large, it can pull on the teeth and create a gap.
• Tooth loss: When a tooth is lost, the surrounding teeth may shift, creating a gap.
• Habits like thumb sucking or nail biting: These habits can put pressure on the teeth and cause them to move, creating gaps.
• Genetics: In some cases, tooth gaps can be inherited.

Treatments for tooth gaps:

Braces:

Braces work by applying gentle pressure to the teeth, gradually moving them closer together to close the gaps over time.

Dental veneers:

Dental veneers close gaps by bonding thin, custom-made shells of porcelain or ceramic to the front surface of the teeth. These shells are designed to be slightly larger than the natural tooth, covering the gap.

Dental implants:

If a tooth is missing, dental implants are the best solution to replace the missing tooth.

Dental bridge:

A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth by spanning the gap between the remaining teeth. The bridge is cemented in place, supported by the adjacent teeth.

Dental bonding:

In dental bonding, a cosmetic filling is applied to the teeth and shaped to fill the gap. A special light is then used to harden the filling. Bonding is best for small gaps, as it is less durable than other options and may be prone to breakage for larger gaps.

Cosmetic dentistry is often associated with enhancing the appearance of teeth, but it goes beyond that.
It addresses a wide range of dental issues, both cosmetic and functional, improving both dental function and oral health. In many cases, patients are not simply seeking to change the look of their teeth but to correct actual defects in form and function.

The most prominent problems that prompt the patient to visit a cosmetic dentistry clinic:

Protruding teeth:

Protruding teeth cause difficulties in speech and pronunciation and may lead to gum problems, as well as aesthetic problems, which are problems that need to be fixed in a cosmetic dentistry clinic.

Crowded Teeth:

One of the most common problems, in addition to its effect on appearance, it causes problems in speech and chewing, and make it difficult to clean teeth which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Tooth deviation:

It is a common condition in which the teeth are misaligned, and it is not only an aesthetic problem but also affects pronunciation and chewing. A dental cosmetic clinic is used to correct the defect and restore the teeth to their normal position.

Tooth fractures:

Tooth fractures occur as a result of falling or violent shocks to the mouth, and they lead to problems with pronunciation and eating in addition to a problem with appearance.

Tooth loss:

It occurs for various reasons and affects the general health of the teeth and self-confidence and causes difficulty in chewing, speech problems ,and also affects the distribution of the remaining teeth. The patient resorts to replacing the missing teeth in a dental cosmetic clinic to solve this problem.

Tooth erosion:

Tooth erosion causes serious health problems. In addition to the difficulties of chewing food, it causes sensitivity of the teeth to cold and hot, and leads to tooth decay and weakness, as well as a recession in the gums and an increased risk of infection.

Tooth discoloration and Stains:

The causes are many and the result is yellow teeth and spots that have a bad and annoying appearance and affect a person’s self-confidence.

Visiting a cosmetic dentistry clinic is not necessarily for cosmetic purposes, but may be necessary to correct dental problems and defects.