Everything You Need to Know About Dental Implants: A Complete Guide
July 24, 2024
They say that a smile is the most beautiful thing that we can offer to other people, from our loved ones to complete strangers, and it does not cost anything. Every smile (in addition to our mood), also reveals the health and appearance of our teeth, and this often affects our self-confidence. After all, actors, singers, athletes and all other public figures, smile at us from the TV screen or from pictures in the press and on the Internet with beautiful smiles, and show us their perfectly looking pearly white teeth. This is precisely one of the characteristics of the, so-called, “red carpet” in Hollywood. However, those sparkling white teeth that attract all eyes are the result of successful application of cosmetic dentistry. Today, such smile is also available to ordinary people, not just celebrities.
Hollywood smile is an American term used to describe pearly white teeth of perfect appearance (i.e. properly aligned and without empty spaces between them), which is achieved with the help of prosthetic reconstruction of the upper and lower jaw. There are various techniques that can be used to achieve this, but the application of the, so-called, “metal-free crowns” currently represents the best aesthetic prosthetic intervention of its type. Metal-free crowns have the appearance of a “cap”, which is made of zirconium (a material of white color and high strength), and then coated with layers of ceramics, which achieves a natural tooth appearance. The surface of these crowns is resistant to acids and has no unevenness (i.e. micro-cracks) and thus, their maintenance and cleaning (and care of the teeth) are easier to facilitate. At the same time, crowns made of zirconium show exceptional stability and longevity. Today's technology applied in dentistry, i.e. prosthetics, enables the production of solid and permanent “bridges” made of ceramics. The main advantages of zircon ceramics are transparency (enables the penetration of light), biocompatibility (does not cause allergies) and it does not cause the, so-called, “staining” of the gums - which occurs when using “metal” ceramics. An additional advantage of these crowns is the reduced need for grinding and tooth processing (partial removal of dental tissue), which contributes to the preservation of healthy dental tissue. Hollywood smile implies that the dental covers are white, that is, a "bleach" color that cannot be achieved by classic teeth whitening. There are four shades in the system of this color, and the BL1 shade is mostly used, although the difference between those four shades is hard to see with the "naked eye". This is a very useful feature of zirconia ceramics, because a huge number of patients complain that their teeth “are not white enough”.
The “Hollywood smile” can be achieved by using ceramic veneers, crowns and bridges, but also by using implants. In the case when patient's teeth are sufficiently healthy and well distributed, a pearly white smile can be achieved with the help of ceramic veneers. Dental veneers are a type of dental restoration that is placed only on the front side of the tooth, unlike crowns that are placed on the entire tooth. Crowns can also be placed on implants, while veneers are only placed on natural teeth. Dental veneers are most often used when there are many teeth in the jaw, when they are healthy and relatively well aligned, but they are yellowed, chipped or uneven. Because of this, veneers users tend to be younger patients. The disadvantage of veneers, compared to crowns, is the fact that they cannot correct irregularities in the position of the teeth so, sometimes, (before they are placed) it is necessary to use a prosthesis in order to straighten (align) the teeth.
Previous experience shows that crowns and bridges should be included in the creation of a Hollywood smile if there is a lack of teeth or their parts, i.e. when their position, shape and color are not satisfactory. Unlike veneers, crowns are placed over the entire tooth. Placement of bridges is performed when there is a deficiency in the number of teeth, which the patient does not want to solve with the installation of implants. It is also possible to combine techniques if, for example, the patient needs crowns in one jaw, but not in the other. In that case, crowns are used in one jaw and veneers in the other. However, in order for the crowns to be placed correctly, it is necessary that the patient has at least half of the healthy teeth and enough remaining tooth substance to be able to place the crown on them (which implies a healthy tooth root). Teeth bridges can be placed in cases where there is a lack of one or, possibly, two teeth - while in the case of missing more teeth, it is necessary to use implants. Practice shows that the use of implants is much more common in older patients, since they have fewer natural and healthy teeth than younger patients.
Hollywood smile helps to create self-confidence in people. The quality of teeth often contributes to the creation of the first impression of us, by other people. Based on that, they can make their own assessment about our physical and mental state. For example, it is possible that they, subconsciously, associate the lack of teeth with diseases and malnutrition. Caries and “stained” teeth can be linked to poor hygiene. Even teeth that are regularly maintained become shorter and yellower over time, which is a natural process. Because of all this, this type of dental intervention can significantly improve the quality of our lives.
“Dental center Dr. Rakić” is a dental practice with 30 years of experience. The satisfaction of our patients is the best reward for our work, and that is why we are constantly improving and expanding the range of our services. You can contact us via social networks, phone number or personally come to the address - 4/1 Vojvode Bojovića St. in Novi Sad. What we offer you is that you will find top experts from all fields of dentistry, who are always ready to help preserve or improve the health of your teeth, using their medical skills or giving you the necessary advices concerning your teeth. .
