Prosthodontics

It’s easiest to understand the difference by looking at how much we touch the tooth and how long they last.

1. Laminate Veneers (The Cosmetic Choice):
Think of these like a contact lens or a false fingernail. They are designed purely for aesthetics—to give you that bright 'Hollywood Smile.' Because they only cover the front of the tooth, the preparation is very light; we only shave a tiny layer (about 0.3 mm) off the front surface.

2. Zirconia Crowns (The Protective Choice):
A crown is like a helmet that covers the entire tooth—front, back, and sides. We use Zirconia when a tooth is damaged (like after a root canal or on an implant) and needs structural support. Because it covers the whole tooth, we have to shave down more of the natural tooth to make it fit. Zirconia is the strongest material we have, so it offers both protection and beauty.

3. Composite Veneers:
We usually advise against these for full smile makeovers. Composite is essentially filling material. While it is cheaper, it is porous—meaning it absorbs stains and can chip or break within 1 to 2 years.

Summary: If your teeth are healthy and you just want them to look perfect, we use Veneers. If your teeth are damaged or weak, we use Zirconia Crowns. We generally avoid composite if you want a long-lasting result.

We understand that most patients prefer individual teeth. However, we recommend a bridge when we need to create 'strength in numbers.'

While single crowns work well on strong, deep roots, a bridge is often the safer choice in two specific situations:

1. Compromised Roots: If the neighboring teeth have had root canals or have lost some bone support, they might be too weak to stand alone. Linking them together stabilizes them—like tying a weak stick to a strong one so it doesn't break.

2. Front Teeth: The bone and roots in the front of your mouth are naturally thinner and more fragile than the heavy chewing teeth in the back. A bridge helps distribute the biting pressure across several teeth, preventing damage to the jawbone.

We always look at each case individually. If your roots are strong enough, we will do single units. But if there is any risk of instability, we will recommend a bridge to ensure your new smile lasts.

That is the most common worry we hear! You will have plenty of time during your stay (usually 7–10 days) to test the look, but there is one 'Golden Rule' you need to know about dental ceramics:

We can always make the teeth darker, but we cannot make them whiter once they are made.

If you try them on and feel they look too bright or 'fake,' we can easily send them back to the lab to add texture and darker tones to make them look more natural. However, if you choose a darker color initially and then decide you want them whiter, we cannot fix that—we would have to build the whole tooth again from scratch.

This is why we guide you carefully through the color selection process. If you are stuck between two shades, we usually suggest picking the lighter one, because it gives us the flexibility to adjust it later if needed.

That is a very common concern, but you can rest assured: Your final, permanent teeth are not made of plastic.

We strictly use premium materials like Zirconia or Porcelain for the final All-on-6 bridge. These materials are chosen because they mimic the translucency of natural tooth enamel and are incredibly strong and durable.

The only time we use resin, acrylic, or plastic is for the temporary set of teeth you wear for a few months while your implants are healing. Once that healing phase is over, we throw those away and replace them with your high-quality, permanent ceramic smile.

If you notice any damage, such as a crack or break in your All-on-6 prosthesis, you should contact our clinic and arrange a visit as soon as possible.

Our experienced dentists will assess the situation and carry out the appropriate repair or, if needed, replace the prosthesis safely.

Please do not try to fix it on your own, as this may harm the implants or irritate the surrounding gum tissue. For urgent assistance or to book an appointment, feel free to reach out to us directly.

The amount of tooth preparation depends on the type of restoration chosen. Veneers, also called laminates, are very thin porcelain shells designed mainly for aesthetic improvements. Because of their delicate structure, they are typically used on the teeth visible when you smile. To place veneers, only a minimal layer is gently removed from the front surface of the tooth, usually around 0.2–0.5 mm, so the majority of your natural tooth structure remains intact.

Zirconia crowns, however, are much stronger and are suitable for all teeth, including the back chewing teeth and implant-supported restorations. For this treatment, the tooth is reshaped evenly from all sides to allow the crown to fully cover and protect it.

In short, veneers involve very conservative preparation and are mainly for front teeth, while zirconia crowns require more shaping, cover the entire tooth, and offer greater strength for both front and back teeth.

The longevity of dental crowns largely depends on your oral care routine. Even though a crown covers the tooth, your natural tooth is still underneath and needs proper care. If you brush at least twice daily and see your dentist every six months for check-ups and professional cleanings, crowns can commonly last 20–25 years.

In some cases, patients have kept their crowns for 30 years or more. That said, many dentists suggest evaluating or replacing crowns around the 15-year mark. This is not always due to damage to the crown itself, but to safely remove it, examine the tooth and gums underneath for any hidden issues, and renew the restoration if necessary.

