Ceramics are widely used in dentistry for making crowns, braces, and veneers. A special type of ceramic, known as porcelain, is specially used for dental procedures. The biocompatibility, aesthetic feel, insolubility, and hardness of ceramics make them suitable for making dental fittings.
What are ceramic braces?
Ceramic braces use clear or tooth-colored brackets rather than gray or metallic silver brackets and wires to correct deformities in your teeth, such as misalignment.
Here are some advantages of ceramic braces over metal ones.
- Ceramic braces are less visible than metal braces. They can match the color of your teeth. So, you do not feel self-conscious as you might feel with metal braces.
- Metal braces can interfere with the results of imaging tests. Ceramic braces offer none to very little interference compared to metal braces in imaging tests.
Disadvantages of ceramic braces:
- Ceramic braces are around $1000 costlier than metal braces.
- Ceramic braces are larger than metal braces. Hence, cleaning or brushing them may pose a difficulty.
- They may cause swollen gums that are sensitive to touch and temperature.
- Ceramic braces are more likely to break off than metal braces. Hence, they are less durable.
- The fragility also makes the teeth straightening process longer than the metal ones due to multiple visits to the dentist.
- Ceramic braces can stain that cannot be removed. You need a replacement for the braces if you want to get rid of the stain.
There are three types of ceramic used in dentistry:
- Ceramic crowns
- Ceramic veneers
- Ceramic dental bridges
What are ceramic crowns?
Ceramic crowns are designed to sit over a filled-down tooth. They help restore the chewing function without the filling eroding off the tooth. An all-ceramic crown is usually made entirely from porcelain or another type of ceramic.
All-ceramic generally looks the closest to a natural tooth. Hence, this option is particularly good for people who are very concerned about the appearance of their teeth.
You may also opt for a ceramic crown if you have metal allergies.
Another advantage of having ceramic crowns is their extreme resistance to temperature changes. Hence, you are less likely to experience sensitivity to heat or cold with this type of crown.
Despite all the advantages of getting a ceramic crown for your tooth, it does carry a few disadvantages. It is likely to break with force as compared to a metal crown. It can also wear due to grinding by the adjacent teeth while chewing food.
What are ceramic veneers?
Dental veneers are used to cover the front surface of the teeth. They can be made from ceramic (porcelain) or composite resin. The benefit of using ceramic dental veneers is that they resist stains better than resin veneers. They also give the natural look to the teeth by mimicking the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth.
What are ceramic dental bridges?
Dentists use dental bridges to close the gaps in your teeth and improve your smile. A dental bridge is actually a false tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place in between two adjacent teeth. To give your teeth a natural look, ceramic dental bridges are usually preferred over other metal dental bridges.
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See SlideshowMayo Dental & Implant Clinic. Crowns. https://www.mayodentalclinic.com/services/restorative/crowns/
WebMD. Dental Veneers. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/veneers
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Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Cosmetic Dentistry Pics
How can cosmetic dentistry improve your smile? See before and after pictures of orthodontics (braces), dental implants, crowns, veneers, teeth whitening, bridges, and more.
Do Veneers Ruin Your Teeth?
No, veneers (dental veneers) do not ruin your teeth. In fact, they improve the appearance of damaged or flawed teeth. Only a small, thin tooth structure is removed to make way for the veneers. Even if the veneer cracks, you can repair the damage by getting a new veneer. Make sure you get the veneer fitted on your teeth from a qualified and experienced dentist.
fluoride
Fluoride, or sodium fluoride, is an inorganic chemical compound used to prevent dental caries and maintain dental health. Common side effects of fluoride include skin rash, hypersensitivity reaction, nausea, vomiting, and temporary dental discoloration (with products containing stannous fluoride). Take fluoride supplementation exactly as prescribed. Do not take fluoride supplements if there is adequate intake from fluorinated drinking water.