Specialist prosthodontic care in Limerick
At Riverpoint Specialist Dental Clinic, our experienced prosthodontists rebuild worn, damaged and missing teeth. Using carefully selected materials and proven techniques, we plan a range of prosthodontic treatments around the function, comfort and appearance of your smile.
Riverpoint Specialist Dental Clinic
What is Prosthodontics?
Some common prosthodontic issues include:
Common Prosthodontic Issues
Riverpoint Specialist Dental Clinic
Our Prosthodontic Services
Why Choose Riverpoint Specialist Dental Clinic for Prosthodontic Care
Patients who need prosthodontic care can sometimes have quite complex dental needs or feel that the solutions available will either not work or be too expensive for them. They may also be patients who have decided to invest in their teeth to enhance their smile, improve their ability to chew or to preserve their teeth for the long-term. For the vast majority of these patients, we will be able to provide a solution that fulfils their goals and in a way that works for their budget.
As a rule, we plan treatments for our patients with the honesty we would for our own families. We only invest in technology, materials and products of the highest standards so the clinical results not only look and function well but will last into the future. We have a long-standing, skilled and compassionate prosthodontic team that will efficiently guide patients through their treatment journey.
Frequently asked questions
A crown, often called a cap, is a thimble shaped piece of porcelain or metal that can be placed on a front or back tooth.
Why might I need a crown?
The commonest reasons are to improve the appearance, to strengthen a weak or fractured tooth or to improve the general evenness of the bite in certain circumstances. They are also sometimes used to increase the stability or tightness of removable partial dentures. The clinical problems that crowns may help you with include:
- Worn teeth
- Fractured teeth
- Badly broken down teeth
- Weak teeth with large fillings
- Gaps between teeth
- Very uneven bites
- Supporting partial dentures
The average is 10-15 years. Depending on the condition or strength of the tooth that needs the crown, it can be longer or shorter. We will always tell you when we feel the prognosis is poor and advise you of options that offer the best long term value for money.
First of all we make sure the tooth having a crown is healthy and structurally sound. This occasionally requires the replacement of an old filling in the tooth. Next the tooth is pared down by a small amount all around the outside and on the top. An impression or mould is made of the pared down tooth and this is sent away to a dental laboratory, where the crown is made on a stone model of your tooth. In the mean time, while the final crown is being fabricated you have a temporary crown to preserve the appearance and function of the tooth. When the final crown comes back from the dental lab it is cemented in place. All of these procedures are done under local anaesthetic and are not painful. You can have sedation to help you relax during the treatment if you would prefer.
A bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth/teeth that is supported on other teeth beside the gap. They can be made in many different ways but there are 2 basic types – conventional and resin bonded. Conventional bridges require that each of the supporting teeth is pared down in a similar way as would be done for a crown. The false or replacement tooth is joined on both sides to these supporting teeth. Resin bonded bridges work on a similar concept but instead of supporting the replacement tooth on crowns, it is done on thin metal plates that are glued to the inside of the supporting teeth.
A veneer is a false-nail shaped piece of porcelain that can be placed on a front of a tooth to improve its shape or colour.
No, you can often achieve a brightening of tooth colour by bleaching alone. Where tooth bleaching is suitable, it is a much more conservative option than veneers.