With consistent oral hygiene and regular dental visits, crowns can remain healthy and functional for decades.

Teeth that have been prepared for crowns can be slightly more susceptible than untouched natural teeth, which is why responsible dentists avoid reshaping healthy teeth unless there is a clear clinical or aesthetic reason, such as correcting shape, color, bite function, or smile design.

While crowned teeth do carry a somewhat higher risk of issues like decay or cracks, the crown itself is not usually the problem. The real concern is the natural tooth beneath the crown. If the crown does not fit precisely or if oral hygiene is poor, bacteria and food debris can accumulate at the margins and lead to decay or infection underneath.

The good news is that when crowns are properly designed and placed by an experienced dentist—and when you maintain good daily oral hygiene and attend regular dental check-ups—the risk of decay under a crown is very low. Crowns do not automatically cause dental problems; with quality dental work and consistent care at home, they can function healthily for many years.

E-Max crowns are produced entirely from porcelain and do not have a reinforced inner core like zirconia or metal-supported crowns. This all-ceramic structure gives them an excellent, natural appearance, but it also makes them more delicate under heavy stress.

A dental bridge has to withstand strong chewing and biting forces because it connects multiple teeth and carries more load. Since E-Max lacks internal support, using it for a bridge increases the risk of cracking or fracture during normal function.

However, E-Max can still be safely used on both front and back teeth—or even on implants—when it is applied as a single crown. It is most commonly preferred for the visible front teeth, where aesthetics are a priority and biting forces are lower.

The back teeth are responsible for most of the chewing and grinding, which means they are exposed to strong biting forces every day. Zirconia is an extremely durable material, making it well suited to withstand this constant pressure without cracking or breaking.

Veneers, by comparison, are very thin restorations that cover only the front surface of a tooth. Although they provide excellent aesthetics, they are not built to تحمل heavy chewing forces. If veneers were placed on back teeth, they would be at a high risk of breaking in a short time.

For this reason, veneers are mainly used on the front teeth where appearance is the main concern, while zirconia crowns are recommended for back teeth where strength, stability, and long-term durability are essential.

For implant-supported crowns, zirconia is usually the safest and most reliable option for the majority of patients. Dental implants need to handle strong chewing forces, and zirconia is known for its exceptional strength and durability, especially in the back teeth where most biting pressure occurs. This makes it ideal for molars, multiple implants, and full-mouth restorations.

E-Max crowns, on the other hand, are fully porcelain and offer a more natural, translucent appearance that closely resembles real teeth. Because they are slightly less resistant to heavy force, they are typically recommended only for single implants in the front teeth, where aesthetics are the top priority and chewing pressure is lower.

In summary, if your main concern is achieving the most natural look for a front implant, E-Max can be an excellent choice. For all other implant areas—particularly the back teeth—zirconia stands out as the stronger, longer-lasting solution.

That is a very common concern. The answer depends entirely on which solution we choose for your smile.

If you need Dental Crowns, some preparation is unavoidable. Because a crown covers the entire tooth like a cap, we must shape the tooth first; otherwise, the result would look bulky and unnatural.

With Porcelain Veneers, however, the process is much more conservative. Usually, we only need to remove a tiny layer—about the thickness of a contact lens (0.3 mm)—from the front surface. This allows us to keep almost all of your natural tooth structure intact.

We also offer a specific treatment called 'Prepless Veneers' (Lumineers), where absolutely no shaving is required. However, this isn't for everyone. Your natural teeth need to have a specific shape and bite alignment for this to look good. We would need to examine you first to see if you are a candidate for this zero-shaving option.

Yes, absolutely! We believe you should never have to guess what your smile will look like. We use a process called a 'mock-up,' which acts like a test drive for your new smile.

We place a temporary model directly in your mouth so you can see the exact shape and color in the mirror and see how it fits your face. This stage is crucial because, while we can paint the final teeth slightly darker later if needed, we cannot make them whiter once they are finished.

We will not produce the final permanent teeth until you have approved this preview and are 100% happy with the look.

We prioritize quality and strictly use top-tier, globally recognized materials. We don't cut corners on the products that go into your mouth.

For cosmetic treatments like Veneers, we use Ivoclar, a premium Swiss brand famous for its natural aesthetics. For more complex, structural work—such as All-on-4 or All-on-6 implant bridges—we rely on Amman-Girrbach, which is known for its exceptional strength and durability. We choose the best material based on whether you need maximum beauty or maximum support.