COSMETIC & RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

BRIDGES

What is a Bridge and What Does It Do?

A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied by attaching the adjacent teeth and providing the necessary support. Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.

A bridge may be necessary to prevent:

Shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion problems) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.

There are three main types of bridges, namely:

Fixed bridge- this is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.

The “Maryland” bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth. It consists of a filler which looks like the missing teeth and that is attached to metal bands which are bonded to the abutting teeth. The metal bands consist of a white-colored composite resin that matches the existing tooth color.

The Cantilever bridge is often used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The filler tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space or end.

 

Maintenance

Bridges can be prone to trapped food so they require routine maintenance and daily cleaning. They are durable when properly cared for, so continual monitoring by your Doctor will also be necessary to ensure the longest life for your bridge.

 

COMPOSITE BONDING

Composite Resins are tooth-coloured materials that can be applied to the remaining surfaces of teeth. As the name indicates, a composite material, either a plastic or resin is bonded to an existing tooth. Achieving a flawless surface, repairing the look of the tooth and strengthening it in the process. Unlike veneers or crowns, composite bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth. As with all restorations, composite bonds require proper care and regular cleaning. In order to ensure they last as long as possible, composites should be brushed and flossed daily. Some of the advantages of this treatment are that composite resins are tooth coloured and they can be applied directly to the teeth in a single appointment. Often used to improve the appearance of your teeth and enhance your smile.
Composite Bonding is a common solution for: 
  • Fixing or repairing chipped or cracked teeth
  • Reducing unsightly gaps or spaces between teeth
  • Hiding discolouration or faded areas on the tooth’s surface
  • Fixing or repairing chipped or cracked teeth
  • Reducing unsightly gaps or spaces between teeth
  • Hiding discolouration or faded areas on the tooth’s surface

Composite bonding has many advantages:

  • It is a quick process which typically lasts less than one hour.
  • It does not reduce the tooth’s original structure and is relatively inexpensive.
  • Composite resins come in many different shades and provide better matching of shades to the natural colour of your teeth.

WHITE FILLINGS

The concept of a “filling” is replacing and restoring your tooth structure that is damaged due to decay or fracture. We can replace old, broken-down amalgam/metal fillings that contain traces of mercury with white fillings (composites) to restore your smile and teeth to a more natural look and feel.

Eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with new, tooth-coloured resin or porcelain materials.

VENEERS

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers are customized from porcelain material and permanently bonded to your teeth. Veneers are a great option if you want to improve the appearance of your smile. Porcelain veneers, within reason, allow for the alteration of tooth position, shape, size and color.

Common problems that veneers are used for:

  • Spaces between the teeth
  • Broken or chipped teeth
  • Unsightly, stained or discolored teeth
  • Permanently stained or discolored teeth
  • Crooked or misshapen teeth

Are Veneers a Cosmetic or Restorative Option for You?

We are dedicated to giving you the best results possible so your new smile shines bright everyday. The first step is to contact our office so that we can book a diagnostic appointment during which we will complete your smile analysis.

Below are a few of the factors that your dentist will look for during your smile analysis.

  • Teeth are generally in a normal position
  • Sufficient tooth structure exists
  • Symmetrical gingival (gum) contours are present. This allows for the proper ‘framing’ of the teeth and is necessary to ensure a beautiful cosmetic result.

The Process

After the diagnostic visit and your dentist has confirmed that porcelain veneers will be the correct treatment option, a computer imaging process will be used to digitally replicate your smile. The next step is making a wearable mock-up of your future smile, called provisional teeth. This is a preliminary stage that will give you a chance to wear your smile and allow you to give some feedback to your dentist in the process.

Will Veneers Match My Teeth?

Your dentist will offer two options, either match your existing tooth color or choose a lighter shade to brighten your entire smile.

Why are Veneers a Good Choice?

Veneers are a great aesthetic solution to your smile that may even help you avoid orthodontic treatment. Veneers are considered a conservative restoration when compared to a crown as they require less removal of tooth structure. Subtle changes to your smile can be achieved with veneers, and in most cases, veneer application is completed in only two office visits.

Lumineers

King Ritson Dental offers the ultra-thin veneer –  LUMINEERS. Click here to find out more about LUMINEERS.

Are Veneers Reversible?

Porcelain veneers are not considered a reversible form of treatment.

How Long Will the Process Take?

Typical procedures can be completed in approximately 1 – 2 weeks.

How to Maintain Porcelain Veneers

CROWNS

King Ritson offers CEREC technology – The Traditional Crown Process completed in One Single Appointment!
With CEREC, the traditional process of making and fitting a crown can be done in a single appointment. At King Ritson Dental, we have placed over 3500 CEREC crowns. A crown is a permanent covering that fits completely over an original tooth or a dental implant. Bonded with dental cement they are used to improve or strengthen the tooth. Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Each material has different durability and look, however, porcelain generally has the most natural appearance of all the materials. Your Doctor will suggest the most appropriate material for your individual case. The average crown lasts approximately 10 years, but with proper care, your crown could very well last a lifetime.

Crowns are Used to:
  • Protect a weak tooth
  • Restore a fractured tooth
  • Attach a bridge
  • Cover a dental implant
  • Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth

The Process:

  • Cleaning and preparing the tooth to remove any decay in or around it.
  • Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
  • Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks). See CEREC here for a single day treatment!
  • Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created.
  • Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
  • After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place.
  • This process generally consists of 2 visits over a two week period. Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy gums and crowns. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.

Contact Us!

Are you interested in one of our many treatment options? If you have any questions, please contact us by phone at (289) 275-4050 or by completing our form below! We will have someone get back to you shortly.

We are open 6 days a week (closed Sundays), including evenings, with ample free parking.